Films - selling them an idea for another one..
Discussion
Basically you need to write a sceeenplay, then you need to put it in the hands of someone who can get it to the right people. If you don't already know someone, then it's going to be very difficult.
If you are up to writing a screenplay then you would probably be better to start with an original idea, better still to write a novel. If you can get that published then you would have a flying start.
If you are up to writing a screenplay then you would probably be better to start with an original idea, better still to write a novel. If you can get that published then you would have a flying start.
Mojooo said:
You would need permission from whoever owns the copyright on the first movie as well as you are adapting their work - so it makes sense to take it to the original studio.
Do you mean simply the idea that I have? That was my original idea but then I worried they might just use it and I get nothing out of it...However just writing to the studio is still better because writing a screen pley etc is beyond my skills and my time available!
k load of money.Jasandjules said:
Mojooo said:
You would need permission from whoever owns the copyright on the first movie as well as you are adapting their work - so it makes sense to take it to the original studio.
Do you mean simply the idea that I have? That was my original idea but then I worried they might just use it and I get nothing out of it...However just writing to the studio is still better because writing a screen pley etc is beyond my skills and my time available!
You could always send in your idea but keep a secure copy somewhere (i.e post a few sealed copies and keep them) - that way u can get rich once they cut you out and make the movie anyway!
Jasandjules said:
As in just seek to protect the intellectual property rights by confirming that I had the idea before they wrote the next film?
That I can do!
If they make a film with your idea without permission then yes - as long as you can prove itThat I can do!
If you made a story and used their characters and they did not give you permission then effectivley you have a story you annot use.
If you write a story without their permission the story is still your IP - you just cant do anything with it (legally) til you have their permission.
Jasandjules said:
bonsai said:
How can you protect intellectual property that isn't yours?
Because an IDEA can attract IP protection. However writes it down first wins in effect.....
Moj, cheers for that, I think I will write it down, and then write to them.
An idea will not get any IP proetection.
It is the execution of the idea that would be protected.
You can write a screenplay about any subject you want. If, however, the execution of the characters, their actions, their settings is too similar to another, already published work, expect a lawssuit.
See the result in the very recent case against 'Men at work' for the musical into to 'I come from a land down under'.
As to writing down an idea for a prequel and sending it in - good luck.
I don't want to piss on your chips in any way - as you may be a brilliant writer with a really brilliant concept - but bear in mind that big studios will have many writers and writing teams on retainer, will have thousands of scripts on spec sent by agents of writers and even more speculative scripts sent in by writers with no agents.
It is a very very tricky market.
Ideas are a dime a dozen. It is the execution, i.e., the script, that is the deal clincher.
Good luck.
Let us know how you get on.
Jasandjules said:
Well, all I have is the idea thus far......
Basically the story to be played out.
It would not be a copy of anything out there because it is designed to be a prequel to a specific film to "set the scene"...
It *can* be done.Basically the story to be played out.
It would not be a copy of anything out there because it is designed to be a prequel to a specific film to "set the scene"...
However, don't expect a huge cut for an idea.
A famous example I know of is Bruckheimer's ex-partner, the ideas guy read a magasine one day and read a documentary article about the elite US navy flying school.
He rang up the writer and offered him about $50,000 to use the idea for a film and the year after made 'Top Gun'.
Mojoo, sorry I meant the "idea" as such can be covered by IP once it is written down to prove it. But it is the idea of the film which I want to protect, and then sell.
Justin, I'd be more than happy with £50,000 for my idea !! (Though it is a bit more a cheat than an original idea) - Frankly I want to see the film I am proposing !!!
Justin, I'd be more than happy with £50,000 for my idea !! (Though it is a bit more a cheat than an original idea) - Frankly I want to see the film I am proposing !!!
Lets say you wrote a brand new script.
2 years later it has been made into a film by someone else from a script made by someone else 1 year after you wrote yours.
Yes, then I think you have a case, because the film has obviously been made by a script and you had written it first.
Proving it is another matter of course....
Incidentally, I find bootlegging quite interesting, because if you make a bootleg then you actually own the copyright to the sound recording you have made but would be in breach of copyright if you tried to sell it coz the content is copyrighted and there is also protection for live performance!
2 years later it has been made into a film by someone else from a script made by someone else 1 year after you wrote yours.
Yes, then I think you have a case, because the film has obviously been made by a script and you had written it first.
Proving it is another matter of course....
Incidentally, I find bootlegging quite interesting, because if you make a bootleg then you actually own the copyright to the sound recording you have made but would be in breach of copyright if you tried to sell it coz the content is copyrighted and there is also protection for live performance!
Jasandjules said:
Right,
There are a couple of films I like but which have glaring gaps in them. Now, I am thinking of Prequels etc.. BUT can I sell a film company the basis of a prequel for a film they've already made?
If so, how?
There is nothing stopping you but doing so is exceptionally difficult unless you have connections and a track record.There are a couple of films I like but which have glaring gaps in them. Now, I am thinking of Prequels etc.. BUT can I sell a film company the basis of a prequel for a film they've already made?
If so, how?
The best route is via an agent. Get yourself a copy of the Artists and Writers Year Book. This contains listings of all the agents and then it's really a case of hitting the phones and sending out proposals.
Don't write the full screenplay - just a snippit is fine.
Bear in mind that succesful screenwriters with many, many broadcast drama credits to their name here in the UK struggle to get a pilot off the ground in the US.
I know of one with UK dramas that pulled in decent audience shares (enough to have four or five series on ITV), a perfect demographic audinec in the US and the US agents (ICM) have been trying for nearly 4 years now to get a deal done.
As before I don't want to piss on your chips. Unless you happen to be a particularly gifted writer, you will be lucky to get a response from a prospective agent, let alone a production company. It is very rare - Good Will Hunting being the only example that springs to mind of unknowns gettign a sctipt through the door and made.
I know of one with UK dramas that pulled in decent audience shares (enough to have four or five series on ITV), a perfect demographic audinec in the US and the US agents (ICM) have been trying for nearly 4 years now to get a deal done.
As before I don't want to piss on your chips. Unless you happen to be a particularly gifted writer, you will be lucky to get a response from a prospective agent, let alone a production company. It is very rare - Good Will Hunting being the only example that springs to mind of unknowns gettign a sctipt through the door and made.
Ok, the fundamental problem is that I have no idea how to write a screen play.
I was hoping (rather too optimistically it seems) that I could simply write to the production company with the idea behind the film and utilise that, letting the company do as they wish in terms of story/screenplay etc..
It was essentially the idea that I wish to impart, the actual doing part of it in terms of film making I was hoping the production company would do !!
I was hoping (rather too optimistically it seems) that I could simply write to the production company with the idea behind the film and utilise that, letting the company do as they wish in terms of story/screenplay etc..
It was essentially the idea that I wish to impart, the actual doing part of it in terms of film making I was hoping the production company would do !!
Interesting.. I've had an idea for a sequel to a movie.. An animated one. Crying out for a sequel.
I guess I should do the same as the OP, write a screenplay and then try and contact the IP owner..
Came across this, but it might not be too much use... Probably worth reading. http://www.screenwriting.info/
I guess I should do the same as the OP, write a screenplay and then try and contact the IP owner..
Came across this, but it might not be too much use... Probably worth reading. http://www.screenwriting.info/
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