ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXWhat to do as a writer if your film likely isn't getting released?
1 month, 1 week ago - Darren Roberts
Hello
My name's Darren and I've found myself in a very frustrating position.
I wrote a film which was produced and completed, unfortunately due to a very long and complicated series of events, including legal proceedings, it's looking like the film will never be released in any form.
Due to the legal proceedings I mentioned, the film has no real online presence, not even an imdb page.
So my question is, how do I go about trying to get work or find an agent or manager, when the only film I've had produced, basically doesn't exist?
I can hardly expect people to simply take my word it that I've had a film produced.
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1 month, 1 week ago - davina brown
Hi, you need to appeal to the director and producers individually and informally to sneak you a viewing copy. It doesn't matter if the film hasn't completed post. If they can't give you the whole thing then ask for specific clips for your showreel.
1 month, 1 week ago - Darren Roberts
Hello Davina, thanks for the suggestion, for a bit of backstory, the director is partly responsible for things going wrong, he was fired for his attitude and behavior, including leaking footage on his personal social media account during filming and he is, to put it mildly, a scumbag.
The legal proceedings happened because the exec producers, who were co-owners of the production company, screwed over a lot of people including myself and the producer, they were refusing to pay people and were prepared to release the film and not give us any share of profits, we managed to stop this from happening and things were settled out of court (as they knew they'd lose everything in court)
What was mean't to happen after that, was for the producer to get the film sold and released but the exec producers are still stalling and being unreasonable and basically stopping things from moving ahead out of spite.
If I could get any footage, I could possibly share it privately but it couldn't appear anywhere online.
1 month, 1 week ago - davina brown
I thought your issue is that you need to include the project in your CV and to prove it's an actual film. You don't need to upload clips to social media to prove you wrote the script and the film was made. You should be satisfied with sending private links to producers, etc. when seeking work. Uploading clips online before the film's been released would never be allowed even if the film isn't under dispute.
1 month, 1 week ago - Darren Roberts
It is about having it on my CV and to show the film exists, I wasn't planning on put anything online (I never do anyway) I just meant that if the production company had released a trailer or promo footage, then I could direct people to that, but not actually post it myself. but as you suggested, just sharing things privately should be fine.
2 weeks, 6 days ago - Solomon Watkins
You can update it on IMDB yourself, include all the details of everyone involved, and even add some trivia as to why it's not been released. I would reach out directly to the editor or D.O.P. They probably have a copy which you can use for private use. You probably signed in the contract that the company was under no obligation to produce, however many contracts state you should be entitled to a copy for showreel purposes as it has in fact been produced.
3 weeks ago - George Wright
Have you considered listing it as still in post-production on IMDB? That way you can explain that the project has stalled but still utilise the credits maybe...
1 week, 6 days ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc
I know the feel so share your frustration! I even helped finance a film WHICH WAS MADE AND DISTRIBUTED but as ownership kept changing hands like a conjurer shuffling cards, I’ve lost touch so will never receive and income. It’s called “Slapper and Me” - a great story about a boy who acquired a race hound which unexpectedly became a success, so whoever now has the rights obviously either doesn’t know or want to know that I’m a shareholder and I’m entitled at least to be informed of any progress, even if negative! Some nasty people in our industry!
1 week, 6 days ago - Franz von Habsburg FBKS MSc
PS - film is now called “Dusty and Me”. By changing the title from “Slapper and Me” they think they can disappear and avoid paying or acknowledging anyone!
1 week, 2 days ago - Tina Walker
I’d be tempted to lean into the story of the film itself when talking to agents or producers. A finished project tied up by messy execs? Sadly, that’s a pretty familiar chapter in this industry, and the fact you came through it probably says as much about you as the script does... Maybe the bigger debate is whether we should stop treating "release" as the only measure of a project’s worth. Plenty of brilliant films never see daylight - but does that make them any less proof of someone’s talent?
Either way, wishing you luck navigating it. It sounds like you had a rough team around you this time, and I really hope the next crew you work with make the process feel the way it should: collaborative, supportive and a bit less of a battle.