Post: #26

Neil,

My ex girlfriend is the personal assistant to Todd Philips and she has connections all over town. She used to be the creative director for Stephen Cannell productions before he died.

If the script is good, she might be able to sell it or at least get it looked at.

Post: #27

Good luck mate, a new awakening

Post: #28

This is great news!

As you put it, whatever the outcome, it's totally worth doing it.

You could try maximize your efforts by contacting some people prior to your trip, like agents who trade scripts etc etc. But I'm sure you must have thought of this already and I see some forum members can be valuable too.

Good luck!

Post: #29

(02-19-2013 03:32 AM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  

(02-18-2013 08:52 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Who is going to play Neil Skywalker?

Gary Busey?



Good luck Neil.

Don't forget about us little people when you are on the red carpet.

Maybe throw up a Rooshvforum gang sign so we know.

Is Gary wearing the right suit in this picture? I'm not that old btw. I haven't even thought about who could play me. There are of course not that many actors who are as hansom as me. Maybe Danny de Vito.

Neil,

Or you could maybe get Nick Nolte to play you in your later "drugged out" years:



And maybe at the beginning of the movie you should get a young Ricky Schroeder to play you as a young pup in Holland:

Post: #30

(02-19-2013 07:50 AM)Fisto Wrote:  Neil,

My ex girlfriend is the personal assistant to Todd Philips and she has connections all over town. She used to be the creative director for Stephen Cannell productions before he died.

If the script is good, she might be able to sell it or at least get it looked at.

Great news, thanks a lot but I'm nowhere near letting other read the script. It's just the first draft. I still have to change the tone of the story, edit the number of pages/scenes. Deepen the characters, rewrite a few parts and all that.

Perhaps in a few months. I'll start looking into airplane tickets and accommodation somewhere this week.

Post: #31

(02-19-2013 08:17 AM)Locksmith Wrote:  This is great news!

As you put it, whatever the outcome, it's totally worth doing it.

You could try maximize your efforts by contacting some people prior to your trip, like agents who trade scripts etc etc. But I'm sure you must have thought of this already and I see some forum members can be valuable too.

Good luck!

Yep, I will but probably only a few weeks before I leave. In the mean while I'm busy enough writing and editing.
I might even try to raise some extra funds via a kickstarter project or something. need to get more info on that. First the script then the rest.

Post: #32

(02-19-2013 11:37 AM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  

(02-19-2013 08:17 AM)Locksmith Wrote:  This is great news!

As you put it, whatever the outcome, it's totally worth doing it.

You could try maximize your efforts by contacting some people prior to your trip, like agents who trade scripts etc etc. But I'm sure you must have thought of this already and I see some forum members can be valuable too.

Good luck!

Yep, I will but probably only a few weeks before I leave. In the mean while I'm busy enough writing and editing.
I might even try to raise some extra funds via a kickstarter project or something. need to get more info on that. First the script then the rest.

Neil, that is actually a really good idea.

I think there is another site like Kickstarter too that is good.

It is basically free money. You might as well give it a shot, plus you already have a "fan base" that I am sure will pony up some dough. Just make sure you do it the right way to have maximum impact.

Post: #33

Neil, I would work on getting more publicity for your book before going to LA. Become a celeb and you will sell your transcript. Maybe you can hire Roosh for help.

PUA meets Hangover shot in Ukraine.

Post: #34

Hopefully the production budget won't be as low as what Neil traveled on.

Good luck bro! Don't forget about us when you need extras for the film.

Post: #35

(02-19-2013 11:55 AM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Hopefully the production budget won't be as low as what Neil traveled on.

Good luck bro! Don't forget about us when you need extras for the film.

Good idea.

Some of us could play ourselves in the movie.

I think you should get Ben Affleck to play Roosh for the part in the movie when he goes to Ukraine for that talk show (for the Sport Coat and Pocket Square look):



This could really be the Hollywood Blockbuster of the Summer; Ben Affleck, Nick Nolte, Gary Busey and Ricky Schroder.

I can see it now, Neil Skywalker on the Red Carpet for The Screenwriters Guild Awards:

Post: #36

Congrats Brotha

Post: #37

Yeah, go for it! Keeping my thumbs up, hope you succeed again!!

Post: #38

Maybe it should be animated.

   

Post: #39

I wouldn't mind auditioning for the part of D-Lux

Post: #40

Congrats Neil, hope you nail it.


Good luck!

Post: #41

Veel succes!

