QandA

Good interviews about Father Knows Less

May 3, 2005 Film Industry, Projects

UPDATE: 4/28/2011 — Links to “Father Knows Less” IMDb listing no longer active.

UPDATE: 4/28/2011 — All podcast links have been updated.

podcast Okay. It’s not actually podcasting, but behold the site’s the first-ever audio links.

I’m currently rewriting a script called Father Knows Less, originally written by [Aline Brosh McKenna](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0112459/maindetails). It’s the story of “a loving but aloof guy (Dustin Hoffman) abandoned by his trophy wife, [who] finds himself in charge of raising his young kids. In order to connect with them as their father, he turns to his children from his first marriage for help.” (synopsis by [IMDb](http://imdb.com))

Tonally, it’s a dramedy in the James L. Brooks mode. More [Jerry Maguire](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116695/combined), less [The Pacifier](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395699/combined). New Line is the studio.

As it happens, Claude Brodesser of Variety has been tracking this project on his KCRW radio show [The Business](http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tb), and has had various members of the production on to talk about the process. It’s a refreshingly candid discussion of how a movie wends its way through development.

You can start with the [initial conversation](http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tb/tb040621looking_deep_inside) with McKenna, agent Devra Lieb, and producer [Laura Hopper](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1348882/maindetails) about the pitch, and how the project was set up. The discussion starts at 11:08.

Next, there’s a [follow-up conversation](http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tb/tb040719cashin_in_on_the_pas) with McKenna and Hopper as they start looking for a director. Starts at 2:51.

Finally, Brodesser [talks with the movie’s director](http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/tb/tb050411battlestar_galactica), who explains his decision to take the project, and the discussion about bringing on a different writer (which ended up being me). The talk starts at 9:20.

Good article on Shane Black

May 3, 2005 Film Industry

The Los Angeles Times has a long, interesting [article](http://articles.latimes.com/2005/05/01/calendar/ca-black1) on screenwriter Shane Black, whose [Lethal Weapon](http://imdb.com/title/tt0093409/combined) not only kick-started the action genre, but also begat the million-dollar spec screenplay meme.

After considerable success, and a few disappointments, Shane sort of dropped off the face of Hollywood for a few years. He’s a neighbor of mine, but I never met him until the Austin Film Festival — we were on a panel together this year. He’s a bright and funny guy, and easily had the best explanation for how to keep a pitch engaging. Two words: “But then..!”

One thing the article makes clear is that success can have its own perils:

“The biggest task I had to face was managing to believe that I in any way deserved it,” Black said of his swift rise, “especially in light of all the people who had worked just as hard, as strenuously, but to whom it didn’t come quite so easily.”

In many ways, a professional athlete might experience the same thing. The difference is that an NBA player has to suit up and get on the court, while a screenwriter is free to hide himself away. Which is sort of what Shane did for a few years. He’s back with a new movie he wrote and directed, [Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang](http://imdb.com/title/tt0373469/), which is set to come out in the fall.

You can read the whole article [here](http://articles.latimes.com/2005/05/01/calendar/ca-black1).

Taking a meeting without an agent or manager

April 26, 2005 Film Industry, QandA

I’m developing a script with a writer/director who has
already finished his first feature. The film we are
writing now aligns directly with the kind of films
that Lion’s Gate has been producing in their new
genre devision. Fortunately I have a contact with one
of their staff producers (which explains why I’m
attached).

My question is this: The writer has no
agent or manager and I’m wondering if that will be a
hindrance when approaching the studio. We’re very
confident in the story, but I was wondering if there
is some sort of protocol to follow when approaching a
studio, even if the contact is a friend of mine.
We’re not sure if we should attempt to pitch before
submitting the script or if it’s necessary to get third
party representation before doing so.

— Chris
New York

You’re fine. Don’t let the lack of an agent and/or manager slow down your process at this point. Use your contact, get your meeting, and pitch the project. Particularly at a genre division, they’re used to working with unsigned writers. Embrace your outsider status.

If they want to buy your project, you’ll need to get an entertainment lawyer involved to help figure out the contracts. The writer/director might already have one, but if not, you’ll be able to find one within a few days — particularly in New York or Los Angeles.

Where do you find an entertainment lawyer? Well, you could start by asking the company. If they want your project, they’re likely to want the deal done right. They’ll understand that it’s in their best interest to see that you have a good lawyer. But of course, don’t stop there. Make sure you meet with several attornies at different companies. You want someone you feel you can trust.

LA Times story on DVD sales

April 24, 2005 Film Industry

The Los Angeles Times recently ran a good piece about the studios’ reluctance to disclose exactly how much money they really make on DVDs. They’re happy to tell you that home video is absolutely crucial to profitability, particularly when it comes to the threat of piracy. But ask how much money they made from DVDs on, say, [Shrek](http://imdb.com/title/tt0126029/combined?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxsbT01MDB8dHQ9b258ZmI9dXxwbj0wfHE9c2hyZWt8aHRtbD0xfG5tPW9u;fc=1;ft=21;fm=1), and they whistle a tune while rocking back and forth on their heels.

Of course, knowing a precise figure is not idle curiosity. Peter Jackson, for instance, is suing over [Lord of the Rings](http://imdb.com/title/tt0120737/combined), suspecting he was shortchanged somewhere in the tens of millions of dollars for DVD payments.

You can read the whole story [here](http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-et-dvdmoney17apr17,1,213056.story?ctrack=1&cset=true). (Free registration required.)