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Day 1 Assignment
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14 Replies
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Friends in High Places Lesson #1 Project and Market
What I learned is,… marketing is most imperative to be done correctly
Sci fi thriller, Friends in High Places,
Concept: A new theory to be presented that “Cause does not have to precede effect” in the arena of quantum physics through an autobiographical storyline of being able to prevent a serial killing by going into the “collective unconscious” to change “future memories” before they exist in the physical world and to change the events which result from them to save a life.
Most attractive things about the story are that it is based on a real proven prophetic clairvoyant and events in his life in which he used scientific cutting edge retro-intention hypnosis for him to enter the world of the “non-local universe” to alter data information in the theoretical “collective unconscious”, every thought past, present, and even those which will occur in the physical world future in order to solve a mystery but without the help of the police.
My goal is to continue contact to Norman Golightly, Nick Cage’s production partner for interest in playing the professor. I already had the late Jerry Lewis contact Nick by phone for me and he referred me directly to Mr. Golightly. I want to make sure my presentation will be concise and appealing to get Nick Cage to consider this role. I also have two other stars for this role and have direct access for the presentation to them, Sly Stallone and Brad Garret and want my presentation to them to be powerful and enticing. Lastly, for the same role I have spoken with Chris Lemmon about the role and he awaits my getting a production company’s interest “first” and then I might move forward with him. I have two other scripts, Ruse 1964 about an American female physician immigrant who goes to Argentina for her mother’s funeral and realizes like herself her mother was a healer who had attended to Hitler after his exile to Argentina after the war and ends up killing him herself. She ironically falls in love with a Mosad agent secretly working to capture twelve remaining Nazi officers hiding there, after having already capturing Eichman. I also have a racing script, Gasoline Alley, action, mystery, country music soundtrack. I need a country star or stars for this. Another project is a low budget kidnapping thriller, We Have Yoru Daughters, which takes place in a woods based on a true story in Georgia. I wish to continue to get, on the screen, a previously staged musical, Here’s to the Winners, already acclaimed as a live show in L.A. during the 84 Olympics. It’s about a Latino band leader who swoons a college gymnast on her way to the Olympics. It already had been slated by Universal in 83 as a film but never produced by them in time. It already has great L.A. Times reviews from back then and has been updated and rewritten. I wish to gain the right interest. Two of the songs had been selected by the late Allan Carr for Travolta and Olivia Newton John back then so there is a market for the right age group and genre and for the millions of young girls who year after year partake in gymnastics in this country and around the world and their families – a great G rated longevity film. I need to market this correctly to get production interest. I already have the endorsement of the United States Gymnastic Federation and a former US Olympic coach and Cathy Rigby’s interest for the coach, so… I need help in directing the marketing of this.
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by Warren Goldstein. Reason: typos
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by Warren Goldstein. Reason: forgot to include reason for taking the course
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by Warren Goldstein.
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by
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Susan Denaker –
Title – High Vines And Misdemeanors
Genre – Romantic Dramedy
Concept -It is 1989. Two long estranged sisters inherit their father’s failing vineyard in Sonoma and have to break some rules (and Marijuana laws) to save it. Things heat up when a couple of crooked sheriff’s deputies and three well-heeled bikers get into the mix.
The most attractive aspect of my story is how these two women heal their relationship, find love amongst the array of disparate characters, how they all end up interacting with each other and, along the way, create a surprising healing hybrid.
I would like to approach Drew Barrymore’s production company because she is perfect to play one of the sisters and I think she would like the concept even if she didn’t have time to be in it. Also, some screen writer friends of mine who wrote Batman Forever know her. Failing that, I’d like to approach Indie producers and/or Actor production companies who have an interest in promoting the healing aspects of weed.
What I learned today is that a lot of this feels overwhelming so taking it one small chunk at a time will help me gradually assimilate all the skills I need to actually get this thing made. And what I hope to really get is how to turn my book reports into stellar pitches, and knowing what details to include and what to leave out. After re-reading the lesson I re-wrote my concept as it seemed too brief and vague, and therefore lacked any kind of hook. I also elaborated on the most attractive aspects as they were originally also too vague. So what I think I’ve learned now is, specific yet pithy is a good thing.
