John August

Film Industry

Writer on-set

Film Industry, QandA

If you sell a screenplay and it goes into production, is
there any way to get on-set to watch your movie being filmed, even if it
has been re-written?

–Matt

One of the issues that came up in the latest negotiation between the Writers
Guild and the studios was whether screenwriters should have guaranteed access
to the set. Surprisingly, the biggest opponent to the idea was the Directors
Guild, perhaps concerned that having writers on the set might diminish the
director’s power and control.

In the end, allowing writers to visit the set was added to a new list of "preferred
practices." It’s a compromise, but certainly a step in the right direction.

Even without the latest ruling, in my experience the level of the writer’s
involvement during production has everything to do with his relationship with
the director and producers. On GO, I was there for every frame shot. On CHARLIE’S
ANGELS, I trekked down to the soundstages occasionally. MINORITY REPORT, just
once. (And that was mostly just to see the sets, which were the most elaborate
things I’ve ever seen.)

What few writers understand before visting a set is just how boring they are.
Shooting a movie is like running through mud, and if you don’t have a job on
the set, it gets old incredibly fast. For my money, a writer’s time is better
spent in the editing room, helping to find the best movie in the footage that
was shot. You don’t get to hobnob with big stars, but you’re more likely to
actually improve the movie.

Scripts sold

Film Industry, QandA

Is there a site where I can
find out what some movie scripts sold for?

–Rick Weeks

Doesn’t anyone Google anymore? I just tried "script sales," and
found a dozen decent sites, including the cleverly named scriptsales.com.

Some sites require registration, and others are pay sites. (Such as hollywoodreporter.com,
one of the most trustworthy in my humble opinion.)

If you’re looking to find out how much a specific script sold for, try Googling
the writer’s name or the project’s title, or search inside Variety.com. But
be aware that the sales price is often not reported, or when it is, is often
wildly inflated.

To live and die in LA

Film Industry, QandA

In your opinion, does a feature scriptwriter need to live in the Los Angeles
area to be fairly active in the business and sell work?

–K. Strom

Yes. As much as I want to believe that a fledgling screenwriter in Scranton,
PA, can take the industry by storm, the majority of writers working in studio feature films live and work in Los Angeles, at least in the early stages of
their career.

Could you do it in London? Sure. New York? Probably. Could you just commute
back and forth to LA, spending most of your time somewhere else? Maybe.

The real question is should you, K. Strom, move from wherever you live to
Los Angeles? That’s the $1000 question, and one that’s been raised at least
half a dozen times in the three years I’ve been writing this column. Basically,
if your life’s dream is to become a giant Hollywood screenwriter, then you
need to live in Hollywood. If you have different goals — indie films, for
example — your options are much more open.

Does a Brit have a chance?

Film Industry, QandA

questionmarkI’m a 20-year old university student from London, currently studying film and creative writing at Buckinghamshire University. I’ve got a few questions that I would really appreciate you answering:

  1. Coming from England and being a wannabe film writer, would you suggest moving to America or at least selling to America? To me the English movie scene is pretty dull and lifeless. Apart from the odd Guy Ritchie film, there’s not a lot to offer in England unless you want grim reality films of how poor the North of England is.
  2. Do you think being from England will affect my chances of selling to America in terms of dialogue etc?

–Scott Macinnes

answer icon(Scott actually had five questions, but other columns probably answered the other three. So let’s address the England question.)

While your assessment of the British film industry is funny, I also think it’s a little unfair. Considering its size, the U.K. has a pretty substantial film business, with a wider variety of genres than you’d admit. True, if you want non-James Bond big summer popcorn movies, you’re out of luck. But you can find good examples of almost every other kind of movie.

Unless you’re dying to leave England, my advice is to stay put and see what you can learn there, at least for a year or two. It’s much easier to make the transition to Hollywood if you have something to show for yourself.

For instance, Christopher Nolan went from the tiny-budgeted FOLLOWING (shot in the UK), to the small-budgeted MEMENTO (shot in the U.S.) to the studio feature INSOMNIA.

But if you’re sure it’s L.A.-or-nothing, then by all means come. But make sure you’re going to be able to get some kind of work or educational visa that will let you stay in the country for a few years.