Anyone work for a major studio here?

[Gamma_Winstead]

I'm looking for a way to actually pitch my ideas I a studio. It's hard when you don't have contacts.

[Foggy]

I don't think there is going to be anyone on here, but maybe someone can give you some ideas of getting someones attention.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by gamma626

I'm looking for a way to actually pitch my ideas I a studio. It's hard when you don't have contacts.

Start here. https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=31882

[Sussudio]

Hey Gamma,

I used to work for a semi-major independent studio as a script reader. Unless you have a direct in, it's pretty difficult to just pitch an "idea" to any major studio. I would recommend you try and write a treatment of your planned idea(/script), buy a book on screenwriting (I can recommend some if you plan on doing so), and after writing and rewriting a script, hiring an agent to pitch the script to several studios. It's a long road and a lengthy process, but it's a great way to get experience, especially if your script sells Each of the major studios receive dozens upon dozens of scripts every day, and as you know, only end up producing maybe 40 per year, so the chances of an unknown breaking in among all the rest are very bleak yet it can and does happen. Good luck...I'm not a seasoned pro by any means, but if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me

[uziel5000]

Sussudio,

You were a script reader? Man, I hear that's a hard life. Maybe hard 's not the right word but from what I have read, it can be monotonous and the higher-ups treat them like crap but it is one of the very few ways in the industry to start from the bottom.

Gamma,

If you have any concrete ideas you can also write a complete script and enter it in one or several of the many screenwriting competitions that are out there. Some are even sponsored by major studios. A quick search on the internet will yiel many results from the actual competition websites to sites designed exclusively to let you know which competitions are coming up and how to sign up for them.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by uziel5000

Sussudio,

You were a script reader? Man, I hear that's a hard life. Maybe hard 's not the right word but from what I have read, it can be monotonous and the higher-ups treat them like crap but it is one of the very few ways in the industry to start from the bottom.

Yep and sort of yep (I didn't do it long enough for it to become a hard life)

Gamma,

If you have any concrete ideas you can also write a complete script and enter it in one or several of the many screenwriting competitions that are out there. Some are even sponsored by major studios. A quick search on the internet will yiel many results from the actual competition websites to sites designed exclusively to let you know which competitions are coming up and how to sign up for them.

I would definitely not recommend doing that, as many of the competitions are known for being borderline scams. You give them money with no guarantee your entire script will actually be read. They could read 4 words, toss it aside, and send you a nice email politely explaining your script wasn't chosen but thanks for entering, and there goes your $30. IMO, I would spend the extra money on a good screenwriting class or book, copyright fees and WGA registration, and script editors and agents, but that's just me

[Gamma_Winstead]

I got a book last year for my birthday. I have a few ideas for original scripts. I think I might turn one of them into a book to be honest. I would also have loved to do an adaptation of stargirl.

[Sussudio]

best of luck to you gamma

[Blu-Berry Pirate]

For a complete outsider opinion; some of the happiest filmmakers seem to be the ones who started doing their own thing, on a shoestring budget.
My best advice, personally (not professionally), would be to, if you've got a big-budget script, to sit on it. Write something small, that you can finance and film mostly on your own. Save up your pennies and do it, yourself.
Digital technology has made this approach a more believable aspiration for a lot of would-be filmmakers.
If your film fails; if it doesn't get picked up for festivals; if it doesn't get anybody's attention . . . get an agent and start shopping your scripts around.
Would you rather your first experience, in filmmaking, be a successful picture that you compromised a lot for? Would you rather your first picture be something that you have a hard time watching, because they altered so much of the script?
Or would you rather your first attempt be as much your own vision as possible?
Even if it's a failure, in the industry, wouldn't you like your first experience to be a personal triumph?

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

Hey Gamma,

I used to work for a semi-major independent studio as a script reader. Unless you have a direct in, it's pretty difficult to just pitch an "idea" to any major studio. I would recommend you try and write a treatment of your planned idea(/script), buy a book on screenwriting (I can recommend some if you plan on doing so), and after writing and rewriting a script, hiring an agent to pitch the script to several studios. It's a long road and a lengthy process, but it's a great way to get experience, especially if your script sells Each of the major studios receive dozens upon dozens of scripts every day, and as you know, only end up producing maybe 40 per year, so the chances of an unknown breaking in among all the rest are very bleak yet it can and does happen. Good luck...I'm not a seasoned pro by any means, but if you have any other questions, feel free to PM me

Add to this, you could always try to film it yourself.

