![]() |
![]() |
#191 |
Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: My liberal limousine
Posts: 1,705
|
![]() Ham's experience with one of his scripts, that he shared earlier in this thread, is one good example that this isn't necessarily always the case.
__________________
“The Hollywood film business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." Hunter S Thompson |
![]() |
![]() |
#192 | |
Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,310
|
![]() Quote:
-- I am so screwed. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#193 |
Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: New York City
Posts: 1,297
|
![]() NoirDigits says, “A writer’s ability (or inability) to craft a concise and intriguing logline is probably a good indicator of their overall talent.”
-- This is true. If the logline is an overwritten, meandering, mess of confusion, then most likely anyone will believe the script is the same way and move on. I suggest for a writer to workshop his logline before he posts it -- and this being after you workshop your script. I believe with just the loglines being posted it’s gonna be about the commercial aspect on deciding on whether or not to proceed and not the writing, so for a writer with a non-commercial concept, or a low concept looking for an agent or manager they’re gonna need help by way of getting solid coverage on their script in order to get attention. |
![]() |
![]() |
#194 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,060
|
![]() Good loglines are almost impossible for me. I let MichaelB come up with mine.
|
![]() |
![]() |
#195 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,060
|
![]() If it is a problem, then it's a problem. Loglines are not scripts. Loglines suck. And good loglines are often lies. A well executed script means there is a talented writer. If there is a system that is slanted towards loglines, that is inverse of where the slant should be, no?
I have no idea if this system is slanted towards loglines. I like that there are legit people involved and it's cheap. |
![]() |
![]() |
#196 | |
Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 648
|
![]() Quote:
If I'm understanding right, the junior manager that found his logline felt it was promising. So it's safe to say that Ham wrote a good logline. Thankfully he also had a bit of luck on his side. But look, of course I realize there are exceptions. I'm sure there are probably brilliantly executed scripts out there with concepts that are hard to condense. I wasn't suggesting that the logline was infallible. I just think it makes way more sense than agents and managers blindly reading every screenplay sent to them.
__________________
Ring-a-ding-ding, baby. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#197 | |
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: MA
Posts: 1,370
|
![]() Quote:
If you've got that amazing script... Very few managers read queries. Just about every time you get a read in the query game, there's a bit of luck involved. Most reps have a strong enough clientele that they're not actively looking. They put most of their time into selling what they already have, rather than looking for new material to sell. When they are looking, they've often got an ocean of strong referrals made by people they trust. My manager actually does read queries, but he only requests one script per week -- if that. Considering how many queries he gets... There are a few things you can do to increase your chances. Keep your query lean, have an amazing logline. Query enough (reputable) managers, and you will probably get a hit or two. Sometimes it's a hungry junior who takes a chance on you, and sometimes it's because you happened to e-mail the manager at the exact moment they opened their inbox. Just keep at it. I landed my manager with a query. Every success I've had has stemmed from that one e-mail. Granted, that was the second e-mail I sent him. In two weeks. Because he never responded to the first one. I switched out the subject line, changed up the query a bit, and went for round two. And then, when he read the script and showed some interest, I hounded him for a meeting. When I finally got it, he signed me on the spot. Be aggressive, and keep at it. Staying on topic, I think the New Blacklist will probably work in a similar fashion. Again, most reps already have a strong client list and a ton of referrals. Any time you get a read from this service, a little luck will probably be necessary. Maybe that rep or producer just happens to be procrastinating in the five minutes before a phone call or a meeting, and your logline catches their eye. Of course, here, the quality of the script is even MORE important than in the query game, since your script will be reviewed and rated. If you do have a fantastic script, and you're not getting reads elsewhere, the New Blacklist is probably worth a shot (as are the Nicholl, TrackingB, etc).
__________________
QUESTICLES -- It's about balls on a mission. Last edited by Knaight : 10-18-2012 at 06:40 AM. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#198 | |
User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: A muddy field in Ireland
Posts: 129
|
![]() Quote:
![]() |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#199 | |
User
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: A muddy field in Ireland
Posts: 129
|
![]() Quote:
I've put in the hours and now, finally, that work is starting to pay dividends, with a few read requests and a fairly reasonable placement in this year's Page awards (semi-finalist). I've a long way to go but I'm patient and have a plan. I feel that many writers will see the New Black List as their short-cut into Hollywood and all they have to do is throw a first draft up and wait for the calls to come in, whilst throwing their hard-earned into a black hole. Good scripts will get seen. I think that's the hard truth that many screenwriters don't want to face up to. If their script is good and they send it out into the big bad world, it will get noticed. But many scripts are bad (I've written plenty of them myself ![]() I would guess that the majority of scripts floating around out there (especially by un-repped writers) are not up to scratch. Writing a fantastic script is a bloody hard thing to do and takes a lot of time and commitment. I have no doubt that the New Black List's heart is in the right place. But I wonder how much money will be wasted by writers who are simply not ready to have their scripts posted in such an arena. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
#200 |
Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,100
|
![]() Never in my short career have I had to put together a logline to get someone a script. My reps normally do my loglines. And if I put one together it's not great. BDZ is right f*ck loglines -- a great script is all that matters.
I've read lots of great loglines and then the script sucks. |
![]() |
![]() |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|