Studio Speak (What's The Deal)

[777-9311]

Hi Everyone,

I've been a Done Deal voyeur, soaking up knowledge. Here's a question I need answered if possible.

I spoke with a creative executive at a studio who requested my script. The script received a consider and has moved around the studio. She read it and said she's not a fan, but wanted to show someone else in the studio for their opinion. She said that she will call me back on Friday. I thought it's the norm to have Monday morning meetings about material. What's up with the Friday callback?

It's a very, very unique script. It seems that either you love or hate the script in its quest to find a home.

Help... 777-9311

[English Dave]

Hi Everyone,

It's a very, very unique script and when reading it, the script plays out in your mind as a movie.


:confused:
That isn't what you think is unique I hope? :)

I'm not entriely sure what the question is? Mondays are not sacrosanct for discussing submissions. Especially those that have't been put on 'week-end' read.

Good luck though, I hope you get a positive response on your script.

[777-9311]

[quote=English Dave]:confused:
That isn't what you think is unique I hope? :)

I've edited my previous post. The script itself is very unique.

I guess, why continue to get others opinion? Had she really liked the material, would she seek someone else's opinion and then pass it along up the ladder? But, I guess I should be lucky that the CE who obviously didn't warm to it, saw something in it to seek out another opinion.

Thanks for your insight!

Fingers, toes, hair and everything else crossed.

777-9311

[English Dave]

[quote=English Dave]:confused:

But, I guess I should be lucky that the CE who obviously didn't warm to it, saw something in it to seek out another opinion.



Yep. That's good going. Again, good luck.

[EJ Pennypacker]

Either way you've stuck a cord with 'em - which can only be a good thing - even if it does stop dead in its tracks.

EJ

[writerman]

"Tomorrow" means next week, minimum.

"Next week" means 2 weeks from now--minimum.

"A month" is 2 months minimum.

"3 months" is 6 months... etc.

"well talk in three weeks...if someone comes along and wants your piece between here and there you should do it... dont wait for me" = never gonna happen. :mad: @$%*!!!!

[odriftwood]

777, can I call you 7? 7, it's cool you've got somebody reading your script. And the fact that she wants to pass it around means there might be something there and wants to get a second opinion. Rarely will you ever find a situation that one person can greenlight a project from start to finish. There are many layers. As to the "when will she call and why on Friday and what about Monday..." take a deep breath... let it out... It's Hollywood, Max. Everything and anything can happen. If she said she would call you back wait for her to call. If she hasn't called back in a week, call her.

FYI, had a buddy who submitted a script to a major studio exec. The exec called and said "this script is wonderful, it made me cry." Still haven't made the movie...

[Jake Schuster]

Hurry up and wait.

:o

[writer0825]

I have to say, I'm not really understanding WHY she's passing it around if she's not a fan of the script? Also the other people that liked it, are they at the same company? It's a little confusing to me. But good luck, hope something comes from it. Hopefully it will get passed to someone at the studio who will become a champion for it. She doesn't seem like that person and I'd find it a little strange that she'd just jump on board to move it along just based on what someone else says --- I mean, can you really count on her to push for it like she should after something like that? I'd say probably not.

[Mikal]

Pennypacker said:

Either way you've stuck a cord with 'em - which can only be a good thing - even if it does stop dead in its tracks.

FYI: It's "struck a chord", not stuck a cord! Just so you do, I'm not being condescending here at all. It's an old phrase so you couldn't be expected to know its origins. In fact, GOOGLE doesn't even give it!

[777-9311]

I want to say thanks for your thoughts and experiences. I wanted to respond to some of your statements and questions.

creativexec: “You would increase your chances of success, if you wrote a script that simply inspired ‘love.’"

My Response: It inspires something. What? I don't know.

Boski: “….double (at a minimum) any and all timeframes anyone gives you for responding to anything.”

My Response: Tell me about it… it’s been two Fridays now. We've talked before. She's read my other specs. She passed on the others, but noted the strong writing but it didn't go any further than that. This latest submission, she's showing it to others for their opinion which is a first for me.


odriftwood: “777, can I call you 7?”

My Response: U Can call me 7 , 777-9311 , or the son of the Purple One

Jake Schuster: “Hurry up and wait.”

My Response: I’ve come to expect the worse.

writerly: "…by "unique" is it a genre thing?”

My Response: No. It’s just a VERY unique script (character-wise, visually and dialogue-wise.)

writerly: “I wonder if she has someone specific she's giving it to or is just a general comment?”

My Response: I know there are people above her. She’s a CE at the studio.

writer0825: “I have to say, I'm not really understanding WHY she's passing it around if she's not a fan of the script? Also the other people that liked it, are they at the same company?”

My Response: I don’t understand either by mentioning that she’s not a “fan” of the material, but wants to get someone else’s opinion through me for a loop. As mentioned before, she passed on my other works; and didn’t give it to someone else to consider. However, with those other scripts, she did compliment me on the writing. And to answer your last question, all of the people are at the same studio.

[777-9311]

English Dave: "Mondays are not sacrosanct for discussing submissions."

My Response: Thanks for clearing that up. I assumed it was etched in stone because I've always heard of that day of the week as being when everyone gets together for meetings.

[writeman]

I have to say, I'm not really understanding WHY she's passing it around if she's not a fan of the script?

This is more common than you think. I had a similar thing happen with a script I wrote that made the rounds at UTA (I was seeking representation).

One agent liked the writing but thought the script wouldn't sell, yet he still wanted another agent to read it just to be objective.

The old two heads are better than one philosophy. Plain and simple.

FADE OUT.

[kidcharlemagne]

You would increase your chances of success, if you wrote a script that simply inspired "love.

Read an interview with the guy who wrote The USUAL SUSPECTS. He said that when they sent it out not only did the people at the studios/prod. co's not like the script, but that they absolutely HATED it.

You never know.

[TDWoj]

Today's usage lesson:

Something is either "unique" or it isn't. "Very, very unique" doesn't make it more unique because something that is unique is by definition special - i.e., "one of a kind".

Thus endeth today's lesson.

-T, waiting for her teeth to stop hurting from the first onslaught of grinding brought on by seeing "very, very unique"