-
Day 1 Assignments
Reply to post your assignments.
-
13 Replies
-
Cameron Martin’s Project and Market
What I learned doing this assignment is…a healthy reminder on the importance of getting the concept clear and marketable, as well as how to think on a business level. I’ve worked in sales before, and often saw my role when working in a call center for a health insurance company as selling the company’s capacity to give stellar service. I’ll have to remind myself often that I know how to communicate and sell to people, sometimes people who didn’t like me at first or the company I represented, and that I was exceptionally good at it. I often turned people around and won their confidence in both me and the health insurance company I represented. The other thing I’ll have to remind myself about are the handful of connections I do have (though many are several years old and without contact), and that every connection is a business one, not a personal one. It may or may not matter if I haven’t seen or spoken with some people in months or years, but the important thing is that I’m confident in the product I’m selling. My confidence and willingness to go to war for members on the phones is what made me a great call rep, and that same attitude should be applicable to selling a screenplay to producers.
Logline and Genre: This is a Space Horror story about a father who lost his wife to an outbreak of parasitic alien worms, and who must save his Asperger’s son from suffering the same fate a year later; but in order to save him, the father must rconnect with his son who he’s distanced himself from, on account of the son’s obsession with the very aliens that killed his mother.
What is most attractive about my story: I believe the horror element is attractive both because it supplies a unique take on zombie tropes through body horror and real life inspirations. I also believe the emotional element is attractive because it features a Aspie kid who’s obsessive knowledge of the aliens is both his greatest strength and a detriment to his father’s goal of keeping him alive.
Who will I target first: I think I’ll first try targeting producers, because I’ve worn that hat before and feel like I can think on that level. I also think I may still have a couple of connections there that I might be able to use. It’s a pretty short list, though, so actors would be next, and I think I know at least two that could play the lead character, Sully. I don’t know any managers or agents.
-
PS81 – Dana’s Project and Market
What I learned:
I need to be businessman and screenwriter. I need to consider the business side of scriptwriting and film making during the concept phase to increase the potential for selling my scripts. I also need to learn how to sell myself as a screenwriter as well as my work, which may lead to writing assignments.
Title: First Time Caller
Genre: Thriller
Logline: (I rewrote my logline as my script developed)
The psychotic personality of a man suffering from dissociative identity disorder calls a radio psychologist and threatens to kill one member of her kidnapped family every hour on air unless she can persuade the man’s conscious personality to surrender control by the end of the show.
What’s most attractive about the story?
The most attractive element of the story is the psychological battle between the antagonist and the protagonist and that drives them to a life-or-death conclusion.
Primary Target: Producer
My best avenue for success is to market my current script to producers. The script is a low budget, high concept thriller with franchise potential. The script features strong female and male lead characters, and a good psychotic character that will carry the franchise.
Secondary Target: Manager
I have several first draft scripts I intend polish into a professional portfolio before I pursue management.
-
Dana, script sounds riveting. I think this contained thriller angle is both new and compelling. Best of luck, should sell given the environment and need for contained films.
-
Thanks Michael.
Sorry I didn’t respond sooner. I just saw your email. Best of luck on your script, too.
-
-
-
June Fortunato’s Retirement Project and Market Day 1
(and thanks to Dev for some of this wording!)
What I learned today: It’s extremely helpful to review the logline and the inciting concepts. I’m excited to go through this module.
Logline When Crazyass Roy, 60s, meets his twin spirit, Kim, also in her 60s and she plays the same mooch game, it’s instant lightening in a bottle. They do crazy things together and he falls in love with her and wants to take care of her instead of the other way around. If only she’d stop running. Together, they learn to trust, to face their demons, and to give in to love.
Genre Romance / Buddy
Most attractive about your story Audiences in their 60s long for representation in stories about everyday people that have heart, romance and redemption. This is an incredibly sweet, deep and life-affirming story about two unique “still-hippies” – two broken halves – who find each other to make a whole, but only after helping each other face their wounds. The language is indelible, unique and culture changing. The cast is filled out with an ensemble of nurturers, and the city locations are within reach of each other.
Actors Kick-ass lines show off the comic timing and range that Roy that has, while Kim flouts her theatrical largess, a singing voice, smart as a whip intelligence and a fighting spirit. Both protagonists hide deep spirit wounds and yet, find love, find joy, and find belief again.
-
DAY 1 – What Do Agents, Managers, and Producers Need From You?
Lisa’s Project and Market
What I learned today is focus on the basics of my story and make it simple.
1. Give us the logline for your story and the genre.
STORY: An upstate NY mom kidnaps Santa Claus to save her business during the annual It’s a Wonderful Life Christmas festival.
GENRE: Christmas dramedy
2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most
attractive about your story.It is about a mom of two, way down on her luck, who looks for inspiration from Santa and her family at Christmas. Great role for a leading lady A-lister looking for a positive role with range.
3. Tell us which you will target first — agent, manager, producer,
or actor and how your script fits what they need and want.Actor/Producer – Wrote it with Melissa McCarthy in mind. Pitch to a female actress with a production company. And/or Hallmark channel.
-
Day 1. What Do Agents, Managers & Producers Need From You? – Assignment
Mike O – Project and Market
What I learned today is marketing and aligning your work with the right entity (producer, agent, manager, etc) is as important as writing a great script. The writing and marketing must be given equal time and attention if you wish to succeed in this ultra-competitive industry.