And of course use the fame to bang some hollywood slutz

Post: #42

Don't worry about anyone "stealing" your idea. That's what a copyright protects, your intellectual property. The simplest (and cheapest) way to protect your script or anything else you write is to print a copy, mail it to yourself, and DO NOT OPEN IT! Put it somewhere safe and if someone does steal your idea you have dated proof of copyrighted intellectual property.

The reality is that if you write something good, a book, screenplay, poem, whatever, the people who produce or publish want to work with YOU, not pawn it off on someone more established. Or they'll pay for your original idea and do whatever they want to it. An author should never fear being ripped off, especially if their work is copyrighted.

Good luck with the project Neil! You might want to read this book by Joe Esterhas, Hollywood Animal. He did the screenplays for Basic Instinct, Jagged Edge, Flashdance, Showgirls, and Jade, it's a great read:

http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Animal-M...0375413553

Post: #43

He should ask Tarantino to direct the film to break the myth of the unsexy Dutch guys.

Post: #44

(02-19-2013 05:07 PM)painter Wrote:  Don't worry about anyone "stealing" your idea. That's what a copyright protects, your intellectual property. The simplest (and cheapest) way to protect your script or anything else you write is to print a copy, mail it to yourself, and DO NOT OPEN IT! Put it somewhere safe and if someone does steal your idea you have dated proof of copyrighted intellectual property.

The reality is that if you write something good, a book, screenplay, poem, whatever, the people who produce or publish want to work with YOU, not pawn it off on someone more established. Or they'll pay for your original idea and do whatever they want to it. An author should never fear being ripped off, especially if their work is copyrighted.

Good luck with the project Neil! You might want to read this book by Joe Esterhas, Hollywood Animal. He did the screenplays for Basic Instinct, Jagged Edge, Flashdance, Showgirls, and Jade, it's a great read:

http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Animal-M...0375413553

You can also send it in to the US Copyright office, which is a little better. Takes a month or two maybe longer to get in the system.

Do all the writers/actors/etc starting out still all live in the Oakwood apartments in Toluca Lake? Remember that used to be the spot back in the day.

Post: #45

Don't know how I forgot about this yesterday but it's always been my goal with something I wrote: First you sell them the movie rights to your book. Then you sell them the screenplay you wrote. Doesn't matter if your screenplay isn't great and they have a seasoned pro or the director or whoever rewrites it. Obviously it takes some finesse and you might have to sell the rights for less to get them to buy the screenplay but it's a double payday.

This accomplishes two things. First, by selling the movie rights to the book you get paid. As someone already mentioned it can take forever for a movie to get made, you've heard the term development hell. If they don't make the movie after the agreed upon time then you can sell the movie rights again. Second, by making them buy your screenplay you get a very important "Screenplay By" credit in the movie which is enormous (the only reason they have credits in movies is so all the people who work on them can put it on their resume).

Post: #46

(02-19-2013 11:46 AM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(02-19-2013 11:37 AM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  

(02-19-2013 08:17 AM)Locksmith Wrote:  This is great news!

As you put it, whatever the outcome, it's totally worth doing it.

You could try maximize your efforts by contacting some people prior to your trip, like agents who trade scripts etc etc. But I'm sure you must have thought of this already and I see some forum members can be valuable too.

Good luck!

Yep, I will but probably only a few weeks before I leave. In the mean while I'm busy enough writing and editing.
I might even try to raise some extra funds via a kickstarter project or something. need to get more info on that. First the script then the rest.

Neil, that is actually a really good idea.

I think there is another site like Kickstarter too that is good.

It is basically free money. You might as well give it a shot, plus you already have a "fan base" that I am sure will pony up some dough. Just make sure you do it the right way to have maximum impact.

Yep, I looked into this after New Years when I daydreamed about the project a bit.. I can't actually use Kickstarter since i'm not a US resident but there are similar sites. I was thinking about printing mugs and T-shirts (Roosh beat me to punch with revealing his own t-shirt/mug project) with the front cover of my book and autographed books to pull people in, just like a normal kickstarter project.

I will use this money to fund my stay there. I think 1500$ to 1750$ a month should be enough to live cheap in LA. So, in this case 5K will be necessary. I have my own funding but it's minimal so every dollar on top of that would be a step forward to succeeding otherwise I'll have to stay in the hostel/couchsurfing scene. Not sure if that's the most productive scene to hang out. In my experience it isn't.

