I have a great idea for a a movie.

Curly Judge

I have a great idea for a movie!
When I say a movie I mean a real Hollywood blockbuster.
I can see the action in my head and have about one quarter of the script and one third of the screenplay worked out.[to my satisfaction, that is].
Problem is, production costs and special effects costs would be very high and I have neither money, experience or contacts.
Lost cause?

AnonoBoy

Curly Judge wrote: »

I have a great idea for a movie!
When I say a movie I mean a real Hollywood blockbuster.

It's tough to get blockbusters made in Ireland. However who says you have to set your sights on Ireland? Write it and then get it out to agents.

I can see the action in my head and have about one quarter of the script and one third of the screenplay worked out.[to my satisfaction, that is].

Not quite sure what you mean by this. The script and the screenplay are the same thing aren't they?

Problem is, production costs and special effects costs would be very high and I have neither money, experience or contacts.
Lost cause?

It costs nothing (except time) to write it.

You could start looking at getting agents interested in the script when it's done. Or get in touch with production companies in Ireland.

The Film Board fund screenwriters too - http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/funding_programmes/Screenplay_Development_Loans/89

But be warned, the Irish Film Board probably won't want to fund a script that looks like it'd cost 100 million to make.

Curly Judge

AnonoBoy wrote: »

It's tough to get blockbusters made in Ireland. However who says you have to set your sights on Ireland? Write it and then get it out to agents.



Not quite sure what you mean by this. The script and the screenplay are the same thing aren't they?



It costs nothing (except time) to write it.

You could start looking at getting agents interested in the script when it's done. Or get in touch with production companies in Ireland.

The Film Board fund screenwriters too - http://www.irishfilmboard.ie/funding_programmes/Screenplay_Development_Loans/89

But be warned, the Irish Film Board probably won't want to fund a script that looks like it'd cost 100 million to make.

Thanks for your help.
My understanding [and it's very limited] is that the script is the verbals and the screenplay is a sort of comic book layout, or plan, of each scene [and set] before they start shooting?

indough

that would be the storyboard

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Curly Judge wrote: »

I have a great idea for a movie!
When I say a movie I mean a real Hollywood blockbuster.
I can see the action in my head and have about one quarter of the script and one third of the screenplay worked out.[to my satisfaction, that is].
Problem is, production costs and special effects costs would be very high and I have neither money, experience or contacts.
Lost cause?

First stop is to finish out the script. Beginning, midle and end. Until then it's too early to say whether or not it's a lost cause.

AnonoBoy

Curly Judge wrote: »

Thanks for your help.
My understanding [and it's very limited] is that the script is the verbals and the screenplay is a sort of comic book layout, or plan, of each scene [and set] before they start shooting?

Oh yeah that's the storyboard you're thinking of. As the writer you don't need to worry about that at all.

My advice would be before you approach production companies or the film board is to ensure that your script is as good as it can be.

Read scripts (you can download loads for free online) to make sure your formatting etc. is correct. Read books on screenplay structure, plotting etc. If your film is a blockbuster then it needs to be classic storytelling at the core of it.

Good luck.

indough

i would suggest using celtx to write it, it will handle most of the formatting for you and it has an index card function which is handy if you are doing anything along the lines of laying out your scene headings prior to actually writing the thing (i do this myself since reading syd fields screenwriting book, which i would recommend as a starting point). oh yeah, and it's free too for basic functionality.

Curly Judge

Thanks gang.
I'll give you all a mench when I'm reading out my acceptance speech in Hollywood in ...oh...about...2017.

Galvasean

You might also want to go about copyrighting your idea before approaching any companies, in case they tryy to steal your isdea without paying/crediting you.

Miguel_Sanchez

Don't go anywhere near a production company until you've got it worked out fully, be that in treatment or full script format.

Also, don't rely on the opinion of friends who have a read and say it's great. Either get a script editor involved or at least get someone who works in the industry to have a read of it and give you notes.

Galvasean

Miguel_Sanchez wrote: »

Also, don't rely on the opinion of friends who have a read and say it's great.

That's excellent advice. The amount of crap I've made/half made that I thought was good because I surrounded myself with yes men...

alex whitmer

The problem is that there are so many 'great ideas' out there for a film, but not all great ideas translate into a great films, either because of poor script execution/interpretation, or it just isn't something an audience will run out to watch. at least in big enough numbers to create a blockbuster, or even a film that has a comfortable return, if any.

I do recommend you get a first draft written and then register it. If you are so confident that it is 'blockbuster' good, then be careful who reads it. Scripts do get stolen, registered or not. Or, at the very least they are mined for their key plot points, and you are left looking like a copycat or spinoff, and you can consider the script viably dead.

Curb your enthusiasm a bit and get serious about writing it in polished format with a clear command of the language you will write it in. Write out a few key scenes over and over to find your writer's voice that will make the whole fresh and entertaining.

alex

Fatboydim

Just to point out you cannot copyright an idea.

As pointed out above ... Almost 100 percent certain that film board would not give a first draft loan for a commercial blockbuster full stop. From a new writer as well, very unlikely.

Try to get a literary agent first... As that way your work is protected. It is rare that a new writer would be ripped off for their ideas or work. But writers do come up with similar ideas at similar times.