————————————————-
1. Give us the logline for your story and the genre.
Genre = holiday family movie (Hallmarkesque)
Logline = “As executor of her estranged father’s estate, Brooklyn discovers the truth about her parent’s divorce. On the verge of recognition and financial success as a painter, romance finds her at a crossroads: a treacherous employee, and a mother’s deception conspire to undermine her world. Brooklyn rises above deceit and tragedy in order to create her happy ever after.”
===================================================
2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.
The character arc of the protagonist who begins the movie as a sheltered artist who buries herself in her art, to a young woman who accepts her estranged father’s posthumous love and fights to keep his legacy alive.
===================================================
3. Tell us which you will target first — agent, manager, producer, or actor and how your script fits what they need and want.
I believe I want to target an agent given your description of their needs and wants: (1) Easily sellable writer who consistently produces paychecks; (2) Writer with a library of three or more marketable scripts; (3) Writer who will do paid writing assignments & have a great writing sample to show their skill level. || Also, I think if I align my work with a producer who works in my genre, it might be a quicker way in.
I have the last two requirements that any agent would find most attractive. I write, study and have a dozen finished/marketable scripts in several different genres. I have received good coverage on at least four of the scripts. I need to market them in a way that produces results, not checkmarks on an excel spreadsheet.
-
This sounds riveting, a contained film with a fresh angle. Like Phone Booth was when it came out.
-
Day one:
Dev Ross’s Project and Market
What I learned doing this assignment is…that now that my screenplay has evolved, I must rework my logline! I wish I didn’t have to because I thought my initial one was pretty dead on. This will be a challenge though one I am up to. Below is the first stab…
Logline and Genre: Outshined by the latest leader of a hot new hate group, a fading KKK Grand Dragon plots the murder of a rising black leader who also has synchronistic plans to kill him.
This film is a Sci-Fi Thriller.
Who will I target first: I am targeting A list actors first. Why is this film commercial? It fits the zeitgeist of our times. It’s so timely, relevant, has great roles for older male actors, is action-packed, emotional, dark and hopeful.
-
This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by Dev Ross.
-
This reply was modified 2 years, 10 months ago by
-
Matt’s Project and Market
WHAT I LEARNED: I learned the beginnings of marketing the script. This will help me understand the market better, as well as how to navigate through it.
LOGLINE: After the judicial system is switched to social media voting, a group of z-list influencers and offbeat outcasts must survive the Monster Hunt, as the audience votes on the creatures sent in to kill them.
MOST ATTRACTIVE: finding out which monsters will come next, seeing how the group finds new ways of killing them, group of outcasts coming together to survive, social commentary aspect
TARGET: Probably a producer or actor first.
-
Kate Project and Market
What I learned today is I have no idea what to do with a logline, but know who this story would appeal to.
1. Logline/Genre.
A young actress finds that her idealized long absent father wants to destroy a small town that she has come to love – now she must choose between the community and her longing for a paternal figure in her life, ultimately facing the truth of her family.
Drama
2. What is most attractive about your story.
The story features strong roles for actresses of color, particularly middle age; a family mystery; a small town pitched against a revengeful developer, and a traveling theatre group of young people.
3. I would target Actors first
2 50s Actress – both Latina and Asian. Complicated, strong women roles
1 60s man – a complicated man of uncompromising beliefs whose redemption is questionable
6 Young actors – 20s, male and female, various ethnicities. 1Strong lead for Afro-American female
-
Antonio’s Project and Market
What I learned today is…
Stop thinking like a writer and put on the business hat. That’s it. Writer arch plot point with a twist. That is exactly what solves many issues, because it helps to make decisions that the writer attached to his story and characters would not easily take. A call to arms.
===============================
1. Give us the logline for your story and the genre.
FEATURE TITLE: The Girl Inside the Fighting Cage
GENRE: Action
LOGLINE: When a prizefighter mysteriously disappears, his girlfriend embarks in a dangerous journey through the underground MMA world, where she meets deadly challenges, and fights for him to the end.
===============================
2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.A female-driven, action story about courage and an impossible escape that aims at a worldwide audience, the Dragon Balls, Ninja Turtles generation, and the world legion of MMA female fighter, martial arts movies, and Parkour fans. Can be filmed in fewer than five or six locations and small sets.
===============================
3. Tell us which you will target first — agent, manager, producer, or actor and how your script fits what they need and want.
I will target a Producer, because in the past couple of years, I have read several ads from filmmakers requesting scripts similar to this. They come up now and then.
===============================
How this script fits what they need and want:
- There is a two-decade growing interest on MMA worldwide.
- Many of the female MMA athletes portray a new concept of beauty only found in superheroes like Wonder Woman, Black Widow, and Matrix’s Trinity. Yet, MMA females are real.
- Some MMA female champions might be looking for promotion through the big screen, or may want to step into movies as a way of promotion, or to capitalize on their image on the way of retirement from the octagon.
-
This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Antonio Flores.
-
This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by Antonio Flores.
-
Anita’s Project and Market
What I learned today: Put my business hat on and think like a producer.
Logline and genre: Psychological Drama. A young woman who can’t access an abortion abandons her baby at birth only to learn years later that the child is her best hope for a life-saving transplant, leading her to search for a daughter she never wanted.
The most attractive thing about my story: It’s a very hot topic, in the news daily.
Tell us which you will target first — agent, manager, producer, or actor and how your script fits what they need and want: I will target mid-level Indie Producers with connections to streamers like Netflix. This is a very marketable concept with a fresh hook.
Log in to reply.