From the book I'm reading at the moment, Independent Film Producing, by Paul Battista :
In the same book, he write on how the most important people in the production are the director, the producer and.... the lawyer! You guessed it, the writer is a former lawyer. Who care about the script, when you can get a full day of gun special effects or better food!
And don't forget that a successful film is one that will look like it cost three to five times what was actually spent!
In making decisions regarding each and every person, good or service that you will need in making the film, look at the reality of the supply and demand for the particular item or service that you are considering. This does not mean that writers should never be paid or scripts that wash out at the Nicholl are no good, but simply, to drive the lesson home, that the little money available to a low-budget independent feature filmmaker should be reserved for the items for which there is little to or no alternative for replacement and/or will provide you with the greatest return. For example, the ten thousand dollars you might pay for a writer could rent the best High Definition camera available for a three week shoot and buy the tape stock, while one thousand dollars could buy you a full day of gun special effects or better catering for the cast and crew. Remember, a successful film is one that will look like it cost three to five times what was actually spent.
Assuming it is the right script, what the filmmaker wants to hear from the writer before closing the deal is :"I will, right now, sign any contract giving you all of the rights in all mediums and I don't want to direct the film, and I will be available to do rewrites that are reasonably needed with no monetary demands". That is the ideal.
Assuming it is the right script, what the filmmaker wants to hear from the writer before closing the deal is :"I will, right now, sign any contract giving you all of the rights in all mediums and I don't want to direct the film, and I will be available to do rewrites that are reasonably needed with no monetary demands". That is the ideal.
And don't forget that a successful film is one that will look like it cost three to five times what was actually spent!
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