Dueling producers dilemma

[dvsinla]

i'm a produced screenwriter. one direct to dvd. and another better production to start next month with an indie production company/distributor making it. no agent.

my problem is another script i wrote. possibly a good problem. i have a producer friend that has been with me for the last 2 years as i wrote it. his involvement is honestly minimal. he gave advice on scripting but his work trying to sell it never materialized. since i started the script... he started his own distribution company as minority shareholder and couldn't dedicate much time to selling it. his company showed no interest in taking on the project to a point of being rude by leading me on for a long time... only recently they agreed to use their name to getting meetings but it was made clear my project was not a priority and just a side thing at most.

we had a few meetings about it with others over a year ago but nothing ever happened. mostly nothing has happened for a year.

incomes a new producer through my own connections and he is very excited. he claims he can get money, and is definitely about to start shooting a few projects. he is legit. it sounds like he wants to take over and has the time and ability to do it. and i think if he can get money and cast and distribution... he should.

both are trying to protect their territory.

my problem is what to do with my friend and his company. no one ever optioned it.

my instinct is to try to get an option from the new guy to show he's serious and see if my friends company wants to match it which i know they won't. then i can throw it to the new guy and have my friend involved a producer separate from his company. i don't want to make it so much that new guy says no... but enough to show he's serious.

any of that make sense? thoughts?

 

[Brooksy]

I think it makes sense. I have a similar problem with a close friend of mine. He is a great editor has his own setup and works for free. The problem is his motivation. He drags his feet and comes up with excuses why he doesn't get things done. Even though he is one of my closest friends it is still my life and my future. I told him on a few projects if he drags his feet I will get someone else to edit it for me. I don't mind making that sacrifice. We are still friends and he does get upset with me, but it comes down to the fact that I can't wait for him to launch my career for me.

I got the sense you are going through the same thing. I would have the new guy option that script out for you and if he gives you the better deal then take it. It sounds like you are serious and if your friend isn't going to take it seriously then your going to have to go with someone who will. You gave him the opportunity and he didn't take it that is his fault. It doesn't make you any less friends, right? Anyway, good luck and let us know how things turn out.

 

[dvsinla]

yes... that's a lot of it. thanks.

 

[sonnyboo]

Get something in writing. It's all for nothing without a paper trail.

Your plan to get an option is a good one. Getting SOMETHING is better than promising it and getting nothing.

 

[Unknown Screenwriter]

Been there...

i'm a produced screenwriter. one direct to dvd. and another better production to start next month with an indie production company/distributor making it. no agent.

my problem is another script i wrote. possibly a good problem. i have a producer friend that has been with me for the last 2 years as i wrote it. his involvement is honestly minimal. he gave advice on scripting but his work trying to sell it never materialized. since i started the script... he started his own distribution company as minority shareholder and couldn't dedicate much time to selling it. his company showed no interest in taking on the project to a point of being rude by leading me on for a long time... only recently they agreed to use their name to getting meetings but it was made clear my project was not a priority and just a side thing at most.

we had a few meetings about it with others over a year ago but nothing ever happened. mostly nothing has happened for a year.

incomes a new producer through my own connections and he is very excited. he claims he can get money, and is definitely about to start shooting a few projects. he is legit. it sounds like he wants to take over and has the time and ability to do it. and i think if he can get money and cast and distribution... he should.

both are trying to protect their territory.

my problem is what to do with my friend and his company. no one ever optioned it.

my instinct is to try to get an option from the new guy to show he's serious and see if my friends company wants to match it which i know they won't. then i can throw it to the new guy and have my friend involved a producer separate from his company. i don't want to make it so much that new guy says no... but enough to show he's serious.

any of that make sense? thoughts?

Done that... Got a couple of those t-shirts... LOL.

Give your old buddy the chance to option it IF YOU LIKE. If it were me, I'd just go with the new guy as long as he's legit but give him a deadline and create a weasel clause for yourself just in case the guy turns out NOT to be legit.

filmy

 

[Blade_Jones]

his company showed no interest in taking on the project to a point of being rude by leading me on for a long time... only recently they agreed to use their name to getting meetings but it was made clear my project was not a priority and just a side thing at most.

There are many BS'ers in this town who talk the talk. If they are rude to you now, imagine how things would get if you were stuck under contract with them? Been there, done that. The bottom line is to assume that everyone is a quack no matter how outgoing, warm, etc the "producer" may be.