With a script being reviewed by Michael De Luca films, I am trying to understand the numbers they are looking at. From what I can gather ,the demographics are crucial to entice the investors.I have had offers from a media group that involves hundreds of dollars for a full blown assault on the media as a whole , but it involves about 10 grand and for me to come up with that is literally impossible.I am what is commonly known as a starving author/artist,so how do I bring up the numbers with no cash flow.I have tried repeatedly to contact the acquisitions manager for MDL,Randal Martin, and no real luck. And since I am new to all of this , how do I get my credibility up for such a task. I am sure a lot of hopefulls contemplate the same scenario.So where do I go from here? I guess education is a big part of it.
Animation : The numbers game by William Rogers
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I’m not following your situation. can you explain again? Sounds like you have a script, but someone wants you to spend 10k on promotion? My instinct is to say keep your money. It should be flowing towards you, not away.
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If De Luca wants you as the Writer to pay for marketing. then they're running some sort of game.
Just thank them for their interest and move on.
The whole thing about this is they asked me for the script and submitted it. What I was told is that my numbers were low, due to the fact I was an unknown and they wanted to do a billboard in LA and three months of face book via Vertical marketing group, who actually put my script into the proper format and sent it to Deluca, who responded stating that they got it. And that's where it ends. Still under final review. So, I do not know.
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I've never heard of a screenwriter's social media following being a factor in a script being sold or produced, @William Rogers.
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I know, they like the script, but they wanted me to come up with 20 grand to promote the movie, and we have gone around and around about it, and now it is down to 10 grand. I don't understand it either, as they requested the script in the first place.
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Darlin'. It's a SCAM. Walk away.
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The social media piece is new, but I am also a book author and my latest proposals have all been rejected. What they say is "You are an excellent writer. Your book is amazing, BUT you aren't a social media influencer." Because so many publishing houses have folded, they only want to take changes on people with so many followers that a small percentage of potential purchasers will earn them money. Perhaps that is happening with film?
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DeLuca is at Warner Bros. and he is not immediately over animation there -- however he has a say in overall slate. Honestly, why are you looking at WB? They have no love for animation (despite the legacy of it with them) they have SHELVED 2 finished animated features for a tax write off.
What numbers are low?
As far as the promotion thing and billboard, I can assure you DeLuca isn't buying anything off a billboard. That is scam (as others have said).
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My demographics numbers are low, in other words, I have no extreme public influence as a most watched blogger, I guess. The one thing I cannot wrap my head around is, the script was written by Vertical Marketing, and it took about four months of back and forth to get it right. The total costs were 15 grand, and I was granted ten for their share, so they invested somewhat into this. From what I gathered, I did not have enough viewings and a lack of a website was probably part of it. I was going to build a website, but I am not very good at that, so I am looking into getting it done. That may help to get it into the public eye. I also got a letter from Dreamworks asking for a script, but having never written one, I was lost. and I missed the deadline for submission, which they did ask for upfront. A script in the right format ready for submission, I just could not meet the deadline. The demo numbers were for investors to put up the cash needed for launch, but being a novice, I thought the same thing, scam. I did get the script written though, so I guess it will give me the format to produce another one. I do know it is hard to break into the biz, especially since I am up in age. So, I guess whatever happens will happen, or not.
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Okay, now where do I go from here? Is it customary to get a dear John letter stating the facts or do they just ignore the facts and say nothing? I am just a simple country man who has a vivid imagination and I do love to write. So, either way, it was a fun dream.....................
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Now I'm even more intrigued. Someone launched a campaign on an animated property without a script and the results of the campaign was 2 script requests from DeLuca and Dreamworks?
If that's the case, then kudos to you. However, I am also flabbergasted if that is the case.
Animation is super hard to break into as a writer because most animation houses develop from within. If you have a vision and script, the best advice is to immerse yourself in that space a bit more, learn who the service studios are, network in animation communities with artists who can help you put together the visuals (although maybe you have that if there was a billboard?). It's not easy even for artists but it is a small community that most in the live action world don't fully understand.
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William Rogers You get to work on the next script. And, you keep your eyes on the OWAs that come up and see which ones may fit you. You can also take part in some webinars on screenwriting to improve your craft.
And, the next time someone makes what "sounds" like an offer. Ask someone here or elsewhere who's a little more experienced if it sounds legit and then go from there.