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 Replies: 22 / Views: 4,724 |
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
Hello all I wrote a movie screenplay, 130 pages, about what happened to Wile E. Coyote and The Roadrunner, long after their cartoon series ended. It is live-action (not a cartoon), pg-13. I have got to believe that with all the batman, superman, transformers, ironman and the dozens of other live-action movies and their sequels patterned after their original long-ended tv series or super-hero original movies, that Hollywood might take an interest in the first-ever live action Roadrunner movie. The problem is that I am not an established or well-known writer or actor that can get a movie made any time they want. my script is known as a "speculative" script, like the 99% of other screenwriters out there who have a script to sell. I have trapped as many agents and executives in an elevator and bathrooms as I care to (not really). in such cases, the movie studios will only take you seriously if you are represented by a movie agent. I have written to dozens of them with a query letter... never heard back from them as they all want references from a well-known or established screenwriters (ones with movies that had been made already under their belt), or a famous actor, director, producer or similar. I am still writing agents but I thought I would give this a try. You have no idea of how many movies were made under highly unusual intial contact methods. so, if any of you know of an agent, or an actor that may take an interest in and/or a part in my script, especially if you know someone who has connections for Warner Bros. (who holds the trademark on Wile E. Coyote's name), get ahold of him or her and if they agree to represent me, you win the coin. btw, the website for the movie is: www.thelastfriendsofwilliecoyote.com . you can also get to the website under my profile website. (I had to change Wile's name on the title and in the script so as to hopefully avoid any "hassle" from Warner Bros. regarding the trademark issue). the website is non-profit, no ads, etc. if it does sell, I intend to give any monies to several charity groups involving injured/dead vets, their families and disabled kids (my son has m.s.). it is also on Amazon books with a 4.0 rating out of 5. it had a 4.6 rating until some critic with an attitude gave it a 1. The Amazon e-book page for the script is helpful as far as what other readers have said about the screenplay... just punch in the title "The Last Friends of Willie Coyote" in Amazon books to see the reviews. The script itself is best read from the website as it is the lastest version. It is free to read from the website or Amazon. I am not saying that a movie must be made using my script, heck, ANY movie about them written by someone else is fine with me... Hollywood, just make the movie!  I have two of these, you would get this one or the other one, both are NGC graded 70, both have the same value... about $400 to $600, altho one place wanted $1,200 for theirs... and sold it! thanks... mike thor (Stephen Thor is my author name). Edited by 4504
08/18/2016 12:18 pm
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
Your best bet might be at Comicom. I know it sounds like a fan fest but they do a lot of business there. You might try getting someone to produce it as a graphic novel first. If that sells then you have an easier time getting an agent.
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Valued Member
 United States
379 Posts |
yah, I know I messed up. a lot of movies are based upon books, novels, etc. so what did I do? I wrote it as a screenplay first instead of a book or novel. smart! the problem is that many people either generally have a difficult time reading a script *(altho mine is easier than most) or they are just used to reading a book.
but you are write. I many have to write it as a novel, but I was hoping to avoid that. books have so much information in them that scripts/movies based upon them often have little resemblance to the book.
my favorite example is the classic movie "the producers". the plot being that the main charactors in the movie PLAN on having it bomb, so they can keep all the money that was raised for it by hittin up old ladies and such, promising them 50% of the profits, etc.
the problem was that the play was an accidental huge hit and these producers are in big trouble... which is what happens when you guarantee 50% of all profits to dozens of people.
anyhoo, the Nazi (who fakes that he is sorry that he was a Nazi) that wrote the script went nuts because the play beared little resemblance to what he wrote.
ok, i'll write the book, but I would rather just have an agent take my script and run with it. I don't care if they use it, change it bigtime, or end up using somebody else's script... my point is "Warner Bros., make the dang movie"... hardly anybody is getting worked up about seeing "ironman #8.
thanks... mike
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Rest in Peace
United States
7075 Posts |
I think for this genre you could skip the book. Get whoever owns those characters to look at the script with the idea of producing a graphic novel (big fancy comic book). You'll give-up about half of the rights at that point. But they have the artists who can put it all into pictures -- and still use your story.
Anyway, you need to hang around the conventions and meet people. It's time-consuming but it's been known to work.
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
Hello
Thanks for the suggestions. I agree, I need to attend conventions, enter script contests, etc. It is a pain, especially when some of these contests are total b.s., the organizers are just cashing in (entry fee you know) on the writer's dreams, and have little to no REAL movie reps care about it or even attend the conventions... at least the ones who are "big" enough to be interested.
The other issue I agree with is to meet the owners of the characters. The problem is that it is Warner Bros, whose peeps are very difficult to meet in person unless you, or an actor/established screenwriter friend of yours, or a friend or a relative or a member of coin community (hint hint) knows someone "on the inside".
I have always like the idea of making it into a comic book, but the thing is that the idea is to make the movie live-action/non-animated, unlike a cartoon or comic book. Still, a comic book version cannot hurt should it be noticed, I will certainly give that a serious thought.
