Late last year I was approached by a producer via the Black List regarding optioning my script. He loved it, but his one consistent note was that the script was long at 118 pages.
No problem! I can make some beats happen sooner, trim the fat, etc etc. But as it turns out, he really just wanted to take a full 3 act script, cut 20 - 30 pages, then rewrite the ending into a cliffhanger. Therefore it could be sold as "Part 1- of a larger franchise.
Personally I've always thought there was a lot more of this story to tell, and there is plenty of room to make parts 2 - 6. However I didn't LOVE the idea of forcing a cliffhanger when it wasn't necessary.
So here are my questions:
1) I know for established franchises this is a thing (I.E. Harry Potter and Hunger Games). But for something that is likely going to be the indy route and is a unknown / unproven property?
2) How long should this re-write process take? So far it's been going on for a month. I do a re-write, he takes 5 or 6 days to get back to me with notes, and I turn around with a new draft in 1-2 days.
3) And just in general, how often should I expect to hear from my Producer as far as what he's doing and what the next steps are?
No problem! I can make some beats happen sooner, trim the fat, etc etc. But as it turns out, he really just wanted to take a full 3 act script, cut 20 - 30 pages, then rewrite the ending into a cliffhanger. Therefore it could be sold as "Part 1- of a larger franchise.
Personally I've always thought there was a lot more of this story to tell, and there is plenty of room to make parts 2 - 6. However I didn't LOVE the idea of forcing a cliffhanger when it wasn't necessary.
So here are my questions:
1) I know for established franchises this is a thing (I.E. Harry Potter and Hunger Games). But for something that is likely going to be the indy route and is a unknown / unproven property?
2) How long should this re-write process take? So far it's been going on for a month. I do a re-write, he takes 5 or 6 days to get back to me with notes, and I turn around with a new draft in 1-2 days.
3) And just in general, how often should I expect to hear from my Producer as far as what he's doing and what the next steps are?
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