(02-19-2013 11:51 AM)worldwidetraveler Wrote:  Neil, I would work on getting more publicity for your book before going to LA. Become a celeb and you will sell your transcript. Maybe you can hire Roosh for help.

PUA meets Hangover shot in Ukraine.

Yes, I haven't even mentioned my plans to the rest of the world just the RVF so far and I'm already busy answering mails half the day. Luckily I have sort of a GF in the building where I'm living so the last few months I could use my time to do other things. Too bad she's moving to England in a week. I will try to get some publicity of course and i think a Kickstarter project can help me with that. This week I will also reveal my "refund for review marketing strategy" (another plan I came up with a four weeks ago and similar to Roosh's)

(02-19-2013 11:55 AM)Aliblahba Wrote:  Hopefully the production budget won't be as low as what Neil traveled on.

Good luck bro! Don't forget about us when you need extras for the film.

Thanks, the movie might need some people to play stinking backpackers. Are you OK with the Rasta dreadlock look?

Post: #47

(02-19-2013 12:04 PM)Parlay44 Wrote:  Congrats Brotha

Thanks!

(02-19-2013 01:11 PM)artur jedi Wrote:  Yeah, go for it! Keeping my thumbs up, hope you succeed again!!

Thanks, hope your own adventures are going well Artur.

(02-19-2013 02:57 PM)LoveBug Wrote:  I wouldn't mind auditioning for the part of D-Lux

Haha, If you're a short, fully tattood Canadian bodybuilder then your perfect for the job. D-LUX is doing well nowadays. He runs his own nightclub now in the Phils. (location will not be revealed)

(02-19-2013 03:36 PM)FretDancer Wrote:  Congrats Neil, hope you nail it.

Good luck!

Thanks a lot!

(02-19-2013 05:07 PM)thebassist Wrote:  Veel succes!

And of course use the fame to bang some hollywood slutz

Bedankt!

And of course I will take every chance to lay some pipe over there. If I won't sell the script I will probably write a short book named: Around Hollywood in 80 girls. Just need to adjust the background of the front cover a bit.

Post: #48

(02-19-2013 05:07 PM)painter Wrote:  Don't worry about anyone "stealing" your idea. That's what a copyright protects, your intellectual property. The simplest (and cheapest) way to protect your script or anything else you write is to print a copy, mail it to yourself, and DO NOT OPEN IT! Put it somewhere safe and if someone does steal your idea you have dated proof of copyrighted intellectual property.

The reality is that if you write something good, a book, screenplay, poem, whatever, the people who produce or publish want to work with YOU, not pawn it off on someone more established. Or they'll pay for your original idea and do whatever they want to it. An author should never fear being ripped off, especially if their work is copyrighted.

Good luck with the project Neil! You might want to read this book by Joe Esterhas, Hollywood Animal. He did the screenplays for Basic Instinct, Jagged Edge, Flashdance, Showgirls, and Jade, it's a great read:

http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Animal-M...0375413553

I already did the email thing and of course my book is fully copyrighted by the US copyright office. I'm indeed not too worried about anyone stealing ideas but on the other hand I'm still cautious at this moment. From what I've read Hollywood isn't really stealing ideas anyway. Too much bad publicity if people find out and of course the lawsuits always reach astronomical figures in the US.
I'm willing to negotiate any offer I get.

Thanks for the link. Sounds like a good book. unfortunately it's not available as an ebook and since I'm not located in the US it's quite hard to buy the paperback or audio CD.

(02-19-2013 06:54 PM)PartyonBro Wrote:  

(02-19-2013 05:07 PM)painter Wrote:  Don't worry about anyone "stealing" your idea. That's what a copyright protects, your intellectual property. The simplest (and cheapest) way to protect your script or anything else you write is to print a copy, mail it to yourself, and DO NOT OPEN IT! Put it somewhere safe and if someone does steal your idea you have dated proof of copyrighted intellectual property.

The reality is that if you write something good, a book, screenplay, poem, whatever, the people who produce or publish want to work with YOU, not pawn it off on someone more established. Or they'll pay for your original idea and do whatever they want to it. An author should never fear being ripped off, especially if their work is copyrighted.

Good luck with the project Neil! You might want to read this book by Joe Esterhas, Hollywood Animal. He did the screenplays for Basic Instinct, Jagged Edge, Flashdance, Showgirls, and Jade, it's a great read:

http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Animal-M...0375413553

You can also send it in to the US Copyright office, which is a little better. Takes a month or two maybe longer to get in the system.

