Day 1 Assignments

[Sky Canyon]

Sky Canyon Project and Market

Genre: Dramatic Comedy

Title: The Millionaire Monk

Concept: A disgraced, bumbling Wall Street guru-wannabe lands in a Tibetan monastery, teaches the monks to trade the market; against all odds they change the world.

What’s most attractive about your story:

It’s a great concept, and the logline (below) makes it easy to “see” the whole movie in 30 seconds. The script is well-written (refined many times from coverage), embraces diversity in the characters and the market for “feel good” dramatic comedies is strong; it follows a Hollywood formula so producers/studios can see profitability.

Here’s the logline: When a deliberate bad tip crashes the career and marriage of a self-professed Wall Street Guru, life conspires to land him in a Tibetan monastery where he struggles to find inner peace, teaches the monks to trade the market, and faces a life or death ultimatum when he attempts to save China from environmental disaster.

Target FIRST:

Producers are the FIRST target, however, it is possible that the right actor’s production company could be a good fit. It’s not managers because I don’t have enough projects to get a manager interested at this stage. There are a lot more producers than actor’s production companies, so producers are the target.

What I learned today is: This is the time to refine and perfect the presentation for this script and get in front of producers.

[LEE SKORE]

Lee Skore Project and Market

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Title: TELLING LIES

Concept: A Nantucket woman’s recurring nightmares are memories of her parents’ murders, and now someone is trying to kill her too, but she only survives if she and the sheriff solve the mystery of her past.

Most Attractive: (1) it’s a mystery… mysteries always seem popular (2) two leading characters… a woman, late 20s… a man, mid 30s… they must work together to find the murderer before he kills again.

Target FIRST: I believe Managers would know the producers or actors’ production companies who would most likely be interested in my script and could get it to them more quickly than I could.

What I learned today: (1) getting “in” was a challenge (2) I don’t know where the SUBSCRIBE button is (3) there’s A LOT I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to learning to do it well.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 8 months ago by  LEE SKORE.

[Ron Horton]

“Charley’s River” Project by Ron Horton. Market to Producers, Actor’s managers.

ASSIGNMENT #1

1. “Charley’s River” is a Second Chance Action/Adventure. How much should we expect to give up in our lives, in order to become fully realized? The Concept deals with one man’s world of internal turmoil, his dreams, and reality. How much might Charley have to give up to have the life that he longs for? Could it be… Life Itself?

2. When dealing with hopes and dreams, too many people stay stuck there, refusing to do what is necessary to become complete. Charley gives us all hope, showing us how to beat the demons, and rapids, in our own rivers.

3. This is hard to answer. Although I have an actor in mind who loves white water rafting, and would be perfect for the part, he’s an A list actor and will be very hard to get in front of. Therefore, I’ll probably target producers first, with the caveat that I will drop this actor’s name when we get to that point in the process. I am also friends with an actor, who is presently working his way up the ladder with TV parts, that I have in mind as a co-star. Management companies that Produce should go hand and hand with targeting Producers. I feel managers/agents would be my choice for getting in front of an actor, and I certainly won’t rule them out.

4a. This 1st lesson has brought me to the realization that I neglected, for 4 years, something I truly love.

b. It’s also shown me that I need to read, re-read, and then read again, all material that is presented.

c. What excites me might not be what excites a buyer. I have to take all my blinders off, and I have to keep at it as if possessed.

d. Years ago I was told to picture the movie poster when developing my pitch. I think I see the need to bring this into the development of all my sales tools. It’s how others see my movie that counts most.

e. I reaffirmed, with today’s views, it ain’t easy…. but it’s very possible. I can also realize my own hopes and dreams, and I won’t have to give up as much as Charley does….

f. Target, target, target. I have to research who wants what, what they are capable of, and then make it their decision to want the script.

[Danielle Dillard]

Danielle Dillard Project & Market

Title, genre, concept:

The Cut-Off Heiress, family comedy/drama: a spoiled young socialite, supported by her wealthy parents, gets financially cut off and must learn to make it on her own.

What I think is most attractive about my story is it showcases the benefits of tough love.

I will target managers & agents because I’m currently seeking representation.

What I learned is thinking of venues I can use to market my script, such as the streaming market.

[Tracy Lawson]

Tracy Lawson’s Project and Market

Title: Revolutionary Anna

This is a previously-untold story of a woman who risks her life to thwart a conspiracy against General Washington during the darkest hour of the American Revolution.

I will target actors’ production companies first, because I want to put this concept in front of actresses who will want to be Anna Stone.

