The good news is that I’ve got a script out, my rep has gotten it into a number of hands and studios. The bad news is that they love it enough to pick up the phone and rave about the writing, but they’re passing because of content/violence. Granted, it is not a safe flick. It is however, fresh and a great ride. There must be fearless producers out there, looking, presumably aching, for something they can sink their teeth into. How the hell do I find them?
In other words, how do you make your first Kill Bill, or Sin City or Pulp?
— Rodney
New York
Been there. We took Go out as a spec script, and everyone really liked it — but no one wanted to buy it. I would go in for meetings, and executives would pitch me projects that were, “a lot like your script, which was great by the way. We would totally love to do that. Man. But we just can’t do that here.”
We ultimately sold Go to a tiny production company that had foreign financing. Eventually, a big studio bought us out, but only once we had a hot director and an attractive cast.
So that may be where you go next, Rodney — finding a director who loves your script and can help get actors attached.
In the meantime, take people at their word that they really like your script, and land some writing assignments. In the time between Go being an unsold spec and Go being a movie in theaters, I’d written four paid projects. I would have had a career even if the movie had never been made.
So capitalize on people’s affection for your script to find something that pays money. And know you’re not the only writer in your situation.