Thanks. 🙂
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by Susan Denaker. Reason: I realized that I didn't include the bit about turning those book reports into pitches. That's huge for me
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by Susan Denaker. Reason: I explained my reason for editing in the what I learned section
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This reply was modified 3 years ago by
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1. Thriller; “The Terrorist;” A respected and charismatic engineering professor at the University of Washington is a bomber for hire.
2. This is a movie star vehicle; while also offering a role which could establish a new action star.
3. Actor’s production companies, since it’s a movie star role it would be best to seek out actors with the gravitas to play the lead—but not talking about big movie stars—actors looking for projects they can star in and bring to a studio where they have a deal.
4. Selling is about hooking, not telling. Market your script to your audience don’t tell them about it—fit their need.
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Scott “TOM” Dennis – FIRE AND RAIN – Actors Production companies
TITLE: FIRE AND RAIN
GENRE: A Psychological Mystery Thriller
Attractive points:
FIRE & RAIN is based entirely on a recent powerfully moving True Story. It’s a story of forgiveness and deep healing set against a sweeping subplot of true historical intrigue, cover-ups and deception. It’s highly attractive to both women (for the inner story) and men for the intrigue of exposing a major historical cover-up.
Target Audience: Actor’s Production companies…because of the extremely juicy roles for several actors, both male and female.
What I learned today: To really explore the essence of our story and what makes it attractive…and who might have the highest interest in producing it.
Scott “TOM” Dennis – FIRE AND RAIN – Actors Production companies
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Title: Don’t Look Away, Isabel
Genre: Coming-of-Age Drama
Concept: When a teen from a small farm town realizes who her fiancé is she struggles to find meaning and love as she is confronted with discrimination and disinformation during the time of COVID-19.
The most attractive aspect of my story is the growth and transformation of the protagonist and how she strives to rise above the many challenges she faces. The story has a broad appeal that would be of interest to teens as well as adults.
Target Audience: Actor’s Production Companies
What I learned today: Now that I have written the script it’s time to take off my writer’s hat and put on my business hat.
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Lenore Bechtel
Title: Sweetie Heaven
Genre: Feature Comedy
Concept: People shouldn’t get stuck in a rut, no matter how wonderful and admirable the rut is.
My story’s strong point is that is has many distinctive characters that actors would enjoy portraying.
I will target indie producers first because although Sweetie Heaven is a big, moral, merry musical, it can be a low-budget film. The big audience scenes can be filmed at any Sweet Adeline competition, and inexpensive singers can be selected from the organization’s more than a thousand quartets.
I learned today that I need to identify producers that make movies of the comedy feature genre.
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Melanie’s Project and Market
“Murder, Ink” – Thriller
Concept: After being a victim of identity theft, a young out-of-work journalist decides to enroll in a writing class which lands her a book deal based on her own life and introduces her to the man of her dreams. When he mysteriously goes missing, and she starts to investigate his disappearance, she discovers that her life has been hijacked again and that digging up the past can lead to grave consequences.
I’d like to target producers in this genre first. The screenplay is relatively contained, with a limited cast and minimal locations. I think it could be appetizing for a smaller production company looking to make a lower budgeted film.
What I learned today was that less can be more when pitching your project. Thanks!
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Title: DOC BAND-AID
Genre: Drama/romance
Concept: Star-crossed lovers torn apart get an unbelievable second chance, but will they be able to get past their past?
Most attractive aspects of the story: Dramatic role for A-list actor(s). Diverse cast. Universal relatable themes. International appeal. Broad audience.
Target Audience: Indie producer(s) excited to champion this kind of story… Perhaps someone like Gary Sinise.
What I learned: Brevity is the soul of wit. It’s the sizzle, not the steak!
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ASSIGNMENT 1
VAUGHN JELKS’ PROJECT AND MARKET
1. Genre: Sports | Crime | Drama
Title: THE MONEY PLAYER
Concept: The NBA version of Oliver Stone’s “Any Given Sunday”
2. What I think is most attractive about my story is that it depicts an immensely popular sport with a huge audience but delves into a more personal behind-the-scenes gritty story. Today’s NBA savvy sports fan wants to know more about their NBA superstars than just what happens on the court, and they often tend to love following professional athletes’ tabloid exploits and personal salacious drama with committed zeal.
