Hey all!
Wondering if I could get your opinion since I'm fairly new to the screenwriting process/movie world.
I was approached by a fairly well known entrepreneur and owner of a smaller movie studio in LA (I can't share his name since we're still discussing - and I'm still hoping :)) several months ago, asking if I'd be interested in collaborating on an aviation project. Of course I said yes, and then I heard nothing back.
Several months passed and he suddenly email me that he wants to option my book for a movie. Woohoo! Yes, of course. Let's talk. He emailed me a pretty standard sample contract asking if it's something I could agree to. It had a few typos and was dated 2003, but something I could work with. I told him that it all looked good, asked a few standard questions, and he said that his attorney would put together a real contract/offer the next week. He also said that the project was on a very well known producer's desk now that we'd talked, and that I'd be hearing back in a few days...that was over a month ago and he disappeared again.
I'm old enough to not get too glassy-eyed at a dangling carrot. I'm used to roller coaster rides so I just throw my arms up and enjoy the ride since I can't control which way it's going, but what should this process look like? Is this legitimate or does it sound a little shady?
Erika
A Chick in the Cockpit
Nope, did not sign anything.
From an outside view, it is all bullshit until the ink is dry on the contract.
Any direct face to face contact and phone calls? It is a red flag for me if all communication is done by email.
Keep moving forward until there is $$$$ on the table. $$$ Means folks are serious but unfortunately, show business is all Bs.
Good luck!
As Owen said wait and see. That’s Hollywood. Next time he contacts you, ask him about the time lapses between messages. Listen or read very very carefully for BS. Best wishes, David
Hey, Erika - the short answer is that it's perfectly standard for people in this capacity to go MIA for months on end. They tend to have a million projects going on at once, priorities change, they forget, etc. You're well within your right to follow up after a few weeks or a month have gone by without hearing from them. Of course, it's up to you how much time you want to sink into chasing something that may or may not be real. If 4, 5, 6 months go by without a word (and after you've followed up a couple times), my gut says this person has moved on for whatever reason, and so should you. Good luck and let me know if I can help!
P.S. The typo thing and using the wrong date is, unfortunately, par for the course. It's slightly concerning, but not at all out of the ordinary. People are dumb.
3 people like this
It's either real or it isn't, and until it is, it isn't. Even with someone with a lengthy track record and verifiable higher level connections, there are way too many variables. It may happen, it may happen in 10 years, it may not. This is why you do not give an exclusive without an option; you should let him know you want to shop it around unless you see $. Even if you don't. His response will tell you how serious he is.