A request for MR Roderick Usher

[bwind22]

Originally posted by Roderick Usher
All right I need all the good intentions and positive energy I can muster. Got a script going up the pipe at Dimension - with Adam Green of HATCHET attached to direct!

It's made it up to the VP of Development who can give us a simple yes or no answer. Should hear in a week to ten days - Hollywood is so fucking slow!

Wish me luck. If it goes, I'll tell you all about it, it's something I'm sure all of you will love.

That's fuckin' awesome man! Best of luck to ya!

It won't be long now until you are the next Kevin Williamson and forget all about us little people. :D

[Roderick Usher]

Originally posted by bwind22
That's fuckin' awesome man! Best of luck to ya!

It won't be long now until you are the next Kevin Williamson and forget all about us little people. :D

Thanks:)

As for the little people, I love midgets and could never forget them:D

[The Flayed One]

I wish you all of the best, Rod!

Another question: You spoke of contests as being the best way of getting something done for an aspiring writer. Can you recommend any lists/sites that list these, and ways young writers can help avoid being scammed by paying fees to bogus contests?

[Haunted]

And if I were to send you an outline that made a great book, because I don't write screenplays, how do I know you wouldn't rip me off?:D

Oh, and doesn't anyone know that only good writers get fame and notoriety after they've gone and died.;) :p

[Miss Olivia]

Originally posted by Roderick Usher
Thanks:)

As for the little people, I love midgets and could never forget them:D

Midgets scare me.
Only thing that creeped me out about Xtro.
*shudder*

I had a nightmare after that Surreal Life episode with Vern Troyer (mini-me) drunk and terrorizing the house with pee and mini-nakedness. He was chasing me around on his little scooter making the scary drunk midget noise.

[Roderick Usher]

Originally posted by The Flayed One
I wish you all of the best, Rod!

Another question: You spoke of contests as being the best way of getting something done for an aspiring writer. Can you recommend any lists/sites that list these, and ways young writers can help avoid being scammed by paying fees to bogus contests?

moviebytes.com

they list virtually all the competitions and includes writers' feeback on how they were treated. I'd steer clear of any competition that hasn't been around for at least two years.

if you're in the horror genre, the best is LA Screamfest. I was a semi-finalist three years in a row before landing a rep, but I got one from this competition.

[Roderick Usher]

Originally posted by Haunted
And if I were to send you an outline that made a great book, because I don't write screenplays, how do I know you wouldn't rip me off?:D

Oh, and doesn't anyone know that only good writers get fame and notoriety after they've gone and died.;) :p

I wouldn't rip anyone off - karma's a bitch. but you should copyright and/or register the outline or story synopsis with the Writer's Guild of America - then you are protected.

I'll gladly take a look at the outline and offer a critique. If my writing partner and I like it, we might ask your permission to write it and give you a "story by" credit.

[bwind22]

Hey Roderick, I have another question for ya. This one is about talent agents...

How do they normally get paid?

Do you like pay them on an hourly or weekly or monthly basis or is their pay based on whether or not they create income for you?


For example, say you have an agent for a year, but don't sell any scripts (or get any parts or whatever). Are you paying that agent for essentially doing nothing for you? Or does the agent not get paid unless you do somehow?

I'm just curious as to how that works.

[Haunted]

Originally posted by Roderick Usher
I'll gladly take a look at the outline and offer a critique. If my writing partner and I like it, we might ask your permission to write it and give you a "story by" credit.

I'm talking about a novel, not a screen play.

I've been wracking my brain as to whether or not to ask you to, when you have time to look a rough "main character" design" story outline/synopsis (two or three paragraphs), and a general description of what I'm trying to do, however, I don't really know if that's "kosher," or rather if that's necessary. ( You know the whole, "go with it, baby!")

The thing is, you're a pro. and I'm not (yet [heh]). I've spoken with other professionals. I've had other pros. take a look at what I'm working on, and I have gotten a "thumbs up."

The thing is, though, most of my writing credibility is in academia. I write damn good analytical thesis papers, documents, and essays.

I once talked to a dude who wrote for TSR (the fantasy rpg comp.) He talked me out of becoming an English major. Told me that it would the worst mistake of my life, if I wanted to be a writer.

Mainly, what I do in the form of creative writing, currently, is poetry, in the form of free verse, with a dash of beat poetry. Every year I buy the Poet's Market and stare at it. That is the one area where the lighter side of my being shows throw. E.A. Poe, I ain't.

[Roderick Usher]

--bwind--

Agents get 10% of what you make. If you earn nothing, neither do they. Kepps them motivated to find you work. Some agents try to get one over by charging administrative fees. you NEVER need to pay these and anyone who tries to charge them is disreputable.

Managers, however, can charge up to 25% - once again, this is a sign of someone who is disreputable. I'd give a manager 15% if I didn't have an agent as well, but as soon as an agent is added to the equation the manager's fee should drop to 10%.

--Haunted--

I'll gladly take a look and give my honest critique. I'm a pro screenwriter and still trying the tame the novel (and poetry) thing myself, so don't take my word as any kind of absolute.

And writing from academia is awesome - I'm sure your grasp of grammar and sentence construction is far superior to mine.:)