Do all the writers/actors/etc starting out still all live in the Oakwood apartments in Toluca Lake? Remember that used to be the spot back in the day.

I found this link about the Oakwood apartments. Sounds like a great place to live. Ill look into it but with my budget I probably end up in Inglewood not Oakwood, haha

http://askville.amazon.com/celebrities-s...d=66978684

Can you imagine being with a girl there who later becomes some superstar? How awesome is that?

(02-20-2013 05:57 AM)painter Wrote:  Don't know how I forgot about this yesterday but it's always been my goal with something I wrote: First you sell them the movie rights to your book. Then you sell them the screenplay you wrote. Doesn't matter if your screenplay isn't great and they have a seasoned pro or the director or whoever rewrites it. Obviously it takes some finesse and you might have to sell the rights for less to get them to buy the screenplay but it's a double payday.

This accomplishes two things. First, by selling the movie rights to the book you get paid. As someone already mentioned it can take forever for a movie to get made, you've heard the term development hell. If they don't make the movie after the agreed upon time then you can sell the movie rights again. Second, by making them buy your screenplay you get a very important "Screenplay By" credit in the movie which is enormous (the only reason they have credits in movies is so all the people who work on them can put it on their resume).

To be honest, I haven't looked into the business part of script selling/pitching yet because I wanted to finish the first draft first. I'll probably study up on it in the weeks before I leave. First I want to make sure I actually have a decent script to show.
It sounds like a good idea but does that mean I have to sell all the rights to my book?
I won't sell away my royalty rights. if a movie is ever made there will probably be a ginormous surge in book sales. I wouldn't want to miss out on 6 figure royalties numbers which is easy to get with a 5 dollar royalty a book.

Post: #49

"To be honest, I haven't looked into the business part of script selling/pitching yet because I wanted to finish the first draft first. I'll probably study up on it in the weeks before I leave. First I want to make sure I actually have a decent script to show.
It sounds like a good idea but does that mean I have to sell all the rights to my book?
I won't sell away my royalty rights. if a movie is ever made there will probably be a ginormous surge in book sales. I wouldn't want to miss out on 6 figure royalties numbers which is easy to get with a 5 dollar royalty a book."

There's a ton of different rights associated with your book that you can sell including the movie rights. It's definitely not selling your royalty rights! The "movie rights" is just owning the option to make your book into a movie for a certain length of time you negotiate with an interested party. You could sell it for one year for $10,000 or five years for $50,000, totally up to you and what you can negotiate. Some authors make bank selling the rights to popular books over and over again because Hollywood waits too long to greenlight the project.

One of my all time favorite books, The Monkey Wrench Gang, has been optioned continuously since it was written in the 70's without any movie being made but there's always rumors that some actor or actress or director or producer is attached to the project but it never happens. Either the same person keeps buying the rights or they let it lapse and someone else jumps on it.

The book is your calling card, the screenplay is the ace in the hole in your back pocket that comes out after you have someone eager to buy the book. That sucks you can't get the Esterhas book, it's got just about every Hollywood lesson you'd want to read in it, try google and see if there's a PDF of it you can get.

Writers are treated like shit in Hollywood, always have been, always will be. Esterhas turned that on it's' head for awhile but ultimately got his ass handed to him because his head got so big, but his story is incredible: a Hungarian kid starving in WW2 refugee camps, emigrated to the US with his parents, grew up in Cleveland, became a reporter then wrote for Rolling Stone in the early 70's and was a contemporary of Hunter S. Thompson, bolted for Tinseltown and was the first writer to bend Hollywood to his will and sell multiple scripts for over a million dollars. He's definitely the guy every writer in Hollywood aspires to be.

You've got a great angle, just work it when you get to Hollywood and remember it's a greed game. No one is going to say no to you, everyone says yes, they just don't call you back if they're not interested, much like a 10 who gives you her number but never answers her phone!

Post: #50

When they Hollywooodify the script

- Neil starts out as a dork
- travels and becomes a sex god amongst local women
- meets his match @ a hostel, a sharp and quick witted, kinda pudgy older chick, who left her law job and is pursuing advance yoga in Nepal
- Neil is smitten
- She plays hard to get
- Neil must prove his value to her by saving some Tibetan children from an evil corporate guy who's destroying their habitat, but not before he engages in some baby killing.
- but the twist?

Neil is actually playing second fiddle to Smart Chick with No Boobs but a lot of Sass.

She pities him, they get together, the end.

WIA