Logan

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Blu-Berry Pirate

For a complete outsider opinion; some of the happiest filmmakers seem to be the ones who started doing their own thing, on a shoestring budget.
My best advice, personally (not professionally), would be to, if you've got a big-budget script, to sit on it. Write something small, that you can finance and film mostly on your own. Save up your pennies and do it, yourself.
Digital technology has made this approach a more believable aspiration for a lot of would-be filmmakers.
If your film fails; if it doesn't get picked up for festivals; if it doesn't get anybody's attention . . . get an agent and start shopping your scripts around.
Would you rather your first experience, in filmmaking, be a successful picture that you compromised a lot for? Would you rather your first picture be something that you have a hard time watching, because they altered so much of the script?
Or would you rather your first attempt be as much your own vision as possible?
Even if it's a failure, in the industry, wouldn't you like your first experience to be a personal triumph?

Agreed.

Also, you could even save up a bit more, and screen your film at a theater near you.

I did something like this recently, my friend and I rented out a theater and got permission to show some troma flicks.

If you save up a bit o' cash, and screen it yourself you could gauge reaction from the crowd. And who knows, if you know a guy who knows a guy you might even be able to get some famous people to show up.

Logan

[Gamma_Winstead]

I'll most likely be getting anothing book for my birthday "screenwriting for dummies.". Looking forward to it. Have a rough outline of movie number 1. Movie 2 I am turning into a book.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I'm just gonna throw it out there for ANYONE who may happen to come along into this thread with the same notions...

I'm an actor looking to get my name out there. Anyone looking to film their work without any formal union based support system, I'm currently not unionized and willing to work for cheap... REAL CHEAP... cheap a la "mattress under a roof" cheap if deemed suitable for the project.

Let me know.

P.S. Sorry if this is considered a "hijacking" of your thread Gamma. I just mean it to be a "piggyback," since that is how many people make it in the industry anyways.

[CYMBOL]

I purchased Final Draft - it basically tells you what to do as far as Screen writing (formatting and tips). It's expensive (a little over $200), but it's very intuitive and shows many outlines including Treatments, tv scripts, movie scripts, theater, etc.

I'm very pleased with it.

[Gamma_Winstead]

Got a profile or anything to show me Petra? I'd be interested in seeing if we could work together.

Sweet, I'll look into that cymbol!

[Sussudio]

jaded - good addition, i completely agree

cymbol - final draft is a fantastic program and imo the best screenwriting program

gamma - other great books to check out: SCREENPLAY (Syd Field) - this is one of the most widely used screenplay teaching tools in the world. many teachers base their classes around it. The Screenwriter's Bible is another good one, as is STORY for the fundamentals of how to tell and structure a good story.

[jadedeath]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

jaded - good addition, i completely agree

It's also bleedin expensive, but worth it.

All in, {with 2 showings} I was able to rent the theater on a Thursday for 1200.

Logan

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by jadedeath

It's also bleedin expensive, but worth it.

All in, {with 2 showings} I was able to rent the theater on a Thursday for 1200.

Logan

not a bad deal at all, and it never hurts to be in charge of your own production

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by gamma626

Got a profile or anything to show me Petra? I'd be interested in seeing if we could work together.

Sweet, I'll look into that cymbol!

Gamma, I have a Facebook profile that contains my DEMO REEL. I'll PM you the link to my profile. If you have an account, add me as a friend so you can check it out. Likewise, anyone else with need of actor services, PM me.

Originally Posted by jadedeath

It's also bleedin expensive, but worth it.

All in, {with 2 showings} I was able to rent the theater on a Thursday for 1200.

Logan

I'm not sure if you've checked out my DEMO REEL Logan, but I know we've connected on Facebook. If you have, feel free to express any opinions of what you saw to Gamma.

[jadedeath]

Hey Gamma,

Petra's demo reel is good, I'd work with him, I just don't have the cash reserves after being laid off recently.

Logan