The Movie Business

[930addict]

Any advice on getting into the movie business? More specifically, I enjoy writing and can tell a good story. This would be more of a second career type gig after I retire from my curent occupation. I picture myself writing and directing like M. Night Shymalan.

[sammyg2]

Shouldn't be too hard, I doubt there are very many other people trying to do the same thing ........

[930addict]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

Shouldn't be too hard, I doubt there are very many other people trying to do the same thing ........

Lol. I know, right? That's why I became a Systems Engineer instead of a writer initially. I'll be 50 when I retire so I should have plenty of time to break into the industry without worrying about money. The thing is I don't even know where to start.

[URY914]

Simple really. Write a best selling book and have someone make it into a movie. Done.

[recycled sixtie]

It is good to think ahead. Many of us have a book or two in us but getting it down into printed format is another thing. First you have to write the book and the second step is to get it accepted for a movie. If you have a short story for us I am sure many of us "critics" would express our opinions on your potential....

[ckelly78z]

Start writing out every abstract thought that comes to mind, construct a storyboard (chalkboard or cork board with push pins) on one wall of your house, and try to connect with red string all those abstract thoughts into a sensible convergence that makes a good story that makes sense, and gives the veiwer a sense of well being at the end.......EASY, RIGHT ?

[Chocaholic]

Or you could sleep your way to the top. That might be easier!

[wayner]

Read Stephen King's "on writing"

On Writing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Interesting read even if you don't plan on writing

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by 930addict

Lol. I know, right? That's why I became a Systems Engineer instead of a writer initially. I'll be 50 when I retire so I should have plenty of time to break into the industry without worrying about money. The thing is I don't even know where to start.

Step one: get a job waiting tables in LA
Step two: sit at Starbucks on your days off using FinalDraft on your laptop or hand marking scripts that you printed out.
Step three: quit job waiting tables, take job as barista at Starbucks
Step four: join writing group with the other dozen writers who come in every day
Step five: complain about the lack of vision in Hollywood
Step six: give in and start a spec script for Fast and Furious 11

[MRM]

The basic formula to break into the writing end of things is to write as much as possible and use your writing portfolio to interest an agent. The agent is the one who has the connections to get you in the right place at the right time to succeed.

When you start writing professionally you aren't necessarily expected to start out with a finished product. Instead, you'll probably get a story idea. You'll do an outline of the expected story line with a profile of the main characters and an overview of the plot and sub plots. You fully write the intro and a few scenes inside the movie/story so the people who review the material get a feel for the final product. You circulate this treatment and see if their is commercial interest. If there is, you finish the story. If not, you move on to a new project.

[pcardude]

I also want into the movie business. I wannabe a DP.

Anyways, dude! Video is pretty accessible now a days. Write your story and find an amateur if you want to film a short.

Either way just write enjoy

[legion]

Originally Posted by pcardude

I wannabe a DP.

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by legion

Lol dude

[VINMAN]

If you ever do get into it, all I ask of you is please, please, please, come up with something new and original!!.
Enough of these s#i#ty "remakes" and sequals!!!

Sorry..... I'm just still really miffed over the " Point Break" remake. They just couldn't leave that movie alone!


.

[KNS]

nostatic pretty much nailed it.

Vin - I feel the same way, tons of original material already out there, however. The big studios are just afraid to stray too far from sequels and remakes (they're "safer").

[widebody911]

[afterburn 549]

Ask Tom Laughlin's daughter.
He told Hollywood to go to hail.

[Cajundaddy]

One of my friends has had pretty good success writing screenplays that get produced. He was sitting in a screenwriting class at USC and his professor was Norman Lear. Norm liked his stuff and hired him. One in a million perhaps. I figure if you have about $80 million laying around, you are nearly a sure thing to get produced.

In other news his most recent film was the bomb of 2014. Win some, lose some.

[wdfifteen]

Write scripts for reality TV shows.

[pcardude]

Originally Posted by KNS

nostatic pretty much nailed it.

Vin - I feel the same way, tons of original material already out there, however. The big studios are just afraid to stray too far from sequels and remakes (they're "safer").

Yeah this! Big studios think remakes are sure ways to make money.

I predict independant films will become more and more popular in the future