Thanks, Shawn. There's no need to send, although I'm always open to reading good screenplays (as evndenced my participation here), I was just sorta curious - since this was the first go-round - how folks were dealing with the issue of a writing sample's "tone." So if your re-write is going all fantasy - would folks submit a fantasy script (assuming they had one) or submit that shows off something more like "no, really, I can write."
Our proposal was for something that blended elements of traditional fantasy and sci-fi. Our writing sample was the screenplay for our first produced feature film. While it is a sci-fi action-thriller and posses some tonal and thematic elements we proposed to explore in the rewrite, it certainly leans more toward "no, really, I can write."
I hope they have plans to ask a few more people. All I want is a chance to prove myself.
I don't think they'll ask for more samples although I'd really wish they did. Since they seem to have requested a sample from only a handful of writers they may have a specific tone or approach they are going for. I can't wait to see where they're taking this project!
"for our first produced feature film"
Just curious, what film was this?
I pitched live action over animation with a target audience being the tween to adults...
You know Jason, I did exactly the same. I guess your concept out shined mine. If you are asked to do the script, which I'm guessing will probably be around 5 total that will be asked, I would like to read your treatment if you wouldn't mind and if Amazon would let you. I don't mind being outdone, I would just like to see how it was done.
Your friend,
jc
Im guessing if I'm lucky enough to make it to the next round, they will make my submittal public. It's interesting, I remember with the OS submittal process, there were a lot more people who spoke out when they made it to the next round. I think people are being quiet this time around for some reason. That's interesting since this site is all about collaboration and community support...
@Luke, I'm not sure if I'm permitted to post links here. So, just look on my profile. It's the first link in the about me section.
What happened with OS? I found it on the site, but no details of how the submission process worked. Was it the same as 12 Princesses?
This is what I found - Amazon Studios has chosen four writers and one writing team to take the next step with Original Soldiers. These five each received $10,000 to produce a 10-page treatment. The writer of the best treatment will get a chance to write a first draft (which pays $40,000) and a second draft (which pays another $25,000).
Did they ask for writing samples? Do we know how many?
@ Viv - yes, they asked for samples on OS -- one each.
No news on OS I've seen since they posted the winning treatments. You could ask over on that board.
It may be that the few confirms of contact from Az on 12 Princesses may be that others have not been about on the board, to 'confirm or deny', so to speak.
I always looked at this as more of a 'consulting gig' than a competition, in that it seems a process for identifying candidates that can realistically be believed capable of producing the deliverables on time, and can demonstrate, in their proposal, some flair and creative juice.
The other thing to remember is that 'things happen'. I imagine all these proposals will remain on file, and it may be they will be revisited in the near future.
So have the people who got script requests heard anything re when there might be some public news?
The contest details say that they'll expect to request writing samples within 6 weeks after the May 14th deadline. We got our script request on June 1st. It says that they expect to contact the winner within 8 weeks after they receive writing samples. So, we really have until around July 27th to hit that 8 week mark.
If they used the full 6 weeks to request scripts, then we might not hear anything until around August 20th.
Hopefully they move quicker than that.
@ Shawn - thanks! That at least gives us a window. I assume I'm out of the running, but I'm still curious how it turns out...
It does seem strange that there don't appear to have been any script requests for ITMFFID. Did anyone submit two proposals?
Did anyone get a request for a writing sample AFTER the original 45 days had run?
(grasping at straws here, I know....)
I think it is safe to assume that I will not be receiving a request for a sample script. Honestly I think that it had more to do with the typos in my proposal, than the actual proposal itself. I did not hear about this until a few days before it was due but I didn't have time to work on it until the night of the deadline--I literally turned it in seconds before the deadline.
Typos are typically a way to sort out submissions very fast. They have to start somewhere, so the ones who don't fit the standards they set are out first. It works that way everywhere.
I'm not sure that's the only reason though. It's also a matter of 'what are they looking for' (some would call it 'taste', others 'marketing'. Sometimes you hit that mark, sometimes you don't. At least you gave it a try, and you probably learned from it. I know I did. :)
The typos would not have been there had I more than seconds left to submit the material.
I wish I had known about this site sooner. Next time, I'll be more prepared. That said, I always have my own personal projects to work on anyway.
I found out in early September that my proposal wasn't taken...
