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?

Taking a look through the site’s FAQ, its Development Agreement and its Contest Rules, I find myself shocked by the sheer amount evil legalese. The fact is, if you upload a script or a “test film” (possibly the most ridiculous term of the year) to the site, you automatically grant Amazon a FREE eighteen-month option on your work. That means that Amazon owns it, lock stock and smoking barrel, for the next year and half. That means that you have just signed a legal contract that bars you from showing your work to ANYONE ELSE.

Even Ari's skeptical about this contract...

And it only gets nuttier from there, as further reading reveals that, by uploading, you agree that your script “can automatically be entered into future contests for which your work is eligible.” They go on to mention that future contest rules will be posted once they’re announced. In case that seems a little dense, Amazon is blatantly saying that they are retaining the legal rights to your work FOREVER. This isn’t just some writer-friendly contest. This is a legal contract binding your work to Amazon in perpetuity. Why on Earth would you want to do that?

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.

-- David Rosiak

[P.S. Amazon.com is still a good place to buy books and such, though! - Ed.]

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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.

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