(You can still read Part 1 HERE) With my 45 day evaluation window fast approaching, I am beginning to get that fluttering one gets when nerves approach - I have butterflies in my stomach. There are no projects at all which have been selected for the TV consider list yet. The realist within me says; as if Brad! They are not going to option your work! But the writer in me says; stranger things have happened. News recently broke that Zombies vs. Gladiators, an older Amazon Studios film project by Michael Weiss and Gregg Ostrin, has been green lit for development, and now the likes of Clive Barker are attached. This whole prospect of attaining something special is a lot more real that I originally imagined. Between the time I fist submitted the draft for White Noise and now, I took the chance to contribute to Amazon Studios opportunities section. The film that I optioned to take a stab at re-working was for a project called 12 Princesses by Rob Gardner. There are many types of submissions one can make to Amazon, from artwork to filmed promos, but this specific opportunity was for a position re-writing the script. Amazon Studios provide you with a series of pre-requisites of what they are looking for in the new version, on the promise that the chosen individual will receive $30,000 (£19,802) and the chance to be part of a feature film. For 12 Princesses they were after stronger characters, improved plot and a meaner villain. I downloaded the original script and read it from cover to cover, and by the end I had a very clear idea of what I could bring to the table. For those unfamiliar with the story, it is based on a Grimm Brothers fairytale. Gardners musical version told of a young dreamer Yannick, who falls in love with one ofyou guessed it, 12 princesses. The plot develops into a will they wont they love story, bordered by evil fairies, an unhinged king and dancinglots and lots of dancing. Its a good read. If you would like to see Gardners script you can do so by clicking here.
The submission process for a re-write is involved but not necessarily difficult. After reading the script you have to provide answers to questions about how you would address the issues raised by Amazon Studios. You must then write a blow by blow detailing of your version of the story, ensuring that it stays within the 5-page minimum. I personally found this part of the application to be very rewarding. As a writer, it is often a manic rush to get ideas down of paper. Thoughts come and go like the wind, so when a strong image or line of dialogue pops up, one cannot afford to waste time. Within a few hours of finishing Gardners draft, I had envisioned, detailed and then re-worked my own version. I chose to make the plot appeal to a broader audience. I included battle scenes, more defined fairytale logic, and turned the villain into a very dark overbearing character. Strands of Gardners script were excellent, but I felt the need to jumble those ideas up a bit and move them into more logical positions; my idea was essentially a page one re-write and I dumped the whole musical aspect. Although it has not been confirmed, one might assume that all submitted proposals will be available for public viewing after a final choice is made. When and if that happens, I will post mine online for anyone who cares to read it. The deadline came in late May. Amazon Studios has a forum facility on its site for writers who wish to exchange ideas and questions. No sooner had submissions come in, the forums began to fill up with authors eager to discuss the project with each other. Impatience set in and people soon began to demand a time span for announcements. Suppositions and guess work took the place of concrete knowledge, but 45 days seemed like a logical figure; after all, any other work on the site gets 45 days before an answer. By early June a couple of people began to announce successful reception of an email. The emails in question were requesting writing samples - id be lying if I said I wasnt disheartened. Where was my email? Why wasnt my idea strong enough to at least get to stage 2? Once again, the realist and the writer argued; what are the chances of you standing out amongst thousands? 45 days are not up yet, the email could still come. So here I sit, clock watching until late June, hoping that the next time my inbox says 1 New Message, it will be from Amazon Studios telling me they want something more. It could be a request for a writing sample for 12 Princesses or asking for a 2nd draft of White Noise, I dont mind; I just want to get on the ladder. 45 days is starting to feel like an eternity. If you would like to read my script for White Noise click here. You can also read part one of my Amazon Studios article by clicking here.