What I learned today is there are different ways to reach out to people who have the power to get my movie made.

[Steven Weber]

Steven A. Weber’s Project and Market

Genre: Drama/Romance

Title: Conflicted

Concept: During the final days of World War II, a ruthless Nazi commandant loses his memory and begins a new life with the Jewish woman he has fallen in love with; however, he will ultimately face the consequences of his past.

What is most attractive about the story: It explores the possibility that even a complete monster might have an entirely different personality within him, which might emerge under certain circumstances. It also explores ideas such as love, guilt, and redemption.

Target FIRST: Producers and production companies, followed by managers.

What I learned today: There is a lot I need to do, but I am excited to begin taking the steps necessary to meet my goals.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by  Steven Weber.

[Jeryl Parade]

Jeryl Parade Project and Market

Genre: Drama/Romance

Title: My 90s

Concept: Series that explores romantic relationships in the 1990s. The protagonist is Crystal. She is a successful media publisher but is also pursuing her dream of being a singer/songwriter. The series touches upon 90s trends: Cybersex, pagers, grunge, the dot com bubble, Y2K hysteria & more. It also shows us what life was like before the ubiquitousness of mobile devices & MeToo.

What is most attractive: From 2020 to 2022 we the people of planet Earth have been through a lot. It is comforting to look back at the 90s as a time of great music, edgy fashion & cool new technology. What may resonate even more than the nostalgia though are Crystal’s journey from terrifying to inspiring men & her blossoming as an artist.

Target first: Streaming platforms

What I learned: The character arc could be what is most relatable about the show.

[Rodney Cavin]

Rod Cavin, Project and Market.

First a disclaimer: This script was written by myself and co-writer Stephanie Deal. We teamed after critiquing each other in an earlier SU class, and it has worked out very well.

Genre: Adventure/Suspense
Title: Abandoned To Die
Concept: Saved from death a woman is about to reveal her deadly secret to her rescuer when she learns he could be more dangerous that the psychotic killer who’s stalking her. After that problem is resolved, the killer attacks and the couple must fight for their lives.

I plan to target producers first. This is a low budget, contained script, a little different than the usual offerings, which can be adapted to different settings, varying budgets and flexible casting levels. It’s not a “star” picture, so locking in such a player limits the producer’s options.

What I learned today: This lesson revealed the absolute importance of proper marketing and especially the importance of all matters pertaining to the script must be from the buyer’s perspective. It must be a property to meet the buyer’s needs.

[Marian]

Marian’s Project and Market

Title: Wetsands

Genre: YA Survival Thriller

Concept: Two sisters, in their early and mid-20s, cross the Wadden Sea to an island at low tide, lose their bearings and have to fight for their lives when the tide comes in faster than expected.

“Wetsands” is a Young Adult Survival Thriller, with engaging emotional conflict, set in one of the largest vacation regions of Germany, which features impressive but also frightening nature and a real threat that no one is really aware of (based on true events).

I will first present it to “Streamers” because I think this could be an interesting and unique project for them.

What I learned today is, that it is important and helpful to have a fresh perspective and an articulated process, even for things you know or think you know already.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by  Marian Redmann.

[Claudia Wolfkind]

Claudia’s Project and Market

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Title: Clean Sweep

Concept: A germaphobe must take over her father’s cleaning business after he has a heart attack, and meets the love of her life – the world’s biggest slob.

What is most attractive about this story – We haven’t seen this before – a germaphobe and a slob falling in love. It’s a clean (no pun intended) rom-com, open for any age.

Target – Who will I target first? I’m torn… while I have always believed that I should go direct to producers, targeting a manager may allow me to get it seen by many more producers, help with the negotiations and much more. I want to have that relationship with a good manager who understands me… I want a career, not one sale.

What I learned today – I actually love the business side so it’s great to be putting that hat back on as I juggle the creative and the business.

[Lisa Molenda]

Lisa Molenda Project and Market

Genre: Dark Comedy

Title: Jane The Vegan TV series

Concept: A vegan activist gets in a terrible accident which causes her to be turned into a vampire. She struggles to keep her vegan ethics while jugging work as a biomedical research PhD student and primary caretaker for her ailing mother all while trying to subvert the plans of the real vampires of Orange County.

What’s most attractive about your story:

It’s a unique story in a world we haven’t seen in television (vegan activism) with elements and characters from well-known vampire folklore wrapped in a dark, twisted comedy.

Target FIRST:

I want to target actors’ production companies as I have two specific actors in mind for this and producers. I also don’t currently have representation so I want to submit to managers as well. I am looking to target people and companies interested in producing projects with minority and female led casts and more importantly I want to target producers and actors who are vegan and who produce vegan or environmentally conscious projects.

