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Usenet Posted 20 years ago
Screenwriting
How to write query when my script is similar to upcoming film?
I have been working on a screenplay for just over a year I did the bulk of the writing in the past four months or so and I was just about to start sending query letters to agents and a handful of producers. Then, while browsing film-related stuff on the Web, I came across an early trailer for a new Hollywood film, due to be released within the year, that has some important story elements which are significantly similar to my own script.
I think my script is sufficiently different, in fundamental ways, that there should be room in the market both for my movie (or a movie based on my script), and this soon-to-be-released film. The soon-to-be-released movie has a well-known cast, and is almost sure to get major promotion from its studio. In other words, it will be a very visible film, and probably is already known to Hollywood players. My question is, when I write my query, do I just stick to a description of my film? Or do I, instead, specifically refer to this upcoming film, and indicate how my movie is different?As an analogy, suppose back in the 1980's you had just written a script about a teenager who goes back in time and meets his parents and then you suddenly see the promos for "Back To The Future." Only, let's say your story, while it may have a few funny lines, is not really a comedy, it's more of a serious, character driven, explore-your-roots story. And maybe your story also differs in that its not about some crazy adventures and gimmicks that are needed to get you back to the future; maybe instead it involves some major drama over a decision your main character must make, about whether or not to change his future at all, and how to change it.
(For example, maybe your story is very similar in structure or tone to "The Butterfly Effect", surely a very, very different film from "Back To The Future".)
Still, the logline is similar: "A teenage boy goes back in time to meet his teenage parents, and must influence events in the past to make the future the way it should be." So again, the question is, do you say, "And here is how my meet-your-teenage-parents movie is different from the soon-to-be-released Back To The Future", or do you just ignore that other movie altogether?
To set some context here I've been writing scripts for a long time, honing my craft, but unfortunately I have no sales and no agent yet. So, I'm still a total unknown, and trying to get my foot in the door with agents/producers via query letters.
Also, sort of a footnote people always wonder if story ideas get stolen by Hollywood. I can tell you that, if I had written my recent script four or five years ago, and had been shopping it around Hollywood, right now I'd probably be somewhat suspicious that the soon-to-be-released movie had been at least influenced by my script ideas. It just goes to show that, in fact, sometimes people really do come up with similar ideas or plot elements, quite independently of each other.
JS
I think my script is sufficiently different, in fundamental ways, that there should be room in the market both for my movie (or a movie based on my script), and this soon-to-be-released film. The soon-to-be-released movie has a well-known cast, and is almost sure to get major promotion from its studio. In other words, it will be a very visible film, and probably is already known to Hollywood players. My question is, when I write my query, do I just stick to a description of my film? Or do I, instead, specifically refer to this upcoming film, and indicate how my movie is different?As an analogy, suppose back in the 1980's you had just written a script about a teenager who goes back in time and meets his parents and then you suddenly see the promos for "Back To The Future." Only, let's say your story, while it may have a few funny lines, is not really a comedy, it's more of a serious, character driven, explore-your-roots story. And maybe your story also differs in that its not about some crazy adventures and gimmicks that are needed to get you back to the future; maybe instead it involves some major drama over a decision your main character must make, about whether or not to change his future at all, and how to change it.
(For example, maybe your story is very similar in structure or tone to "The Butterfly Effect", surely a very, very different film from "Back To The Future".)
Still, the logline is similar: "A teenage boy goes back in time to meet his teenage parents, and must influence events in the past to make the future the way it should be." So again, the question is, do you say, "And here is how my meet-your-teenage-parents movie is different from the soon-to-be-released Back To The Future", or do you just ignore that other movie altogether?
To set some context here I've been writing scripts for a long time, honing my craft, but unfortunately I have no sales and no agent yet. So, I'm still a total unknown, and trying to get my foot in the door with agents/producers via query letters.
Also, sort of a footnote people always wonder if story ideas get stolen by Hollywood. I can tell you that, if I had written my recent script four or five years ago, and had been shopping it around Hollywood, right now I'd probably be somewhat suspicious that the soon-to-be-released movie had been at least influenced by my script ideas. It just goes to show that, in fact, sometimes people really do come up with similar ideas or plot elements, quite independently of each other.
JS
Top answer
[nq:1]Still, the logline is similar: "A teenage boy goes back in time to meet his teenage parents, and must influence ... [/nq] I'd ignore the other film, but be sure to communicate the genre & tone of the film in the logline. Too much explanation often serves to confuse.
- [nq:1]Still, the logline is similar: "A teenage boy goes back in time to meet his teenage parents, and must influence ...
- [/nq] I'd ignore the other film, but be sure to communicate the genre & tone of the film in the logline.
- Too much explanation often serves to confuse.
- Sounds like you'll be fine if the genre and tone are as different as your Back to the Future example indicates.
- Best of luck!
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4 Answers
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[nq:1]Still, the logline is similar: "A teenage boy goes back in time to meet his teenage parents, and must influence ... meet-your-teenage-parents movie is different from the soon-to-be-released Back To The Future", or do you just ignore that other movie altogether?[/nq]
I'd ignore the other film, but be sure to communicate the genre & tone of the film in the logline. Too much explanation oft
I'd ignore the other film, but be sure to communicate the genre & tone of the film in the logline. Too much explanation oft
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[nq:1]I have been working on a screenplay for just over a year I did the bulk of the writing ... in fact, sometimes people really do come up with similar ideas or plot elements, quite independently of each other. JS[/nq]
Please be dumber, express yourself more poorly, and have a worse attitude you've given us very little to work with!
As it is, I (who asked a similar question about si
Please be dumber, express yourself more poorly, and have a worse attitude you've given us very little to work with!
As it is, I (who asked a similar question about si
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[nq:1]I have been working on a screenplay for just over a year I did the bulk of the writing ... of my film? Or do I, instead, specifically refer to this upcoming film, and indicate how my movie is different?[/nq]
I'd like to hear what the established pros recommend, but if you know that your work is original, I'd say make no reference to the other work. If somebody brings it up, say that you'
I'd like to hear what the established pros recommend, but if you know that your work is original, I'd say make no reference to the other work. If somebody brings it up, say that you'
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[nq:1]I'd like to hear what the established pros recommend,[/nq]
My advice was what an established pro recommended to me. Until there were FOUR Lysistrada projects in the works, none in the same arena as mine, but some with the same tone, then he advised me to keep writing if I was learning anything, but not to try and sell it until the projects either got made or died.
They all died. The
My advice was what an established pro recommended to me. Until there were FOUR Lysistrada projects in the works, none in the same arena as mine, but some with the same tone, then he advised me to keep writing if I was learning anything, but not to try and sell it until the projects either got made or died.
They all died. The
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