Writer-Producer here. Just turned in our latest draft, based on a round of notes, to the Head of Development at an A-lister's (rather prolific) ProdCo. Now begins the waiting period.
Need to clear my head a bit, so... Who has questions? Ask in comments and I'll answer as many as I can.
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Hi James Sutherland. If we’re talking about features, I absolutely think you can pitch and sell to N. American markets from Tokyo (I’m in Prague).
The key is to get a rep (manager) in the market you h...
Expand commentHi James Sutherland. If we’re talking about features, I absolutely think you can pitch and sell to N. American markets from Tokyo (I’m in Prague).
The key is to get a rep (manager) in the market you hope to sell in.
That said, as you noted, if your hope was to sell a series, you’d most likely have to eventually be in LA or NY.
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Thanks for the answer and thanks for having the pop-up AMA, Shaun O'Banion.
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Is there a market for Fact-based drama (which correct me if I’m wrong, sounds like biographical) at the moment. The huge issue that I’ve been running into lately myself, is putting a lot of work into...
Expand commentIs there a market for Fact-based drama (which correct me if I’m wrong, sounds like biographical) at the moment. The huge issue that I’ve been running into lately myself, is putting a lot of work into a project (getting it packaged with talent) just to be told “this is great but nobody is buying this kind of project at the moment”.
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Hey Cameron Tendaji - Thanks for the question.
Hollywood is cyclical. Anything that isn’t popular at the moment will come back around. Example… in very recent history, you’d hear, “no WWII projects.”...
Expand commentHey Cameron Tendaji - Thanks for the question.
Hollywood is cyclical. Anything that isn’t popular at the moment will come back around. Example… in very recent history, you’d hear, “no WWII projects.” Then we just got Masters of the Air and a film set around Nuremberg is about to roll.
Rom-coms, as you may recall, were considered strictly Netflix-only. Then the movie with Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell opened big, following on the success of the Jennifer Lawrence comedy. Now Rom-coms are back!
We’re out now with a biopic and getting great feedback - BUT we have a film that can be made for a price. Think a $30-$50 million dollar movie for grown-up’s can’t be made? Tell that to Yorgos Lanthimos.
Point is, the old adage “nobody in Hollywood knows anything” is as true now as it ever has been. Studios never know what they want until someone else makes it and it hits. Then they all want to emulate that success until a couple flop and they all get scared again.. Keep developing and packaging the movies YOU want to see. Eventually you’ll find the right time and the right people.
And, by the way, Netflix just announced they are interested in making smaller films for a good price with a greater chance of upside.
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Fantastic Shaun O'Banion thank you for your time and the advice!