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Home > How To Sell A True Life Story To Hollywood
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How to Sell a True Life Story to Hollywood by Paul Lawrence
If you've ever thought that you knew of a true life story that could be a great movie and thought that you could never make this happen because you didn't have any show business connections or didn't know how to write a script, you were mistaken.
I have been writing screenplays for about 12 years. And, I will be blunt. It is not easy to write a great screenplay. It is a complicated and exacting process that takes years for even a natural to master. I am proud to say that after all of this effort I eventually acquired a real Hollywood agent and am a produced screenwriter.
But, the great news is that there is another way that you can break into show business without having to do put in that kind of time and effort. You can become a producer. Now, I'm not talking about the kind of producer that borrows money from relatives and strangers and makes a small independent movie (although this is a possible way to break into Hollywood but requires risking a lot of someone's capital.).
I'm talking about being a creating producer...a person that creates a great idea and then either sells it or partners with an already established entity in Hollywood that can make the project. If you have your own true life story or can obtain the rights to someone else's true life story, you can sell it to Hollywood.
Selling projects based on true life stories is another highly viable option where a novice with a great story can instantly have an entertainment career. The fact is that the public finds true stories to be very interesting and producers know that a premise based on a true story has a "built-in" marketing appeal.
While it is possible to actually come across and sell a real life story, one way you can greatly increase your bargaining position is by acquiring the life rights to one or more principals involved in the true story.
But, don't worry. You won't have to risk any capital to do so. Let's say for example that you find a very unique story in the newspaper and it names a certain individual involved. You do a little research to find the contact information for this individual. Next, you contact the person and explain that you are a producer (you don't need to lie. If you are asked about what you've made before be truthful and say nothing, but that you are very passionate about this story and you'd just like them to consider what you have to offer.).
I've approached a number of people over the years like this and I've never had anyone that was rude or uninterested in hearing more. If they are interested in hearing more you explain that you will option their life rights for the story. An option on someone's life rights is like optioning a house. You pay a small amount (as little as one dollar) to own the right to purchase the life rights within a specified period. With the life rights of a principal to a fascinating real life story, you have a strong bargaining position when you approach producers.
Here are the steps to obtain true life story rights and market them:
1. Seek out a fascinating true life story either through the media or personal contacts
2. Acquire an option for a principal's life rights
3. Create a simple written presentation of the story idea
4. Develop a list of industry producers that are seeking out true life stories
5. Submit your project to the producers on your list
If you obtain the interest of a producer you can negotiate a deal where you just sell your rights to the producer or you can possibly become attached to the project and be part of it's creative process.
About the Author
http://www.smallbizriches.com/breakingintohollywood
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