Producer Says NO to Native American Screenplay

I went to Culver City to have a meeting with an independent producer by the name of Matt. I had not heard from him in months and thought he wouldn't get back to me. He did and I felt that could be good or bad. I've learned in Hollywood not to believe anything until the check is signed and headed for my bank account. I ran into Matt at a "casting agent" seminar and we told each other what were doing in Los Angeles. Other than trying to make it as actors.

I don't give my information to just anyone. Hollywood is a town filled with countless unemployed producers, directors and actors. They all want to make it in show business. I get to the point now where I place people into categories like "real" or "fake." It is not a cynical point of view. It is just plain reality. I have been around long enough to spot a "fake" a mile away. And there are many.

It surprises me how hard it is to get a screenplay read in Hollywood. Usually, you send your script to one of the major studios. They have "readers" who look over the thousands submitted weekly. Yours just goes into the "no" pile unless it is a great screenplay and could make money for the studio. You can also send your work to a writer talent agent who probably has stacks of scripts he/she has to go through. Or send it straight to a producer who for some reason has no time to read anything. You can send by email the first "ten" pages of your work and if it grabs interest. You may get called in.

It is no secret that I have been working on an action thriller screenplay. It is about a Native American LAPD officer who tries to solve the murder of his brother. I had a premature "table read" of this script a few years back. It has come a long way since then. The story has stayed the same. I just felt I had to amp up the action. I received great feedback on it by many, but nothing really concrete in getting the screenplay made into a film. I even got advice from a film distributor who really liked it, but said he wanted to love it. The question in my mind is always "how can I make this better?"

Matt gave me a great response. He loved my screenplay and thought it had potential. His big concern was not having enough money for the budget of an action thriller. He told me to try and get a studio behind it. He warned though that it could be tough without the right actor. We had a long talk about "casting" the lead in my screenplay. I've had this conversation before and it is always about which "star" name could carry this film. Who can bring in money at the box office? I told him like I tell everybody else. I am the "lead" character. I don't want to direct it. I want only to "star" in it. I wrote the "lead" for me! Matt's point was that if I had a known "name" actor in the lead. The studios might take it on.

And so it goes. The bottom line in Hollywood is money. Matt finally had to turn it down because of the cost. He believed my screenplay could be made by a major studio or by a producer with more money. What is interesting is we never argued over the Native American aspect. He didn't care about that. He enjoyed the screenplay as an "action thriller." There it is. I am getting one step closer and that's a good thing. Onward.