3. I’ll target producers because I believe it will be more strategically effective to find and compile comparable projects from producers/production companies with productions that are akin to my screenplay’s genre and budget level.
4. What I learned today is that in addition to a well written and highly marketable screenplay, I need high quality/marketing materials and an effective marketing campaign in order to get my script in the door. My pitch needs to speak directly to the producer’s needs. I have to keep marketing until I either sell the script or exhaust the market.
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Title: (I am not sure) However it has to do with being a State Health Inspector- I am working on this
Tag Line: Food Code with a side of fries
Genre: Situational Comedy
Concept: Comedy/ Food Inspection A group of State Health Inspectors work out of an office located in a vacation/ resort area. This comedy series follows the exploits of Alexandra Lucas and her diverse team of coworkers who are headed by Tapman Chase, their near- retirement supervisor who hates upper management and is just trying to get his team to ‘make the required numbers’ for HQ so he can get a bonus.
I would like to target the producers / production company that also produced ‘Brooklyn 99’ which I believe is Fremulon, Dr. Goor Productions
What I learned today was that marketing is everything. I need to have a highly marketable idea and I keep the excitement that I generate in a pitch- running throughout my script.
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Title: HORIZONS
Genre: Drama
Concept: TV Pilot
During the 1930s Dust Bowl era, a gutsy widowed farmer’s wife fights corrupt and ruthless men to ensure her family’s survival, eventually becoming the Matriarch of a huge farming dynasty in California.
Most attractive about my story: Features a feisty and gutsy farmer’s wife who is forced to protect her family and farm after the unexpected death of her husband. The heroine steals the series in a man’s world.
Target first: Producers and/or Actor’s Production Company
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Title: Gordon Cowan – Project and Market
DAY 1 ASSIGNMENT
1. Give us your Genre, Title, and Concept.
Genre: Thriller
Title: HARDWIRED
Concept (log): When mistakenly given a file outlining a wealthy psychopath’s heinous scheme, Gwen must trust her very survival to the deadly assassin who’s sent to retrieve it.
2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.
In a new twist it portrays a struggle between evil and innocence, the balance of trust and truth and the breach of an assassin’s code of conduct. The project is “contained” and has a black female as the protagonist.
3. Tell us which you will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why you picked that target.
Producers. They will like it or not, up front. If they like it they head to the money.
4. What I learned today is this should be a fun class.
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Lindy Baker’s Project and Market
What I learned today are skills in targeting the companies and individuals in the entertainment field in the correct way to sell my script and get my movie made.
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Title: Rainbow’s SecretConcept: This is based on my own true story.
Even though she is in the middle of an identity crisis, a psychic accepts a woman’s plea to find her missing 6-year-old great niece and finds herself facing a treacherous conspiracy of faceless people who are orchestrating a child trafficking ring.
What I think is most attractive about my story is that it has unique characters and situations, is based on a true story and contains a number of twists and turns that will leave audiences guessing at the outcome.
Since I have a manager in mind that I’m building a relationship with, for this class I am focusing on producers first and actor’s production companies next.
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I have decided to work this course through a different project, so I apologize– I am “starting over’ on my responses for the assignments
For the project I am choosing a ‘Hallmark’- type romance that I have written and would like to translate to a screenplay.
Title: A Tropical Christmas
Genre: ‘G’ -rated Hallmark Christmas Romance (made-for-tv)
Concept of Story: single, up-and-coming Lawyer is tasked to plan his best friends Christmas day wedding in a tropical location. After several setbacks from a hotel room and wedding planner, our man finds that living life a little less ‘planned’ and a little more spontaneous can lead to love.
The most attractive things: The tropical location, the email MC is Italian, Strong family bonds, strong friendships, twists with head of the firm coming to the wedding, and many other twists along the way.
Pitch it to : I would like to pitch it to several current Hallmark producers who have worked successfully with this type of story
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