Screenwriting : Ready Script by Tugume Benon (Benie)

Hi Tugume. Get representation first and have your agent submit your scripts for you, if it's good, producers and financiers will call you through your agent.

Make your own movie that wins festivals and makes money. Then have a better 2nd idea. Financiers, A- list Talent, union crews will call you. You can pick and choose- have leverage and be your own Boss. Spike Lee, Justin Lin, Barry Jenkins, Ryan Coogler, Chazz Damien, Ava DuVernay are examples. Everybody starts at the bottom with 0 money & 0 connections.

You gotta be great for legit Producers to bankroll your ideas.

Ken you do realize how difficult it is to get an agent don't you. It is probably harder than selling a screenplay.

Dan. Yes, it's very hard, but writing the great screenplay is harder. I'm one who always believes it's the script that's no.1 but then that's not what he asked.

There is a book called 'BANKROLL' - How to finance your independent film By Tom Malloy. I picked up my copy at the NYU bookstore for $24.95. I am sure it is available online as well. And Tom Malloy does not just present theories he has actually done several films that he has starred in. He is a GREAT resource.

Ken. Personally I think screenwriting is the easy part and selling is the hardest part. I don't believe in giving screenplays away but I do wish him luck.

Dan. Your script cannot be good, it has to be great. Otherwise what's the point to make mediocre films? Many of us can write, but not many can write the great script it's why there's so much crap out there. I can write a script that hits all the beats and bring home to the resolution, but is it any good? No. actually I suck at it. Like everything else you can learn the craft of screenwriting but do you have that rare talent?

Put it another way. In my 30 years I have not read a great script that hasn't already been optioned or made into a film by someone else but I'm still looking. In Hollywood we have a saying "if it ain't on the page, it ain't on the stage". Script, script and script.

Ken. I just said, “Personally I think screenwriting is the easy part.” I said, “personally” because I was talking from my personal experience not yours or someone else’s. It doesn’t have to be hard for someone to be good at what they do. Just because you suck at it and find it hard doesn’t mean that I suck at it or find it that difficult. Also we were discussing agents and agents just want to rep screenwriters that can write well-written screenplays on a regular basis.

Dan. In no way am I implying you or anyone else. Assuming Tugume's script is great which is what I did assumed, I offered the correct advice to get representation first if you read my first post. I think you'll agree, if your writing is great, agents won't reject you would they? Yes. I do suck at writing which is why I'm a producer and Tugume's question was about producers/financiers. I am sure you're great.

Ken. I am just going on my own personally experience. If your experience has been different that is fine. Since you stated you suck at writing and I know I don’t suck at it I do imagine our experiences have been quite different. Like you said not everyone has the talent it take to break in but there is nothing wrong with that. Personally I would prefer writing novels but I sucked at that. Since you have been looking for a great screenplay for 30 years and yet to find one why not read Tugume's screenplay and if is great you can produce it since you are a producer.

Dan. Lets make this clear - I never wanted to be a writer, I went up the camera chain as a 1st, 2nd AC, Operator and DP for 7 years, producing is now what I love the most. However, my interest in screenwriting is essential, as I believe every filmmaker should understand script/story, it's the bottom line for a great film. And btw, I focus mainly on docs now but I'll be happy to look at anyone's script, send me the first 10 pages only - show me the great script and I'll show you the money or refer it to someone who can. But it better be damn great. It is easier to get funding than to write the great script. Finding it would be like hitting the jackpot!

Writing the great screenplay is the hardest thing. Many can writer but not many can write well.

A great script is subjective; everybody here thinks their scripts don't suck. Some folks are happy writing about sharks in tornados.

All you need is a concept, filmmaking execution, and folks who believe - from a director to cast & crew; partner with folks who make movies for a living.

There are tons of scripts floatin around - writers like Charlie kaufman & Paul Schrader can't find funding for their scripts and they've won Oscars.

Name me some of the greatest films in your opinion and I'l name you the great script.

