There´s a screenplay to become a movie - how?

I would imagine that an agent would probably be a good idea. And you have to consider the possibility that someone might try to steal your ideas.

You need to register the screenplay with the WGA first. Then get an agent. You also might want to look at copyrighting your screenplay if you can (i am not sure since you wrote a sequel to another horror movie).

Is it a sequel for an existing film? Because, my friend - the reality is that what you've written is "fanfic". And only under really odd circumstances does that mean a thing to anyone.

Like the guy who actually wrote a script for "Buckaroo Banzai Against the World Crime League". His script was optioned, and the company that did so tried to untangle the rights and produce the thing. It never happened, but the guy made a few bucks...

Or the contest that Toho held to write a new Godzilla film - the winner was Godzilla vs Biollante.

Every once in awhile, that kind of thing works - but in most instances, writers and directors are contractually locked for things like this.

When I had Dimension's ear for two seconds, I was never going to pitch them Scream 3.

(Ironically enough, I wrote a treatment for Rambo 4 instead...)

And I have an open door at Mutant Enemy - but I'd never send them a Buffy script - they probably do that stuff a bit better than I would.

Anyway - to hell with the content right now. I've no right to tell you that what you've come up with isn't gonna' knock somebody for a loop and get you a deal somewhere - and we've all seen sequels written by people who didn't have anything to do with the first film...

Getting the thing into the right hands? Easier than you think, mebbe.

So...one time I wrote something that I thought Robert Rodriguez would totally dig. This was around the time Desperado came out. Rodriguez had been quoted as saying he didn't necessarily want to write everything he directed, and I thought maybe that meant anyone had a chance if they were good enough.

I finished the thing and tried to figure out how best to get it into his hands...

What a naive kid...

Anyway, I'm reading Variety and looking at production company addresses and notice the company set up for the Untitled "Robert Rodriguez/Kevin Williamson Project".

There's a phone number. I call it. I explain who I am. Rodriguez's people listen to me for awhile, figure I'm not retarded or psycho, and give me the number to his agent at ICM, Robert Newman.

So I call Newman's office, talk to his assistant, who puts me on with Newman, who listens to me babble for a bit and then gives me the names of a few agents looking for submissions and clients.

He explains - matter of factly - that they are greener guys looking to make the name, whereas he deals for the most part with established talent -

But we've all got to start somewhere, right?

So I talk to these two guys, and they're open to anything I'd like to show them, and I get the proper release forms and send off the bloated, amateurish, infantile, and thouroughly fucking retarded script to two agents in the biggest talent agency alive.

I'm a moron - maybe I should have spell-checked?

Anyway - I didn't get representation, but I got an opening at ICM. They said I had the foundation, but lacked focus and an internal editor. My script was trying too hard to be all things to all people.

Still, at the end of the day, I was encouraged to send any subsequent attempts to them.

Anywhere you look on the web or in print, you will see that ICM does not accept unsolicited material.

But they'll look at mine. Neat, huh? All because I had the testicular fortitude to make a phone call.

The right people aren't necessarily actors or directors - they might be kid agents looking to take the chance on another kid...

Go to <a href="http://www.WGA.org" target="_blank">www.WGA.org</a> .

There you will find out how to register a screenplay online -

Copyrighting a work based on previous work would be pretty much impossible, but if you're say...writing your idea for the next Hellraiser movie, and you send your script to Dimension...and it gets sent back to you with "no thanks, Kraut" attached - but six months later, you're watching a DVD of Hellraiser:Hell-Leaker - and 70% of it is yours - you can then try to work with the WGA in arbitration for credit/and monetary compensation.

Also, there is a list of agents at the WGA site who might be willing to work with you.

Read the trades, as well - send scripts to the companies you like.

Eric Red couldn't afford to send every company a copy of his script for The Hitcher, so he sent five pages (the scene where Jennifer Jason Leigh gets gakked) to 60 different production companies.

Three responded. Two entered into a bidding war, and Eric Red sold The Hitcher.

There's no right way to make it in. I've tried agencies...cold calling...attacking people at cons - and each time I get a little closer to the right people and the proper channels.

Register your idea. Very important. Then do whatever is in your power. If that's a flight to the States, then do it. If that's licking a stamp, make it happen. Try everything.

But first and foremost, try original concepts and characters - you lock yourself out of a lot of places if you write soemthing based on a film that already exists.

Because at the end of the day, you can only send this to the people responsible for the creation of the original.

If you write the best Batman movie ever (Doesn't everybody?), all you can do is sent it to Warner Brothers - and they've spent too much hiring the biggest names in screenwriting to acknowlege that some nobody did it better than the best hacks in the biz.

If you write the coolest Freddy idea - the only people who can do a fucking thing about that is New Line.

You can't send that Jeepers Creepers 3 script to Fox - it has to go to Zoetrope or MGM - and I think there's a writer/director who might take offense to the notion that you think you know better than he how his creation should be handled.

If you wanna' do Bond, however, MGM or Warners will work, I think - but only if you Bond is a variation on Thunderball...

Or not.

See what I mean, though? It helps to not limit yourself in that way.

So, I have to ask - what did you sequelize, anyway...?

HAM, did I ever tell you you're an inspiring bastard? Cuz you ARE.

damn ANIMAL, great info, wasn't sure if i should venture into these parts of CHUD but now, i'll be here every day!!! thanks for the free tips!...

That really was great inspirational stuff HAM. Can I steal your brain? I'll give it back...

That was prety cool HAM. You had some good advice. It's always good to hear from someone who is fighting it out in the trenches with the rest of the gang.

very nice HAM. It's nice to have a good, long response that actually gives great advice. Lucky to have you here.

Ham, you're a star.
This is the sort of experienced advice that although truthful, inspires the people that read it.