-
Wondering which camera, gear, computer, or software to buy? Ask in our Gear Guide.
Producing companies contact mails?
- Thread starter Quarry
- Start date
No one will gamble one million on an unknown. Even if you had Indie credits behind you, studio productions is a whole new world where the chances of a buyout are great as the only thing they will do.
Start off small with a rewrite for what you can produce yourself. Studios and VCs are the only ones who can afford a million dollar budget and the only response they will give you is to lose their contact information. You need to build a track record of making money with your scripts first.
They prefer to do a remake of a blockbuster than talk to you about your script.
Forget even crowdfunding if you don't have a track record. The public won't be interested either
Start off small with a rewrite for what you can produce yourself. Studios and VCs are the only ones who can afford a million dollar budget and the only response they will give you is to lose their contact information. You need to build a track record of making money with your scripts first.
They prefer to do a remake of a blockbuster than talk to you about your script.
Forget even crowdfunding if you don't have a track record. The public won't be interested either
Quarry, what is your pedigree? Have you produced anything that has made money? If not, MDM is right, you are fighting an uphill battle.
Just to give some perspective: I am repped by an L.A. manager who used to be a development executive for Sony Pictures. My scripts have garnered interest from the producers of Avatar, Harry Potter, American Beauty, among others. I've directed 3 feature films, more than 60 TV commercials, 19 plays, and various short films. I've worked on 3 different TV series, and on commercials for the likes of Pepsi and Chevrolet. And published a book.
And, in the eyes of the big producers, I'm still a nobody. Tough business.
Just to give some perspective: I am repped by an L.A. manager who used to be a development executive for Sony Pictures. My scripts have garnered interest from the producers of Avatar, Harry Potter, American Beauty, among others. I've directed 3 feature films, more than 60 TV commercials, 19 plays, and various short films. I've worked on 3 different TV series, and on commercials for the likes of Pepsi and Chevrolet. And published a book.
And, in the eyes of the big producers, I'm still a nobody. Tough business.
Some Indie films are made with budgets of $20 to $50 and look like home made films others look better with more noney.
Studio films are made with millions of dollars and get distributed in cinemas worldwide, TV, DVD, and VOD. They have well known talent and cutting edge special effects and action scenes.
Studio films are made with millions of dollars and get distributed in cinemas worldwide, TV, DVD, and VOD. They have well known talent and cutting edge special effects and action scenes.
What the above are saying is right and wrong.
If your script is amazingly good character piece, then it won't be hard to find a studio to buy your script from you. Just be aware, that everyone thinks their ugly duckling (baby) is the most beautiful thing in the world. Have you got anyone to read your script so far? What was their reaction?
If it is that good, there is also a decent chance that you may find someone willing to put up the money. The trick though, it's a really tough business. It sounds like you want to make it yourself and just have someone finance it. This opens up a large can of worms and extra questions which is likely to increase the budget unless you have some sort of tract record. Then again, there are micro projects like yours that sometimes don't get any studio scrutiny.
Here is a few questions for you:
What has been the performance of 5 best performing similar movies in the last 5 years? (in other words, what is the potential)
What is the compelling hook?
Who (cast and crew of audience pulling power) do you have attached (or interested in becoming attached) to this project?
How do you know you can make this movie for 1 million dollars?
What is the current buzz for your movie? If none, how would you create that buzz?
There are lots more questions than just those. Those are just some of the bigger, more important ones.
If you're aiming at independent studios then you're in for a big shock. They'd rather have you spend your own money making the movie and then pay you pennies on the dollar for it. Don't hate them for it, that's just the business side of independent movies. You could however have the next big hit, so everything above could wrong. The best situation you can have is multiple studios bidding for your movie.
I can tell you just that it's a really good story and idea that hasn't been done ever before. Many relatives of mine have read it and even those who were actually insulted by the content of the script (which is extremely provoking) have assured me about it's success.
I'm just the scriptwriter. I'm not intending to make this movie on my own. I believe it's a low budget film because it's a thriller. No special effects, except of the violence, no acrobatics, no special locations, no destruction of vehicles and things like that. Imagine something like Saw, only a better idea and story and much more provoking and violent.
I'm just looking for an independent studio to make it a movie.
I'm just the scriptwriter. I'm not intending to make this movie on my own. I believe it's a low budget film because it's a thriller. No special effects, except of the violence, no acrobatics, no special locations, no destruction of vehicles and things like that. Imagine something like Saw, only a better idea and story and much more provoking and violent.
I'm just looking for an independent studio to make it a movie.
I doubt it, but I'd love being surprised.
If it is completely new as you're saying, you're in for an extremely tough slog. Anyone willing to put money into a project is going to ask you for your expected returns. They're also going to expect for you to explain where you're getting that data from. It's hard to get data for something when everything is unproven. (new story idea, new writer etc).
