Who is the Hollywood Geek?
David Rosiak is a screenwriter, living and working in Hollywood. Each month he
brings us tales of navigating the murky waters of filmmaking,
shares the ups and downs and explains how very wrong things can go between script and screen...
This month, David advises all would-be Hollywood players to read the fineprint...
This month, David advises all would-be Hollywood players to read the fineprint...
During
my short tenure here at Geek Speak, I have thus far
used my “Hollywood Geek” column as a way of providing
anecdotes of my time in the industry, the ups and downs I’ve
experienced on a number of productions, and the occasional
genre debate with our head honcho, Rachel Hyland. That’s
all well and good, and I’ve certainly enjoyed relating tales
both horrific and amusing of my travels up the Hollywood
ladder. But this month, I think it’s time to mix it up a
bit. This month, I find myself wanting to do a little
editorializing.I know many of you out there entertain dreams of making your own films in the Hollywood system, and the prospect of finding an easy inroad can be tantalizing. Everyone is looking for a way in, and the competition is some of the fiercest imaginable. However, I want to stress one simple truth…
There are no short cuts, people.
There is no way around the sometimes daunting hard work and
networking that is essential to getting an agent and a
manager and having your work produced.And there’s a reason why I’m stressing this. Last week, Amazon.com launched a new “crowdsourcing” site called Amazon Studios. At the outset, it seems to be set up in a similar fashion to the now-defunct Project Greenlight, an HBO reality show that ran for a few seasons in the early 2000’s. Amazon has now decided to get into production, and they’ve set up a “studio” website that sells itself as a contest that will supposedly allow aspiring writers and directors to win cash prizes and to have films made based on their work.
But the truth is that, while this apple may look shiny and fresh and inviting, its core is rotted and filled with worms.
What's
this guy so happy about? |
|
Even Ari's skeptical about this contract... |
Worse yet, one of the most frightening bits here is that the moment you upload your script, you agree that it can be revised by anyone who signs up for the website. Let me say that again… anyone can change your work, and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. If you happen to win one of their dangling carrot cash prizes and have had your script revised by someone else, that cash (a set rate no matter how big the project ends up being) is divided. This is a staggering proposition, and it amazes me that Amazon is promoting it as a “writer’s platform” when it plainly devalues the writer. This isn’t how good movies get made. Instead, this is about screwing the writer and stealing his or her ideas. It’s about leeching creativity in an absolutely vile manner. Amazon’s obvious goal here is to take original ideas from inexperienced neophytes and to pay them almost nothing for their work, in addition to launching a PR stunt designed to put forth the false image that Amazon is fostering a new generation of film
makers while changing the Hollywood system. They’re counting on people to buy into it, to think that if they have no access to the Hollywood system that this would be a viable alternative.
It’s not. It’s frighteningly vampiric. In fact, it’s
downright evil, and I urge anyone who has the slightest
interest in writing for film not to fall for it. Nothing
good can come from this, and it’s completely
counter-intuitive to how movies actually get made. If you
have any self-respect as a writer, stay far away from Amazon
Studios.As I stated earlier, there are no short cuts in this business. If you truly want to make your living as a screenwriter and filmmaker, the hard truth is that you absolutely have to move to Los Angeles and start networking. Have at least three scripts that are ready to go, and then get out here and start meeting people. Spend your free time writing, writing, writing. Talent and drive will always find an outlet, and if you’re persistent enough with your work, someone will eventually read it. Yes, it’s hard work, but nothing worth doing is ever easy.
[P.S. Amazon.com is still a good place to buy books and such, though! - Ed.]
Further Reading
Shark Weak, a look back at the Hallmark mini-series Shark Swarm, Issue 1, March, 2010
Murder Most Cable, memories from the set of Grave Misconduct, Issue 2, April 2010
Circle of Hell, the tale of how Hard Ride to Hell came to be made... due to its kick-ass title, Issue 3, May 2010
Better Than Buffy, hatred of Twilight and a love letter to True Blood, Issue 4, June 2010
The Publicity Trail is a Killer, David and his writing partner Matt Chernov are guests of Gutmunchers.com, Issue 5, July 2010
A Far From Perfect Storm, how David's work led to the long-awaited television teaming of Dawson and Dylan, Issue 6, August 2010
Kill and Kill Again, how writing the script for slasher-fest Overkill almost led David into writing romantic comedy, Issue 8, 2010.

THE
HOLLYWOOD GEEK: THE OLD BAIT AND SWITCH
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