Fast Food Fast Women
© James C. Hess
Specifically, the part of the process known as 'development'.
Development within the film- and movie-making process is akin to trying to determine where you are when you are lost and have no idea where you are or what direction you should go: First you go this direction. No, wait. Then you go that direction. No, wait. You came from that direction, so perhaps you should go in the opposite direction from where you came. But wait: If you do that won't you still be lost? Perhaps it would be better just to retrace your steps until such time you are no longer lost.
But you can't do that because, to be honest, you don't really remember which direction it was you came from.
In the development process of that which is film- and movie-making odds are good you get lost almost from the start. Here's how: You are doing something--let's say worming the dog--and suddenly--!SUDDENLY!--you have an idea.
Oh! What an idea! What a brilliant idea. Leaving the dog partially medicated you hurry to find paper and pen. After a time you do, and you quickly write down the idea that disrupted your life.
Now. As luck would have it you just happened to know someone in the movie business--
Doesn't everyone?
--That is: They want to be in the movie business and you have their ticket for admission: An idea. A !BRILLIANT! idea, no less.
Here's the thing: Since last this desire was told to you the money said person had to get into the movie business has, shall we say, evaporated. So they need to get into the game some other way.
Not a problem. YOU have an idea. A great idea. An idea that begs to be developed.
How is an idea developed? Long story short: A screenwriter takes the idea, puts it into outline form, then converts the outline into what is called a 'screenplay' and proposes it to a producer, a director, or an actor who is looking for something 'new' and 'original'.
Of course YOUR idea--now a script--is 'new' and 'original'. So, of course, said producer or director or actor loves and decides to buy it.
For an obscene amount, no doubt.
Now here's the thing: Legally a screenplay is considered property and once you sell this property you no longer have rights to it or say over what comes it.
