tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post5800306731335055133..comments2024-03-07T20:15:45.996-08:00Comments on The Bitter Script Reader: Amazon Studios - How desperate do you have to be to take a bad deal?The Bitter Script Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-63093928656088592462011-02-07T07:21:07.762-08:002011-02-07T07:21:07.762-08:00Triggerstreet is not a dumping ground for poorly w...Triggerstreet is not a dumping ground for poorly written scripts, it's a workshop for improving poorly written scripts and learning the craft. Once scripts are good enough to send out, or once scripts are optioned, most writers remove them from the site. Within the category of "poorly written scripts" there's a lot of latitude, and there are well-written scripts on the site.<br /><br />The proportion of bad to good scripts is certainly no higher than at any writing website or writer's group.<br /><br />No quarrel with the rest of the reply or the original post.SLHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870217293491272021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-81396532307077811002011-01-21T17:05:32.028-08:002011-01-21T17:05:32.028-08:00Yeah, I know what you're saying, but some folk...Yeah, I know what you're saying, but some folks might not care about the money they make on the backend, versus just getting something out on the big screen and then hopefully getting a better deal with the next project. Maybe Billy Joel isn't a perfect example, but there are plenty of artists that have been "aided", if you will, by signing bad deals early on. I'm not trying to justify the fairness of those deals, but what if you're not that great a screenwriter, for example, then maybe this Amazon thing isn't that bad a deal for you, if it leads to something. Everyone is not the next Aaron Sorkin, after all. :-)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15616103704538814817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-46532186734528638032011-01-19T12:42:56.702-08:002011-01-19T12:42:56.702-08:00Sound - I certainly don't want to second guess...Sound - I certainly don't want to second guess your experience in the business, but it's worth pointing out that Billy got EXTREMELY lucky that Columbia was interested in buying out his old contract. At that time, he only had one solo album to his name, and "Cold Spring Harbor" was far from being a hit. It's not quite analogous to a situation like Ray Charles becoming so big at his first label that another label was willing to give him anything just to make a deal with him.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-32351618276765349302011-01-19T10:02:31.988-08:002011-01-19T10:02:31.988-08:00Good points, but there's an argument to be mad...Good points, but there's an argument to be made that if Billy Joel had never signed that initial deal, he would never have become famous and made his millions. I worked in the music industry for many years (artist & studio mgmt), and 99% of artists who want to protect their publishing and masters never make it or get heard. Those who are willing to give up a lot in the beginning, are more likely to succeed (because you prove that you can make a lot of money for someone else).<br /><br />In the end, that's the ultimate sacrifice you seem to indicate - money. I'm not sure that makes the Amazon deal bad.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15616103704538814817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-19235702941347941372011-01-17T13:53:34.848-08:002011-01-17T13:53:34.848-08:00We owe you, Scott, John and host of others sincere...We owe you, Scott, John and host of others sincere thanks for speaking out on behalf of the screenwriting community and clearly outlining why this is such a bad deal.<br /><br />I'm one of those "aspiring screenwriters", working on my craft. Now that I have the straight goods, I'm steering clear of that rotting Amazon carrot.LFGabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08027408656249484282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-1499155776226576172011-01-17T12:15:44.137-08:002011-01-17T12:15:44.137-08:00Scott - thanks! And I absolutely will forward on ...Scott - thanks! And I absolutely will forward on any questions. Also, I invite any readers/commentators to contact Scott directly with questions for the Amazon reps.The Bitter Script Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16575166527272639709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-2652188187394271292011-01-17T12:13:32.593-08:002011-01-17T12:13:32.593-08:00Good post, TBSR. And great example re Billy Joel. ...Good post, TBSR. And great example re Billy Joel. Musicians used to get screwed routinely by being forced to sign away publishing rights to their songs to make any record deal. Sure, you can say yes to a bad deal because it's, you know, a DEAL. But as one screenwriter told me once, "The only real power you have as a writer is the power to say no." He meant that on a LOT of levels.<br /><br />I am buried in work, but hope this week I can assemble all the questions and concerns you and others have raised, and forward them to the representatives from Amazon Studios who have reached out to me for comment. If you get any further inquiries here, please feel free to send them my way.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09012812457657155914noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-12536536953320205482011-01-17T09:01:21.875-08:002011-01-17T09:01:21.875-08:00That was a very heated exchange. Good popcorn ente...That was a very heated exchange. Good popcorn entertainment on the weekend, Bitter. <br /><br />It's the reaction you're going to get from anybody that submitted to Amazon Studios. And the guy that argued with you did submit to Amazon Studios. I doubt he's going to end up agreeing with you as it would only make him appear foolish. The expected fall back of: "A deal is a deal" is disappointing to read.<br /><br />It's hard out there, but without the people ignoring solid advice from pros and the experienced, people like you wouldn't have blogs.Carlos Matthews Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844149114686947104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4706282221761427996.post-2647496122002787322011-01-17T06:55:52.265-08:002011-01-17T06:55:52.265-08:00I think you're absolutely right, Bitter.
A w...I think you're absolutely right, Bitter. <br /><br />A while back I checked out John August's blog on this topic, and I found the talkback very depressing; some posters were clearly desperate people with little knowledge of how the business works and their attitude was what you stated "a deal is a deal." <br /><br />I can only imagine the quality of their work, but the chances are that if they have spent no time familiarizing themselves with the business, they probably haven't spent much time familiarizing themselves with the principles of good screenwriting.<br /><br />I find sites like Trigger St to be dumping grounds for generally poorly written scripts; how much more so a clusterf**k like Amazon Studios.<br /><br />What I find most egregious of all is that any chancer (in fact, dozens of them if it's a popular script) can COMPLETELY REWRITE a writer's script.<br /><br />I have great respect for serious amateur writers (those of us who spend a lot of time on the craft and business of screenwriting). A deal like Amazon Studios will only attract those who have no respect for themselves as writers and aren't serious about having real careers.Jake Barneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01630288121554160502noreply@blogger.com