I have been getting a lot of questions from people asking about how to even start in the indie film industry (non-acting avenue). While there is no one right way to do it, there are a couple of avenues worth pursuing:
Write a Script
This is the old “Good Will Hunting” method. Unfortunately, many people don”t understand how a good script is made. It is extremely rare to sit down for two weeks, bang out a script and expect it to be a blockbuster. Scripts are meticulously constructed and dialogue is vetted over and over to find just the write phrasing. It is not unusual for a script to be written and revised over a years time.
So good writing is not for the faint of heart. If you choose this route, I highly suggest you take a couple classes on story and character creation. It”s not a bad idea to find a writing partner either – someone you can bounce ideas off of. There are many great writing teams in Hollywood. Once you have a great script, either produce it yourself, or find a producer who believes in your script and will champion it up a very steep hill.
Option a Script
I”m a big fan of optioning scripts. I have fleeting fantasies of sitting down and writing a screenplay, and then I remember what I just wrote above! It is a LOT of work! So I like to look for scripts that are currently completed (drafted). There are as many ways to option a script as there are lawyers. However, there are a couple of key items you want to make sure you have in the option contact:
- Option Price
- Option Expiration
- Option Extension (if any)
- Sequel Options (if any)
- Writer buy-out (if produced)
- Ability to alter the script if being produced
Very rarely is an optioned script in shooting format. If you like the original author, you can hire them as a writer on the production team. Otherwise, make sure you are buying the rights outright so that you can hire a different writer to change and adapt the parts of the screenplay that need work. When in doubt, consult an entertainment lawyer. They will save you headache after headache. They are worth the money – believe me!
Join a Production Company
There are about as many production companies as there are producers. If you are completely novice and not sure how to even start, look for internships at existing production companies. You will probably start with fairly menial tasks like script coverage, but you will learn about what makes a good script (and what doesn’t!). Not only will this help in your writing, but you will see how indie films are made.\n\nLook for opportunities to work with EP Scheduling and Budgeting and how a film is scheduled and budgeted. After all, this is the very first step in getting investors interested in your film. Without a proper schedule, you can do a budget. And without a proper budget, you can”t do a proper business plan. And without a proper business plan, you can”t get investors. Investors are not donors. They expect to get their investment back with interest.
Keep Hustling
So be smart in whichever method you choose to get into the industry. Just know that no man is an island. You will have to learn and partner with others at all stages of your Entertainment Industry career. And be nice to everyone. It”s a verysmall town.
