I got a message (ended up in my spam filter, appropriately enough) with the subject line “Screenwriter’s now.” Interesting grammar. Anyway, they are offering a film packaging service. For a fee they will help you rewrite your script, work out a budget, do a marketing breakdown, a director wish list, a cast wish list, and some more stuff.
So let’s take a closer look at one of these elements that struck me as strange, the cast wish list. On their web site they says, “The necessity of a cast wish list is self-evident. It gives screenwriters the ability to bring producers a sense of reality to intangible characters by casting these roles.”
Huh? You mean if I tell producer X that I think George Clooney would be great for the male lead and Sandra Bullock for the female lead, he’s going to have a better “sense of reality” and it’ll help him or her with casting?
I don’t think so. More likely, it'll make him or her think I'm a presumptuous amateur.
But wait, they also say, “Once this process is complete, the effort is made to try and get actors on the list to become attached to your screenplay.” I think this means they will call up George Clooney’s agent and say, “We have a script here written by a writer you don't know and there’s no studio or producer attached. Would George like to be attached to it? No? OK, thanks anyway.” There, an effort has been made.
Let’s look at the credentials of the principal Stephen Gray. On the site he’s listed as founder and of Gray Fox Films. Never heard of it, but the website helpfully tells us: “GRAY FOX FILMS has slated its initial project “Sunset Plaza” a dark comedy spoofing L.A. and the entertainment industry. It is expected to be shot in Los Angeles in August, 2005.”
Well, sometimes I lose track of time, too. Let’s have a look at IMBD. No sign of “Sunset Plaza.” Nor any of the others they mention in that section.
Finally, let’s check out the testimonials section. Here’s one: “There are few people in Hollywood that skip the run-around and tell it like it is. Stephen Gray is one of those people. He is a stand up guy that will get your script into the right hands. In Hollywood, that's what it's all about. -- Regards, Charles Heit , Hollywood, CA
Thanks, Charles, but who are you? His dentist? His brother-in-law? A satisfied client who got a film sold? If the latter, I’m all ears. What was the project? Who bought it due to the involvement of Film Literary Group?
Maybe that was a bad random choice. Let’s try one more: James H. Man. James says, “Stephen Gray, You are magnificent! In a world of smoke and idle promises. Your tenacity and charm bowl people over. I feel fortunate to have hitched my horse to your wagon. Let’s do the deal, Oscar’s table in three years.” – James H. Man, Screenwriter/Author, Amarillo, Texas.”
I have a hunch James hasn’t hit the Oscar ceremony yet or we would have heard about it. Again, I'm glad Mr. Gray is popular but the testimonial doesn't mention results.
I’m not suggesting FilmLiteraryGroup is a scam, they’re pretty upfront about what they offer (although as far as I can tell the prices aren't on the website). But I have grave doubts that this would be money well spent.
So let’s take a closer look at one of these elements that struck me as strange, the cast wish list. On their web site they says, “The necessity of a cast wish list is self-evident. It gives screenwriters the ability to bring producers a sense of reality to intangible characters by casting these roles.”
Huh? You mean if I tell producer X that I think George Clooney would be great for the male lead and Sandra Bullock for the female lead, he’s going to have a better “sense of reality” and it’ll help him or her with casting?
I don’t think so. More likely, it'll make him or her think I'm a presumptuous amateur.
But wait, they also say, “Once this process is complete, the effort is made to try and get actors on the list to become attached to your screenplay.” I think this means they will call up George Clooney’s agent and say, “We have a script here written by a writer you don't know and there’s no studio or producer attached. Would George like to be attached to it? No? OK, thanks anyway.” There, an effort has been made.
Let’s look at the credentials of the principal Stephen Gray. On the site he’s listed as founder and of Gray Fox Films. Never heard of it, but the website helpfully tells us: “GRAY FOX FILMS has slated its initial project “Sunset Plaza” a dark comedy spoofing L.A. and the entertainment industry. It is expected to be shot in Los Angeles in August, 2005.”
Well, sometimes I lose track of time, too. Let’s have a look at IMBD. No sign of “Sunset Plaza.” Nor any of the others they mention in that section.
Finally, let’s check out the testimonials section. Here’s one: “There are few people in Hollywood that skip the run-around and tell it like it is. Stephen Gray is one of those people. He is a stand up guy that will get your script into the right hands. In Hollywood, that's what it's all about. -- Regards, Charles Heit , Hollywood, CA
Thanks, Charles, but who are you? His dentist? His brother-in-law? A satisfied client who got a film sold? If the latter, I’m all ears. What was the project? Who bought it due to the involvement of Film Literary Group?
Maybe that was a bad random choice. Let’s try one more: James H. Man. James says, “Stephen Gray, You are magnificent! In a world of smoke and idle promises. Your tenacity and charm bowl people over. I feel fortunate to have hitched my horse to your wagon. Let’s do the deal, Oscar’s table in three years.” – James H. Man, Screenwriter/Author, Amarillo, Texas.”
I have a hunch James hasn’t hit the Oscar ceremony yet or we would have heard about it. Again, I'm glad Mr. Gray is popular but the testimonial doesn't mention results.
I’m not suggesting FilmLiteraryGroup is a scam, they’re pretty upfront about what they offer (although as far as I can tell the prices aren't on the website). But I have grave doubts that this would be money well spent.
