[Steven Weber]

Steven A. Weber Producer/Manager

1. How will you present yourself and your project to your producer?

I would deliver a one-sentence pitch to the producer, emphasizing the story’s hook. If the producer requests and reads the script, but has budgetary concerns, I would explain how I am willing to make any changes necessary to work within the producer’s budget. If the producer inquires about issues involving marketability and budget prior to reading the script, I would emphasize the uniqueness and potential dramatic appeal of the story, and I would also mention how even though it is a period piece, the most of the scenes are limited to the two main characters and could be filmed in or near the studio.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?

I would pitch my script to the manager similarly to how I pitched it the the producer in order to get them interested in the script. I would mention my legal background and how it helped me write the courtroom scenes for this story. I would would be open to any revisions of the script, and also explain how I am working on several other scripts, and be prepared to provide samples of my work.

3. What I learned today is….

Getting producers and managers interested in the script is as much of a process as writing the script itself.

[Steven Weber]

Steven A. Weber’s Marketable Components

Log Line: A ruthless Nazi commandant loses his memory at the end of World War II and seeks to begin a new life with the Jewish woman he loves; however, he will ultimately face the truth and consequences of his past.

Two components with the most marketability:

A. Unique – There have been many other stories in which a person loses their memory and becomes a different person as a result, but none, to the best of my knowledge, involving a young, ruthless Nazi captain during and immediately after World War II.

B. Great Title – What is good about the title “Conflicted” is that it is applicable not only to the main characters but to the audience as well.

C. True – The story itself is fictitious, but it references actual events (not just World War II and the Holocaust generally, but more specifically the Buchenwald death march and the Dachau trials).

D. Timely – Stories involving World War II, the Holocaust, Nazism and anti-Semitism never seem to go out of style.

E. It’s a first – As far as I know, there has never been a story about an SS officer who loses his memory and believes himself to be a Jewish refugee, and then falls in love with and marries a Jewish woman, who is also unaware of his true identity.

F. Ultimate – The film has a battle scene, a romance and a courtroom scene.

G. Wide audience appeal – Tragic love stories and courtroom dramas are always popular.

H. Adapted from a popular book – N/A

I. Similarity to a box-office
success – Regarding Henry, another film dealing with a man who loses his memory and becomes a better person as a result, did well at the box office.

J. A great role for a
bankable actor – The lead role could be played by Adam Driver.

Brainstorm: The main theme of this story is how the protagonist’s memory loss causes a good personality to emerge as a result, how this redeems the evil personality, and how the revelation of the former personality creates an emotional conflict in the latter. If I can pitch this story in a way that emphasizes the uniqueness and originality of the story and also alludes to this theme, I believe this could be a powerful hook.

What I learned doing this assignment: My story may be more marketable than I previously though so long as I follow this process.

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

[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.

[Steven Weber]

Steven A. Weber – I agree to the terms of this release form.

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

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

[Steven Weber]

Good afternoon. My name is Steven A. Weber. I have completed one script, and I am currently writing and editing several others. I hope to learn how to sell or option the script I have completed, and to improve my writing and pitching in general. In addition to being a writer, I am also an actor, a singer, a martial artist, and a former defense attorney.