A big chunk of the time people think an idea is new is because the idea doesn't work commercially. It's usually been done before, but was unsuccessful. I'm sure you wouldn't see even 2% all of the 5000-10000 movies made each year. Yes, that's 100 to 200 movies made on average every week. It's tough for me to believe that none of those movies made over the last 10 years, most likely one the obscure, unknown movies didn't come very close to, if not spot on to your story idea. That all being said, I'd expect you have executed the script differently.
Not necessarily true. How many scenes, characters, locations? How much violence? How much time will you need stunt coordinators and stuntmen? There's a lot that goes into a budget. The less locations you can have, typically the better. The more locations, it tends to need more shooting time, hence a larger budget etc. This is overly simplistic version of budgeting, but I suspect it may help a little.
For instance, some thriller budgets:
Silence of the Lambs: 19mil
Basic Instinct: 49mil
Seven: 33mil
The Bone Collector: 73mil
Now of course there are some major stars in those movies. Saw was made for 1.2mil so it can be done on the cheap.
The problem I see is you believing it's never been done before. If you cannot show similarities to other successful movies, it's going to be a really tough sell. You're going to do a lot more hard work pounding the pavement begging people to read it as you're not going to have a good way to cut down on who is best to approach.
Anyway, my suggestion: Look for studios that have successfully produced and/or distributed a movie in your direct genre (sounds like it is Torture Porn, more commonly known as Horror - Torture). Lionsgate, Newline, Fox Searchlight, Universal and the list goes on. These aren't independent studios. Talk to them and ask to talk to the people/dept that deals with buying spec scripts and ask them if they're looking for what you're offering. If they are, ask if you can send your script. Make sure you have the answer to "why is your script better than [x movie]" and "Why is your script the best of its kind?". Most of the studios will talk briefly with you (probably via an assistant or intern, even if it's just to tell you to send it in or not to bother), some won't. Look up on http://www.boxofficemojo.com/genres/chart/?id=horrortorture.htm for the successful torture horror genre movies and their distributor.
That will give you a possible start. Good luck, you're going to need it.
This is a nice thought, but it ain't necessarily so. My scripts have been brought to studios by A-list producers, at least two of whom have a Best Picture Oscar on their mantel. To date, the studios have declined to option the material for a variety of reasons having nothing to do with the quality of the writing. Often it's because the studio has a specific slate of material they're looking to develop at any given time, and have already reached their quota for that particular genre. Also, they prefer material adapted from another medium that already has an established market.
Developing it independently is a much more viable option, though a million dollar budget is gonna be a challenge.
The phrase "indie studio" is a contradiction. A movie is either made within the studio system, or made independent of the studio system. There are "independent" production companies, who raise funds for their projects themselves, and there are production companies that have "studio deals" -- i.e., they bring material to the studio, who either "green-lights" it (gives them the money to make it) or passes on it.
Really?
Can you name movies studios bought scripts from unknowns? I know several studio producers I am in talks with now who would disagree with you.
Just do a search for "motion picture production company" or something similar. There are hundreds.
I'm just curious, is there a particular reason you believe you'll have better luck going "over the transom" (which means directly contacting production companies), versus querying agencies, who are way more likely to read your script?
I'm just curious, is there a particular reason you believe you'll have better luck going "over the transom" (which means directly contacting production companies), versus querying agencies, who are way more likely to read your script?
I can:
2010
Ion by Will Dunn - Fox
Unlocked by Peter O’Brian - Warner
Family Getaway by Jeremiah and Nick Palmer - Warner
Step Dawg by Jeff Tetrault - Morgan Creek
2011
Dirty Grandpa by John Phillips - Universal
Genneris by Nic Kelman - DreamWorks
Grim Night by Brandon Bestenheider & Allen Bey - Universal
Hidden by Matt & Ross Duffer - Warners
2012
The Waiting by Mark Bianculli, Jeff Richard - Warner
El Tigre by Aaron Buchsbaum, Teddy Riley - Sony
The Disciple Program by Tyler Marceca - Universal
Lights Out by Jay Frasco - Universal
Almanac by Andrew Stark, Jason Pagan - Paramount
Somacell by Ashleigh Powell - Warner
Arminius by Frank Moll - Fox
All unknowns. All specs. All first sales.
Yes. I don't want an agent. I want to make the deals. I want to speak for myself and my work. Not any other one. Besides... I have no money at all for these kind of things. It's true my only real talent is writing so, I want to make money out of it, but I'll never abandon my art. I see it both as an art and as a job. But I will never see it only as a job or else I wouldn't be able to write a good script. That's what I believe.
By the way, I'm really interrested in nordic companies able to make a low budget hollywood like movie (meaning about one million dollars, as I mentioned above). Can you suggest me any contact mails?
I should be surprised by the fact that I have many answers in this topic up until now... but not a single email address at all.
