The Independent Producer

The Independent Producers are the eyes and ears of the "Majors." Industry people are watching the independent movement very closely. The industry keeps close tabs on new talent. The "majors" watch and wait. Independent producers still believe in the magic that creates entertaining films. The aren't tied down because of 'big studio' politics. They are freer to take chances. The independent producer is a hustler, a get-the-job-done type of person. He/she truly believes he can make a good film, and he usually does. Independent producers ARE assessable to the unagented screenwriter, the writer with no credits. In my opinion, the independent producer is the newcomers' ONLY chance.

The major studios are virtually unreachable for the new, unagented writer. Many of the larger studios will not read a script unless it is written by a Writers Guild member. And, you cannot become a Guild member until you accumulate points. The chicken before the egg syndrome. It is the independent producer who may help the unagented screenwriter to gain entry into the film industry.

Independent producers sometimes have difficulty raising the funds they need to producer their projects. For this reason, they often turn to foreign financing where they are free of the politics and restraints of the major studios.

Independent producers are not locked into using only the "A" list writers and talent. This often minimizes the financial risks to individual independent producers, and this gives them more freedom to keep a creative thumb on their projects.

Selling a script to an independent producer is the most realistic way for a new screenwriter to break into the highly competitive feature-film market today.

Independents can take chances the 'majors' cannot. This is the reason I wanted to write my book -- "THE PATH OF A SPEC SCRIPT" -- to give you an option (excuse the pun) Instead of searching for years to find an agent who will be willing to take a chance on a newcomer, an agent who MIGHT be able to get your script into the 'major' market, you can submit directly to the independent producer.

Independent producers cannot afford the high fees and salaries paid by the "majors" (in the hundreds of thousands of dollars), so they often OPTION a script for a period of time, and for a specified fee. This fee can range anywhere from $1.00 to one-third of the proposed selling price of the script, should the script be sold. In this way, the independent acts as a liaison between the writer and the "majors," or the independent producer may decide to produce the project themselves.

Am I impressed by the independent producer? You bet. I have a deep respect for them. They are willing to take a chance on a new, unproduced, and unagented screenwriter. The independent producer is always looking for fresh material. They are the artists of the film industry -- the dreamers, the true believers.

The independents look for the low to medium budget films to produce, so keep this in mind when you are submitting material to them. Don't send them an "Independence Day" sort of script. Don't send them action films with lots of demolition derby type scenes...explosions, etc. This ALL runs the budget into the millions. Special effects should be kept at a minimum as well. The independent producer will attach themselves (usually through an option, sometimes through outright purchase) to a project; then they shop it around on the writer's behalf. The successes of the independent producers are very impressive. Just take a look at the films nominated for Academy Awards in recent years. The independent films have dominated the awards. Some high-grossing films have come from independent film companies in recent years and the phenomenon continues.

The 1994 Academy Awards proved as a wake-up call for the industry. The mega-budget films failed to take the gold! Four of the five films nominated in the best picture category were made by independent producers. All five films nominated in the best original screenplay category were produced by independents.

The so-called "B" pictures were suddenly the "A" pictures. The independents had the last laugh. They direct their films toward a smaller audience and have made the "majors" sit up and take notice of what the 'theater-going' public really wants to see.

There are thousands of up-and-coming independent producers, and just about twice as many 'wannabe' screenwriters...I like the term "screenabes" better. I believe that independent producers are the backbone of the film industry -- allowing new writers to develop their craft. They are all looking for good writers with good stories. I have optioned four screenplays to independent producers. I have found that these optioned scripts have given me a certain recognition...a certain credibility.

Every book you read about the industry makes a similar statement, "Make contact with an insider." Sounds simple enough -- huh? Not real easy if you don't happen to live in Los Angeles, or next door to the head of Paramount. To the new screenwwriter...that insider IS the independent producer.

And, remember...the independent producer of today, just might be the top executive at a 'major' studio tomorrow. Wouldn't you like to establish a relationship with him/her now, while he/she is still an Independent?