Great scripts - Casablanca, Citizen Kane, The Godfather. I think we can agree that 99% of stuff out there is not great. Just read them and you'll see.

Owen. You have a point. That's why as a producer, or anyone else interested in making films it's so important to study story and screenwriting because we've been trained over 100 yrs in cinema. I'll use myself as an example. If I'm looking to produce a comedy, as i turn the page I better be laughing out loud, tearing with laughter (have to). If I'm looking to produce a horror I better be scared bitting my nails on every page turn before I decide to dedicate 2 years of my life and $$$. I have to get that from the page first. But that's me.

lol I can also say 99% actors can't act or 99% Directors are just hacks. For every one Martin Scorsese, there are hundreds of qualified DGA Directors making a decent living. It is just a job people. We all can't be Lebron James. Many of us are just happy to be bench players.

Why didn't you say? Happy to be bench players - Got It! LOL that may be you. It's presumptuous to assume Tugume wants to be a 'Bench Player', have you considered he may actually want to make an awesome film and be a hit player, win an academy award? Just saying.

Dan. You might not believe it but a lot people actually want to be rich, famous and win awards and make it big time in Hollywood. Just another thought Mr. 'Bench Player'.

Justin - if you believe Tugume is the next Barry Jenkins, buy his script. he doesn't want CASH, just produced. Offer $1 option for 48 months.

Unlike you, I always assume someone believes in their script. I'm a focus puller btw.

that's part of movie making. find true believers.

Ken. I am glad you made this clear. You never wanted to be a writer, so you never got an agent so you don't really have clue how difficult it is to get one. Again, thank you for clearing that up.

Justin. He said he wants to give his screenplay away for free and that is not the way someone goes about making an awesome film and be a hit player, win an academy award.

Awesome feedback from all of you guys. I appreciate it all. However, what does it take to get representation? Whats involved? Just curious lol

Dan. I've had few agents throughout my career, and negotiated with dozens of agents for scripts throughout my 30 years. Let me repeat and clear it up again for you - Yes. It is extremely hard to get an agent (we agree), but in my opinion, it is even harder to write a great screenplay. Just my opinion.

Dan. There's no need for insults. Ken did say it's hard to get an agent, writing a great script is harder in his opinion which I tend to agree with. It all starts with the script.

Hi Dan. People are entitled to their opinions, and don't have to agree with you. You really don't have to be rude. I am an aspiring screenwriting, however, Ken really knows his stuff. Ken has connected me to a mentor here in Hong Kong and already introduced me to 3 agents. We have never met, but everyone here knows of him.

Ken. Everyone is different and I just happen to find writing screenplays pretty easy. You said your writing sucked so I just assumed you had a harder time writing screenplays than I did. Let's just agree to disagree.

Carol. You are right people are entitled to their opinions and nobody here ever has to agree with me. I am not an aspiring screenwriter. I am a WGA Signatory repped Screenwriter, formerly employed as Staff Writer, Script Consultant for two different Production Companies, sold screenplays, wrote them for hire. I have four screenplays in various stages of production and co-wrote and producing two with Judy Norton. So I kind of think I know my stuff as well.

Dan. I am an aspiring writer, and obviously not as experienced as you are. I DID NOT questioned your experience but simply telling you there's NO NEED TO BE RUDE for no apparent reason at all.

Dan, seriously what is your problem? You may be WGA, a Staff Writer with 4 scripts in production but that doesn't give you the right to belittle anyone.

Tugume. I suggest giving your efforts a clear dateline. I know people in LA who have been chasing the deal to get their film made for decades, and they're still at it. So give yourself a definitive dateline, then make the movie yourself outside the system. If you want to know how to do that I can clearly lay that out for you too. Goto the Producer's Lounge and create a thread 'How To Produce Movies Yourself' and I'll join you there.

I didn't mean to be rude or high-jack this thread. Sorry about that and good luck to all of you.