I was recently approached by an alleged production company that offered to make my book into a movie using nonunion cast and crew. I got the impression they've been trolling blogs like this one looking for stuff that's nearly ready but unfinanced. Besides crossing the line being a career ending event, I can't even imagine what a dinner theater budget would look like with my work.
That being said, remain vigilant. These skanks talk a slick game.
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I've heard we can go that route, but I think that union actors, writers and anyone who sympathizes with them (like MOST of the good folks out there!!) may not want to work with you later on. Just something to consider........
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Just so you know many writers and cast & crew start careers doing non-union movies.
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Dan MaxXx, I am aware of that. However, this is a $20MIL project.
Pamela, thus my comment about "career ending event."
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Maurice Vaughan they claimed they could get it on MAX. I can't see an indie pulling that off. And, again, I know indies, and others, go nonunion all the time. This isn't a project that fits well there.
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Why do you think "I got the impression they've been trolling blogs like this one looking for stuff that's nearly ready but unfinanced" is the company trolling, Bill McCormick?
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Maurice Vaughan as to the trolling, the one gentleman dropped the names of several other screenwriters they had talked to and dropped the comment about (paraphrased) "There are so many unfunded projects on the internet."
Ok, I see, Bill McCormick.
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Dan Guardino they made a lowball offer, contingent on many things, and then large promises without supporting proof. God knows what would have gotten made, if anything.
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Dan MaxXx, I'll simply say one of the producers who made Joker created the budget and is helping me get this to the next level. They think it has value and a chance.
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Bill McCormick Stay off the internet :) any real deal ppl do in silence, and don't talk publicly until the contract ink is dry. Good Luck!
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Dan MaxXx Thanks. I shared to warn others. My business is well hidden.
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Dan MaxXx .... RE: "$20M budget in today's time with bankrupt theater chains and covid still around, is ridiculously high...."
A project I'm working on is a limited series. Would I be correct in presuming that that would carry over to the 45-minute pilot I am planning?
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Pamela S K Glasner tv world is different from movies. Best to talk to your agents & managers. They're the experts
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Dan Guardino, acknowledged. But, based on what I have heard from a few friends - not a scientific survey by any means - they seem to be more aggressive now.
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Dan Guardino Agreed.
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I imaging it would follow this pattern.
1) Sign an agreement.
2) Start the process, then get you involved.
3) “we’d like to bring you in as a producer” So they can leverage you understand of the story. (amazing).
4) Now as a producer how much can you contribute. “we need some money in the bank to attract real investors”.
It may not be this type of scam. But the industry has a standard operating method.
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Craig D Griffiths - That's terrible! But if the screenwriter's already signed and THEN realizes it's a scam, the wrier's screwed, isn't he/ she?
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Most criminals are interested in your money. Not your work. So a agreement like that would probably be destroyed in court.
I am a real skeptic. So until I have covered everything I don’t deal with people.
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Pamela S K Glasner Assuming it is an actual company with IMDB credits, a really simple due diligence step is to check if any of their movies list the screenwriter as a producer. It can be legit, if it is a big name, but generally it is a red flag.
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First three features I've made were all under $1m budget. We've always gone SAG but have certainly considered otherwise when trying to budget. If that makes me a "skank" then so be it.
Everyone has to start somewhere. Showing you can write something that performs well but costs very little is a good feather to have in your cap.
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CJ Walley that doesn't make you a skank. Especially with those budgets.
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M LaVoie I've been getting lessons in film finance lately and all you said rings true. In my case streaming is probably the only way to go.