One of my friends, a fellow screenwriter, asked me my opinion about an idea he had for a new screenplay screenplay about a notorious historical figure.using a first-person narrative. He was impressed with the way I utilized it to tell the story of former policeman and rampage killer, Christopher Dorner. I informed him that I used Paul Schrader's Taxi Driver as my example for the script that I eventually wrote.
In addition to my writer friends, my wife has been an invaluable asset for helping me kick around ideas.
1. Do you bounce your screenplay ideas off of other people?
2. Do you do any market research to determine if there's a similar idea that's already been written and made into a film?
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2. I do now. I made that mistake once. The Studio bought 'Gorgeous George' outrite and shelved it as there was a boxing movie already in the works and they didn't want another script floating around (I got over it as soon as I cashed the check).
2. YH ALL THE TIME... Mostly, the title... For the idea, many movies are similar.
I do not. Bit during the last part of the basic writing I do. Some kind of reality-checks
There are no new ideas (as the theory goes) so I do worry if it has been done before. Apparently there were three Chernobyl projects going while HBO made theirs.
I often discuss ideas. Frankly, it is my main conversation and whatever is my current fixation (guitars this month). It gets people’s instant react. Especially if I think they are a target audience. I did it last night over dinner.
A sister needs a kidney transplant. This is how she finds she’s adopted. The sisters go on a road trip to find her biological family.
Doug, you got paid. Ego did not buy that new car. LOL.
Welcome! You may want to copyright your stuff as much as possible first because I think ideas maybe used by others if they are not protected.
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Tasha. I agree people should copyright but ideas are not protected under the copyright treaty. If someone shares their idea it is free for the taking. The only possible way someone could protect an idea is via a contract and most people don't want to sign them.
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I never worry about anybody stealing an idea. I just copyright my finished scripts. If someone else can write it faster than me, God bless 'em.
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Tasha if you want to protect an idea. Write it as a short story. Then you have an “unique artistic expression” of your idea. Which is what is protected under copyright.
To add to Phil’s statement. The story is by far the cheapest part of a production. Why steal something which is about 2% of the cost and risk 98% being tied up in court.
Plus ideas are like leaf litter. They are everywhere.
I write them into my phone. A year later it is like “what an idiot”. I guarantee that if you and I did this for a year 50% of our ideas would appear to be the same.
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Yes and no. I write the specs I want to see which is economically foolish but creatively fulfilling. Basically, I'm not writing specs to sell. I'm writing specs to keep myself happy as an artist and to push my craft skills. There's producers in my life who find this frustrating as, to them, I'm never working on something they see a big enough market for. They love the material but don't have a business model it can fit into. To me, they're writing samples and have worked well for me in that regard. I don't keep the ideas secret but then I don't really engage with other writers on that sort of level either. I couldn't care less what anybody else is writing and don't feel any need to broadcast what I'm working on either.
When it comes to assignments and putting ideas on the table, that's very different. I study the market closely and I would be crazy not to consult the brain trust I'm privileged to have. However, I've found many people in the industry feel some of the best feedback comes over the dinner table with friends and family. That's where you can throw concepts to the potential audience and get their immediate feedback. You've got to be smart, you've got to know what's genuine, but you can get a read. Someone in film sales/distribution is also highly valuable in terms of knowing what not to make at a particular time. In this case, any ideas or scripts are kept highly confidential. It's not about being out-written, it's about being out-produced.
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I shared my idea with a young actor, basically told him i want to help him become a global star. He was on board but Marvel & WB beat me to him and now, he’s out of my budget range. Anyways I just write what I want to see myself, by luck & fate maybe my ideas will align with others in the business of making movies. This writing stuff is all about execution and collaboration... and writing faster :)
I share my work with others. Mainly concept or small tidbits from my writing. Most of their reactions are “That sounds creepy” or “Wow”. A horror writer always wants to keep their audience in suspense. Always keep them guessing to the end.
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I bounce ideas off of good friends, but rarely with other writers. I'm not concerned about them stealing the idea, I just don't go looking for writers I don't know to sound them out on my ideas. If a writer is a trusted friend, I will tell them about my ideas.
I don't worry too much about researching an idea for duplication. I make sure my characters, set pieces, story lines, and twists are as unique as possible. However, I do want to know what comps are out there already.
yep, but just on my website, which noone visits (yet). I'm a fan of the motto 'you can't keep it too precious'. Sharing is the only way to let the magic of a co-creative universe do it's synchronicity thing.
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Peter Roach; actually I did buy a new car then.
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If I had someone to share them with I would.
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Great questions!!!
One, Ño I don't share my ideas anymore because in the past people have stole them and use them for their own purposes and was successful so now I just keep them locked away in my head...
Secondly, on the topic of MARKET RESEARCH that's pretty interesting... I'm curious to know if there a system that you used or pay to determine if there's a similar idea that's already been written and made into a film or TV series?
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Doug that reminds me of Otis Blackwell who when asked if he was not angry cuz he was not famous, said " I get my checks on time."
Otis wrote "Great Balls of Fire" "Don't Be Cruel", "All Shook Up" and "Return to Sender" among his other 50 hits.
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Big Dave "Eagle-Hawk" the story isn’t the idea. It is the telling.
I have a half done Sherlock Holmes feature. He is in his twenties, a cocaine addict, a criminal and gay.
There are a lot of Sherlock Holmes stories. It is in the telling. Tell your story. Don’t worry what has come before. Be the best you.
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On (1) No. I get a basic idea. Write a first logline, look at it the next day and only 2 out of 10 times still like it the next day. Then it takes a few weeks to seriously judge the two ideas that are left, ultimately ending up with just one idea to (maybe) work out. On (2) A lot.
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Ideas change as I'm developing my scripts so there'd be no point in discussing them. I write my Loglines last and keep refreshing them in the hope of garnering attention. Work from your 'gut' it never lets you down. It is your work - your creation - only you. Although timing and marketability will influence your final draft, the market constantly changes so what is sought today, may not be tomorrow. Good luck with it.
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Yes, I usually tell anyone who will listen to see their reaction to the story. If I keep getting a solid emotional reaction, I'll know I'm onto something...