What I learned today is: I need a great pitch and marketing package to get my script out there and then I can focus on improving and refining my script.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by  Lisa Molenda.

[Brenda Noonan]

Brenda Noonan Project and Market

1. Genre: Crime/Mystery

Title: The Final Word

Concept: The murder of the lead instructor at an exclusive UK mystery writer’s workshop pits writers against cops to see who can solve the crime first.

2. I think the most interesting thing about my story is that it crosses two crime subgenres: the cosy mystery (amateur sleuth) and police procedural (cops).

3. I would approach producers first. This would be an ensemble piece with a lead writer sleuth and a lead detective as the main protagonists. And kind of like the game Clue. I wouldn’t be sure which managers or actors who could be approached with the script, so I think producers would be the best target.

4. What I learned today is that I need to think of selling my script by putting thought into who would be the best buyer for the script and having a martketing-style campaign for it instead of just looking up producer’s names and sending it out.

Looking forward to the class!

Brenda

[Seth Kuhn]

Seth Kuhn’s Project and Market

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Title: “Friday, We’re in Love” is a romantic comedy.

Concept: A young couple fights to save their marriage by only loving each on Fridays. No more, no less.

I think the movie is fun because you get to really play it up on the Fridays with day trips, honey-do lists, and curtains, but on the other days each person gets to be intentionally indifferent and “not care” as perhaps many people have found themselves on any given day in a relationship. Additionally, this movie is providing a somewhat absurd method to save a relationship. It takes the date night idea to 11.

I believe it would make sense to target actor’s production companies, especially leading ladies in their 30s and 40s. I think female actors more than males look for rom-coms, but I’m sure that’s a gross generalization.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by  Seth Kuhn.

[Ben Ather]

Title: Ben’s Project and Market

What I learned today is

My intention when I signed up for this class is to learn how to pitch. Now I see there is more to learn.

ASSIGNMENT

1. Give us your Genre, Title, and Concept.

Genre: Fantasy

Title: Underworld of Magic

Concept: An ugly beggar girl decides to learn magic and prove her father wrong, but magic

is taught only to the pretty ones.

2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.

– Concept is the only thing I can think of at the moment as the most attractive about my story. There are movies having to do with magic out there, but none have to do with teaching magic to certain people.

3. Tell us which you will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why you picked that target.

FIRST TARGET: PRODUCERS

– This is totally based on what I have learned in this lesson. I know nothing about managers and actor’s production company, which will decrease my success rate. So, I’m using the knowledge of what I have learned to pick the target I’m very confident I will succeed.

[Leah Gunderson]

Genre: Action/Coming of Age

Title: Eagles

Concept: A Paiute prophet sees the future of four Falsely accused Paiute teens fighting for control of their modern lives, while ancient legends awaken to test their readiness of transitioning into manhood.

Most Attractive: The boys become men who can navigate the modern landscape.

Marketing Targets (five tiers):

1. I need to work out my scripts until they change me. Enlighten my son. Inspire my friends.

2. I must write scripts that are visceral to directors, actors, producers, and audiences.

3. For actors, offer Oscar worthy characters.

4. For directors, offer scripts with dramatic and artistic components to be further refined by their vision and leadership.

5. For producers, align scripts with budgetary constraints to protect potential profits.

What I Learned from Lesson 1

1. I am more capable than I know, but will always be learning how to visualize the telling of each story.

2. The more I enjoy creating, the harder I work. The harder I work, the more failure I’ll experience. But discarding failed attempts requires greater innovation and this will make the finished product very satisfying.

[Leah Gunderson]

Oops. Here are the conventions:

Hero: Underdogs and Reluctant Heroes

Demand For Action: Out running the law while being tested by awakened Native American legends.

Mission: Escape legal, false accusations and disempowerments of modern life while establishing themselves as mature men full of tribal heritage, beliefs, and values.

A<font face=”inherit”>ntagonist: High school counselors, principal, sheriff, and psychiatrist with colonization mind-sets </font>assimilation<font face=”inherit”> into the dominant society.</font>

<font face=”inherit”>Escalating Action: Decisive actions of enemies necessitates demonstrations of defensive skills beginning with running to use of </font>weaponry in city an desert settings.

[Leah Gunderson]

Ok. Third times the charm (I’m racing to get caught up).

Most Attractive Action: The legends are REAL!

Most meaning to theme: The boys become solid men. They make the transition into adulthood.