Hi People -- I haven't been on Stage 32 for a good while - I wrote a screenplay that I had the novel idea of making into a feature movie via the indie route. I wrote the book that has just been recently published by Fantastic Books UK all about taking a script to production - my experiences. It details my journey to get a script to the screen and just how hard it is even for someone who actually works in Hollywood. I thought people might be interested- those of us that write scripts with the idea of one day getting it into production- maybe even directing it. It's available on Amazon- it has been creeping up the filmmaking and screenwriting ranks.
https://www.amazon.com/Fizzy-Days-Plastic-Monkeys-Malibu/dp/1914060334/r...
Chapter 1: The start of it
Dear Writer,
We are not currently accepting any scripts. But I thank you for reaching out and I wish you all the best of success. Please do not contact us again unless you have an agent submit.
Sincerely ...
Dear Writer,
Keeping in line with our policy not to accept unsolicited submissions, I have deleted your email regarding your project. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Sincerely ...
Dear Writer,
In keeping with our rule on unsolicited submissions, we have deleted/destroyed your submission. Once you have an ‘A’ list cast, crew, and finances in place, and a sales deal, please re-submit.
Best ...
Dear Writer,
Thank you for getting in touch. I don’t think it’s a project for us as we are unable to look at it at this time, but best of luck setting it up – it looks like fun. If you approach us again, we will use the law to its fullest extent against you. If you own a pet, we will find it.
Best wishes ...
Dear Writer,
Stop sending us your fucking scripts! We will NOT read them!!!
Best ...
Dear Writer,
Fuck off!!
Sincerely
FUCK OFF!
Somewhere between 30,000 and 50,000 screenplays are registered with the Writers’ Guild of America each year. Would people embark on this thankless, clichéd crazy writing endeavor if they gave those figures some thought? The wannabe scripters of movies that no one is ever going to see because they don’t stand a hope of being picked up and produced. Would they continue the quest if they actually knew how fuckin’ hard it really is? One speculative screenplay is sold for every 5,000 tossed into circulation. Undaunted, there are thousands of ‘don’t stand a chance screenwriters out there, and I was one of them.
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Welcome back Mike, and what a great title for the book! Conjures up a whole lot of scenarios. Kudos on getting it out there - would you like to share a bit about the title, how it came to be, and so on?
Hey Julia -Yes it was supposed to be released with the $2MM movie completed for the proposed movie ‘ Fizzy Days' a sort of 'the making of …'
Tongue-in-Cheek: The book is basically a road map of how not to make a feature movie - I have used it as scaffolding for my experiences as a frustrated Director — trying to break into the hallowed ground of directing.
The people I met in the ‘biz’ - the frustrations, the cock-ups made, and ultimately the struggle that everyone is going to have to be prepared for should they really want to succeed in Movie land - with the big boys.
Jumping off Virgin flight VS03 over 25 years ago from the UK— expecting to be handed the keys to directorial/writing & movie-making success. I now realize it's not that easy!—no matter who you think you know.
Trying to get a small independent movie off the ground - even one with a $500K sales guarantee in place is not going to be easy -and even as a storyboard guy working in Hollywood looking for his shot at stardom in the film world - like many before me. It's …tough.
Like many of us in the business, I had dreamed of making ‘my’ movie. Moving to Hollywood etc and - following it up with several more productions, as each imagined success enabled me to do so, on my cinematic journey. Storyboarding was just a stepping stone… right? - First I would need a script...
As a youth, I had worked in an old derelict cinema in the north of England - (Crewe Fresno type UK working-class town)where better to start my journey?
It sounds as though there would be a lot of material for a smart, ironic comedy/satire: I imagine it should do very well; has the film been on the festival circuit or did you intend for it go straight to distribution?
Fizzy Days conjures up bottles of Prosecco for me - cocktail circuit, production meetings... but is it intended more to suggest more the bubbling up of creativity, the process of developing ideas? :)
Ha-Julia Warren. A 'Fizzy' is a small Japanese motorbike--that was very popular in the Glam era of the 1970s UK. Many youths at the time aspired to own one, as it was available to ride on a provisional license at the age of 16 ( you couldn't drive a car until 17 back then). Fizzy Days the film is about a coming-of-age- comedy heist romp set in the north of England. Two boys quest to find funds to afford a small motorbike - their motto being 'If you've got the right ride - you can pull the birds!'
The short 30-minute promo did quite well-- but the feature -that was more... Fizzy Days and Plastic Monkeys!