All right, my Stage 32 Producers - it's time to put on your thinking caps! Most of my experience is in production, and while I am knowledgable about the process of development, it seems to me that the process of building relationships during development is VASTLY different. You don't have the same constraints as production - time, money, accommodations for crew and/or talent needs, etc. BUT all of those restrictions also forge bonds and prove to each other our levels of trustworthiness.
So, I ask you, how do YOU build trust in development? When all of your interactions are limited to talking, notes, revisions, contracts, and meetings, how do you show that you are someone they want to work with?
What do you look for when meeting someone new? What would tip the scales and show you "this is the person I want to work with"?
I look forward to your constructive, thoughtful reflections!
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I don't think there is one formula. Things have changed so dramatically with the new normal. Some key traits would be driven, hardworking, flexibility, honesty, understanding, supportive, loyalty and team player. After saying all that, we still have to evaluate each individual as a unique individual. Sorry if I sound so HR (Human Resources). My background.
As an independent writer, a person should allow us to look over a project first. I like to use zoom to speak with you to ask a few questions to make sure I want to work with the person.
If I choose to render my services, I prefer for them to create their contract, even though I am a paralegal.
They should have their producer and not expect the screenwriter to provide everything without pay.
I would ask for an upfront payment, editing payment after the first draft, and a final payment once the script is complete. Sometimes I won't ask for the final payment. I may ask for a credit in the film.
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Karen "Kay" Ross This is an interesting question, but I am not sure what you are really asking. What are you referring to about trust building? Because the development process is, as you point out, different than production. And of course it is different between mainstream studios and indies like me. One of the things that is NOT different however is the issue of confidentiality. In development, in my practice and in mainstream, no one gets to hear anything about a project without first executing a non-disclosure agreement. That's the first and most important agreement, it sets out that we can speak about the project among ourselves without fear that anyone not specifically involved will learn the smallest detail about it. Next, development is about... development, and packaging. These overlap and the artistic and business considerations will affect each other. Part of my confusion at the question is who is the "trust" to be built between? Because by definition something in development isn't ready for crew or even key crew who might be considered part of a creative team (like DP or Art Dept or Choreographer). The dialog is between Writer and Producer, and maybe later in development, writer and producer and director. That's if the director has actual input into the story development, which is often not the case and sometimes inappropriate. It may also involve some casting questions, where the talent is integral to marketing of the film, or where the project is made with a particular actor in mind. Depending on the standing of the talent, that person may actually have input into key development decisions... like who gets to direct. Having said all that, it's all about personal relationships. When I work with anyone at any phase of the process, including development, it is someone whose work and rep I have personally vetted before I speak to them. In other words, I already admire their skill set and what they are able to produce, and I intend to rely on them, if we like each other. It's a very personal business, it's collaboration. So I have to be able to communicate with these people and be able to relate to them, and vice-versa. I like their work, so I tell them that and I tell them why. And we set out the parameters of their creative function. We go from there.
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Regardless of the circumstances (on-set, in dev, whatever), I decide if I want to work with someone by:
How much they talk about themselves - some is good to get to know the person; if it goes into the ONLY things they talk about are themselves and their "great" stories... Bye-bye.
How they take criticism of their work - nobody likes criticism, but how they handle it says a lot. I like to say that people are like tubes of toothpaste - squeeze them and see what comes out. Minty fresh or stinky crap.
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By that look in their eye.