By the way, I'm not nordic and english is not my mother tongue.... Yet, I prefer nordic companies if they really can make a budget of about a million dollars.
Now... How do I know my script has a million budget? I suppose so, because it doesn't involve destruction of vehicles or buildings, special locations (meaning, locations you can't find at any country) and, certainly, no special effects, except of the... Hm... What would you call it? Right... "Extreme and provoking violence"... In fact, there are some scenes that have to be shot in a graphic location. But I, myself, can assure that it won't cost much. Why? because it's my birthplace. That's right. The graphic locations I describe are my birthplace and I know the people there. If their country is a part of a film they don't need to be rewarded with money. You see... Sparta is not america... "What? you have a script? We don't give fuck... Who is your agent? You don't have one? No... we don't care about your script. Not even the slogline..."
How would you say it? "Just an alcoholic who wants to make money out of his hobbie"... It's not true. I'm also a mucician and a student of psychology (that's why I'm writting a thriller). All my relatives tell me "why do you bother? You have a talent that you can make money of... Why do you care so much about a fucking script?". Fuck them... I don't want to show my talent. I only want to make a script a movie. That's all.
Last edited:
I'm not quite sure what you were expecting. I recommended that you perform an online search for production company web sites, but it sounds like you would rather have one of us do it for you. Either that, or you believe that someone here is withholding a cache of e-mail addresses from you for producers who are champing to accept unsolicited material.
Maybe there is someone like that out there. What do I know?
By the way, my name in this forum is inspired from this song... Of course, I wouldn't say any of these if I wasn't drunk...
(Although I can, I haven't searched too much about the song. I want to believe that it speaks about a battle and that's what inspires me.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU6q9OsWsP4
Totally coincidentally... this song has inspired me for many scenes in my script. I don't agree with the ideology of the song, since I'm a national socialist... but... Doesn't it inspire you? Here are the english lyrics.
There, on the great staircase,
On the staircase of tears.
In the dark sentry of death,
In the quarry of lamentation.
Jews and partisans are marching.
Jews and partisans are falling,
They carry a rock on their backs.
A rock, a cross of death.
It's there that Andonis hears a voice.
The voice
"Oh comrade, oh, comrade.
Help me climb the stairs."
But there, on the great staircase.
On the staircase of tears.
Help is an insult.
Compassion is a curse.
The Jew falls on the stair,
And the staircase turns red
"And you, my boy, you, come this way
Get hold of a second rock."
I lift two rocks.
I lift three rocks.
Me, my name is Andonis.
And if you are a man, well then, come here
On this marble threshing-floor.
(Although I can, I haven't searched too much about the song. I want to believe that it speaks about a battle and that's what inspires me.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HU6q9OsWsP4
Totally coincidentally... this song has inspired me for many scenes in my script. I don't agree with the ideology of the song, since I'm a national socialist... but... Doesn't it inspire you? Here are the english lyrics.
There, on the great staircase,
On the staircase of tears.
In the dark sentry of death,
In the quarry of lamentation.
Jews and partisans are marching.
Jews and partisans are falling,
They carry a rock on their backs.
A rock, a cross of death.
It's there that Andonis hears a voice.
The voice
"Oh comrade, oh, comrade.
Help me climb the stairs."
But there, on the great staircase.
On the staircase of tears.
Help is an insult.
Compassion is a curse.
The Jew falls on the stair,
And the staircase turns red
"And you, my boy, you, come this way
Get hold of a second rock."
I lift two rocks.
I lift three rocks.
Me, my name is Andonis.
And if you are a man, well then, come here
On this marble threshing-floor.
Last edited:
Okay. Just give me some names where I can search for an email contact address...
I found some indie companies names and sent hundreds of emails. One email for every company. None has answered so far. I'm doing that for two days, you see...
Of course I'm looking for experienced information, since I'm posting in here... so, of cource I expect YOU to find some email addresses for me, since they are not written in the web, or, if they are, they are difficult to find.
I checked at lion's gate, for example... No "contact" addresses. I found some, during my research. I mailed them... What was their answer? Hm... Tell me if you know it because they didn't send any to me...
I sent to "twisted pictures". Well. They answered. They sent my email back to me.
And, anyway, it's hard to find a company's e-mail address. Most companies don't have and, if they do, it's just to purchase a movie, not to hear anything about a script.
I don't know too many other ways to word this: Of course they are not replying. Most production companies are not interested in unsolicited submissions, which is why people go through agents. If you don't want to go through an agent, you will have a much more difficult time getting your stuff seen.
No one is going to disclose a secret e-mail address on a public forum so you can slip your script in through the back door. The industry does not work that way. You may not like it, but that's the reality.
Believe me. You won't like my script either, because it is reality...
No problem about all of that... In fact, I'm just looking for a company that can have an audience for me, through an executtive or something, That's the reasons I'm looking for mail addresses...