John August

Archives for 2004

History of Confederated Products

Big Fish, QandA

Congratulations on [Big Fish](http://imdb.com/title/tt0319061/combined). I have a silly question concerning the “Confederated Products” throwaway about halfway through that movie. Since that’s a reference to your previous work, rather than [Tim Burton’s](http://imdb.com/name/nm0000318/), how did it get there? That is, did you include it in the script, or did someone else suggest it?

–Patrick Bowman

For those who don’t know the reference, “Confederated Products” is the Amway-like company that serves as a major punchline in the third part of [Go](http://imdb.com/title/tt0139239/). Originally, the company was supposed to be American Products, but the legal department couldn’t get clearance on the name. I had to submit a list of alternatives, and Confederated Products was the best one that checked out okay.

Since then, I’ve tried to use Confederated Products in every project. (Likewise, I also try to use [Melissa McCarthy](http://imdb.com/name/nm0565250/), who is similarly terrific and versatile.) I just write “Confederated Products” into the script and hope no one tries to change it. Generally, they don’t. After Go, Big Fish is the biggest use of the brand name, but it was also used in the first [Charlie’s Angels](http://imdb.com/title/tt0160127/) — though I’m not sure you can see it.

I’ve always been a big fan of giant, insidius imaginary corporations such as Acme or Weyland-Yutani. I registered [ConfederatedProducts.com](http://confederatedproducts.com) just so I could be sure to have the name for future projects.

Urban Challenge re-cap now available

News

Last Saturday was the Los Angeles [Urban Challenge](http://urbanchallenge.com). Through a combination of considerable luck, exhaustion and power-Googling, my team was able to place in the top 10.

Using the music of an unknown band

QandA, Rights and Copyright

I have an idea for a script that was inspired by an album by a virtually unknown band. In a perfect world the script will eventually be produced and soundtrack scored by the band’s music. But let’s take things one step at a time.

Do I have any right writing a script inspired by the words and sounds created by someone else? Do I have any right borrowing titles? Do I have any right writing their music into the script? (I know that’s normally frowned upon anyway.) I think you get where I am coming from. I don’t want to write a script heavily involved with specific music unless I know my rights.

–Michael

You don’t have any right in a legal sense, but that shouldn’t necessarily be your first concern. If this is the script you really want to write, just write it. Just make sure that on the title page or a page thereafter, you give full credit for things that aren’t yours.

Obviously, if your script can’t be made without this band’s music, you won’t be able to sell it until they’re handled. But by your description, it doesn’t sound like the world is breaking down their door, so it’s always possible they’ll read your script and say hell yes.

Including illustrations with your screenplay

QandA, Words on the page

questionmark
I know it’s a big no-no to include drawings or images in your screenplay, but is it ever okay in certain circumstances?

For example: I’m writing a script where the town that the story is set in is integral to the plot. A fight breaks out there in key sections of the town’s layout and it is all very well co-ordinated.

In this case, is it possible to include a small map of the town’s layout?

I’ve tried describing the town and its layout in detail, but it ends up at over 3 pages…and that’s condensed. Surely a small map could help the reader better understand the details of the action scenes?

–Matt

answer iconI recently read the first few books of [THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=johnaugustcom-20&path=tg/detail/-/0689859368/qid%3D1089740079/sr%3D1-2″), and sighed with nostalgic longing at the map on page two which shows the layout of the little town. The author/illustrators had gotten it just right. I immediately flashed-back to my sunbeam days of youth, as an eager young reader flipping to the map to figure out what route Bobby would take to get to the Old Mill.

Cut to the present. I’m going to stick to my guns and say it’s never okay to include drawings with a screenplay. For as often as screenwriting is compared to architecture, there’s one crucial difference: it’s not really architecture. With clever descriptions, the screenwriter gets to evoke the feeling of a small town, with its lazy cobblestone streets and general store on the corner. But you’re not allowed to literally draw the map.

I know that for something like a fight sequence, a schematic might make life a lot easier, but words are all you get. Focus on the emotion and story moments of the fight, not the logistics, and everyone will be better served.