There are dozens of ways to "break into" the movie business, it is just a matter of determination, method and LUCK. I have been in that world in a number of ways, it makes my head spin to think of all the organizations, websites, and other "make your movie" outlets I have already tried...
thanks again... mike
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Pillar of the Community
United States
527 Posts |
Hi Mike! Long story , everybody knows that the actor and director Philip Seymour Hoffman was born in Rochester -NY, and I live in Victor .... I know that a coworker of mine got a letter from his agent from Hollywood some time ago saying thanks for something .... Anyway , I will try and get his email and give to you .... I will let you know when I have it , let's hope works out !
Edited by Paola1
08/20/2016 9:09 pm
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Pillar of the Community
United States
6370 Posts |
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
Thanks Payola1 for your help, I am willing to meet or talk with any agent, it is worth a try and I am grateful for any assistance. I have sent out so many query letters that the stamp business has done well with me. And thanks for including the Amazon link TypeCoin. While it may be useful for looking at the reviews, I suggest that anybody interested in the story read it directly off of the website for the movie, it can be found by clicking on my user name and then clicking on the homepage, the advantage to this is that the website pdf version is the latest and most up-to-date. It is free to read. I put the website's url below but I do not know how long it would stay, I read that url links have a limited life here... Again, thanks... Mike (Stephen) Thor http://www.thelastfriendsofwilliecoyote.com/ |
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
here is an example of one of the query letters in case anybody is interested... mike
Dear...
WHAT IF YOU WERE LOST IN THE DESERT AND DISCOVERED THAT WILE E. COYOTE AND THE ROADRUNNER WERE REAL? AND THAT THEY NEEDED YOUR HELP?
I am seeking an agent for my lastest screenplay: "THE LAST FRIENDS OF WILLIE COYOTE".
Logline: "A cartoon becomes no laughing matter".
Genre: Fantasy/Action-Adventure (NON-ANIMATED / LIVE-ACTION), PG-13)
What DID ever happen to Wile E. Coyote? Set in the 2002 southwestern desert, this screenplay not only finally answers that question and more, but goes much deeper into his personal darker world, featuring unusual peoples and strange events. It is very loosely based upon the classic cartoon series "THE ROADRUNNER" by Chuck Jones. But that is where any similarities end... this is no cartoon.
During a nightmarish war, loyalties and courage are put to the final tests in a surreal landscape. The last hopes for all just to survive rests in the legendary perseverance and determination of Wile E. Coyote himself. The issue is in doubt.
Personal: 24 years of non-fiction writing experience, veteran, deputy sheriff.
Education: A.S., B.S.(Calif State University Fresno), M.A.(National University).
If you would like a copy of T.L.F.O.W.C., please contact me via the email or phone below. Alternately, you could visit the website "www.thelastfriendsofwilliecoyote.com" and read from there the latest script version on a pdf file. Thank you very much.
Sincerely
Stephen Thor
tuggytuggyboat@yahoo.com
559.760.XXXX
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United Kingdom
2133 Posts |
I'd just like to make the suggestion that you rename your pdf file to The Last Friends of Willie Coyote.pdf instead of script1.pdf.
It has the impact that people will be able to find it after downloading.
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
Thanks for the suggestion, there has been several versions of the query letter, your suggestion is the simplest... mike
thanks again
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Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
Is it a comedy or drama? If it is a comedy, it should be 85-95 pages. Remember that every page equals one minute of screen time. And for non established writers, the longer the script, the less likely it will be read. Interns read scripts. If they have two hours left in the day and there are two scripts in front of them, one is 130 pages, and the other is 90 pages. Guess which one they will read. Also, if it doesn't peak their interest in the first 10 pages, they usually wont finish it.
Is it copyrighted and registered with the Writers Guild? WGA or WGAE? That should be your first step.
Also very importantly, remember that Warner Brothers owns the rights to the characters you are using. So if they aren't interested in buying it, then it can't be made. I have a batman themed script that I wrote a few years ago has the same problem. I am also not established though so I run into a few of the same problems you do. Even after 7 years in Hollywood, knowing a lot of writers, directors, big name actors and agency heads its still very difficult for me to break in as a writer. Ive had a few great meetings, and been published but still can't sell my spec scripts. So I just keep writing them anyways.
You have to just keep writing, entering contests, make some short films, write something that somebody else wants that they will pay you for to get some credits and your name out there. I know this isn't what you were looking for but it may be a start. Best of luck.
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Valued Member
United States
379 Posts |
not a comedy by any means. registered with the Western Guild and library of congress. I hope to have luck with the reader. I am pretty familiar with the whole Warner Bros. t.m on names and copyrights, but the good thing is that those laws there is no law against IDEAS. You may have noticed that none of my photographs are a copy or style of Warners for that reason alone.
this is a live-action high-stakes movie along the lines in a way of all the dozens of movies and sequels made of past series or movies.
it takes luck, ther right agent and timing... I agree, sometimes we make our own luck.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
624 Posts |
Sounds like you have a good perspective, knowledge and outlook. I wish you the best.
"There are no rules in Hollywood... but don't break any of them." -Unknown
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Pillar of the Community
United States
527 Posts |
Hi 4504, I have Michael Lazo Paradigm contact information also who you can refer that gave you this information , will send a pm later today , good luck !
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Replies: 22 / Views: 4,724 |
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