|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guest Column - Matt Burch
Famous Last Words: A PGL
True Hollywood Story
"I don't do contests."
OK. Sometimes you have to break your own rules. That's what I did a year ago when I clicked "submit," launching my screenplay "The Upgrade" forever into cyberspace and into the annals of the Project Greenlight contest.
Since then, a lot has changed. I sold my screenplay to Miramax. I moved to L.A. I have planted my Adidas in a few doors that may have otherwise been shut. All in all, not bad for a kid from Virginia who, for the last five years, had been slaving away in exotic locales (Pittsburgh, PA - Fredericksburg, VA - Queens, NYC) writing scripts, working odd jobs, trying to make a film, trying like hell to get read.
"No entry fee and a million to make your movie."
Those are the words that clinched it for me. How could I turn down a shot at a million to make my movie and have guaranteed distribution? The answer...I couldn't.
OK, so you have to shoot a bio video. No problem. Sure, you have to fill out tons of legal mumbo-jumbo. To be expected. Yeah, you have two weeks to put together a three-minute scene from your script. Quick turnover, but do-able. OK, so now you're going to be flown out to LA to spend an entire weekend on camera, your every last move being taped. Gulp. Did I mention there was no entry fee?
"What's L.A. like this time of year?"
Rainy and nerve-wracking. At least it was for those three days. For a guy accustomed to being behind the cameras, 24-hour surveillance can be a bit...surreal. But hey, I did write a script about security guards. Call it my just desserts.
As for the interviews, rapping with Chris Moore about my script was a breeze. After all, I'm a writer. Talking endlessly about my projects comes second nature, if not first. As for some of the more probing Barbara Walters style interviews for the show, not so fun. Does it make for good TV? I don't know, I guess we'll see. Does it have anything at all to do with being a first time director making a film? Doubtful.
"And the winner is..."
The night of the top ten premieres was a big blur. Walk the "green" carpet. Answer the same question. Smile. Repeat. It was good to see the scene I had spent the last three weeks feverishly putting together finally up on the big screen, imperfections and all. Not to mention the scenes of the other nine contestants, even if they were "mine sworn enemies."
And then they announced the top three. Sure, OK, I wasn't one of the winners. At least, not yet. But everybody knows that the deals aren't made at the Oscars, they're made at the OSCAR PARTIES...
"Can I get that in writing?"
The Top Ten event party was where things started to happen. Turns out, Miramax and Live Planet liked the script and had an "interest." After a few months of nervous hand wringing, that "interest" finally manifested itself on paper, the contractual kind.
Welcome to Hollywood, Burch. Time to take some meetings. And let the rewrites begin...
"You'll never work in this town again."
All right, I haven't heard that line yet and hopefully I don't anytime soon. But who knows? As of this writing I have yet to see the show (or those scandalous interviews).
For the time being, what I can say is this. Thanks to Project Greenlight I gained some good friends, some great contacts, learned a few Hollywood lessons and lived to tell the tale.
Still don't do contests, Burch?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
