Amazon Studios, a newly launched online business from Amazon.com.

[Mark Allen]

I am sure for a lot of people with no other avenues this will be a great opportunity.

Personally, I can't stand watching animatics and I think they're crazy for pushing so hard to get people to make animatics. I think they have very little to do with final performances and the feeling of a movie which is what they were trying to get across. I think they should have requested casually shot clips instead.

I think the contract is weighted excessively in their favor of course. But... why not? They'll still get tons of submissions.

 

[Elsie N]

Honestly, I haven't decided what to make of all of it yet. Even with the total wack-job travesty of a "contract" they have, it's Amazon.com and WB and other recognizable names involved. This is going to be a grand opportunity for a lucky few (and not necessarily contest participants) and a huge kick in the noodle for countless others. Either way it will be interesting to watch. :emote_popcorn:

I agree Jeff. It appears they are trying to create movie ideas by committee, and are attempting to preempt any legal squabbles beforehand.

A younger generation that is accustomed to sharing their ideas for free on Facebook and other social media (including REDuser) will likely contribute to the end product without compensation. Open source movie making for some; and as you pointed out, a nice reward for the lucky few that are chosen as primary contributors.

 

[Omar Saad]

Yeah, got very excited yesterday morning when a friend sent me a link to this Amazon thing. Being someone who writes a lot and aspires to direct but is so far removed from anything even resembling a connection in Hollywood, ideas like this (if they're genuine) give me hope.

However, even before navigating over to "Off Topic" (I knew it would be hotly debated here, lol) and before reading the contract, a few things in their pitch struck me as troubling.

The fact that you upload a screenplay and it can be altered and augmented (mauled) in a way that you have no control over is frightening. And then fact that the kernel of inspiration that your hard work built into a real story, your intellectual property, can be used as the foundation of a real Hollywood project with you seeing either compensation amazes me. This can't be how this program is intended to work because I can't imagine anyone who has good ideas and has put in the work to develop them, subjecting themselves to this.

I also have no idea what to make of the "test film." The concept sounds great as long as we are talking about a video that caps out at around 20 minutes. But in their pitch they mention that it's to be a full length film. Holy crap! That can't be right. I spent three years of my early twenties attempting to make a feature film with committed people but no money... Granted my experience may not be the best example but this can't be what they're asking people to undertake on what seems like a whim.

I hope that the discussion on this continues because I would love to hear all sides of it. As much as I'd like to get involved in this program, I may just sit out the first wave and see how it begins to unfold.

 

[Bruce Allen]

I'll go for it... If the creators of Amazon agree to give me their source code and business plan for their next idea. If I like their plan the most, I'll give them $100,000. That's fair, right? If I make more than $60 million domestically from their idea, I will give them more - like $600,000 or so. Aren't I generous?

I find it all a bit cynical.

I'd prefer it if they just said "hey, we aren't giving you ANY money - but that's the point. We're going to get your film MADE and give you great exposure."

The $100,000 thing seems to be purely there to make them seem less reprehensible to the outside world to whom it seems like a lot of money.

Same as the Paramount deal - I'd prefer it if they didn't give me $100,000 - just market and distribute the thing properly, please. Acknowledge this scheme for what it is.

Maybe it will work if you are planning to make films that suck, or that would never have made any money anyway and will be done purely to impress people and get your second feature lined up.

That said, Amazon's monthly thing seems better... all you have to do is make a dirt-cheap feature that sucks less than everyone elses's cheap features (just hope that some crazy guy isn't putting in $500,000 of their own money to compete with you that month), and you maybe recoup your costs. Maybe if you live in a country where it is cheap to film, like South Africa. I'll chat to my friends there about the economics of it.

Money is not THAT hard to find. My friend raised tens of millions of dollars for his internet company right in the middle of the recession. He had a great idea and a great track record.

So I guess the only interesting thing in this Amazon deal is if you see it as a tool to establish a name for yourself. But the deal itself is a lopsided joke.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

 

[Paul Lee]

Crowdsourcing

 

[Pawel Achtel]

I'd prefer it if they didn't give me $100,000 - just market and distribute the thing properly, please.

Hahaha, That's exactly my thought too!

 

[Joe G.]

Well, I'll admit I already uploaded there. You can sniff them out if you're sharp. They are not "top shelf" scripts, but stuff that has been problematic for whatever reasons, and may appeal to the rabble.

If your script is altered, then both versions exist (in perpetuity), and you still get a split of monies if the thing ever gets made. That's not so bad.

 

[Joe G.]

I think there are some misunderstandings being presented here. Amazon can't just make the movie without compensating you. Their agreement is an upfront $200,000 payment plus possible performance bonuses. This can be split, if they use an updated (rewritten) version of your work. You would split with the other writer(s).

Being rewritten is standard Hollywood practice. This should not be a shocker to anyone. Giving up control is standard Hollywood practice, and should not surprise a soul. They do call themselves a "studio."

Lastly, Copyright does become clouded, and risks of ideas being lifted are very real.

In the case of Copyright, you basically lose it when you sell to Hollywood, and this is the Writers' Guild sanctioned business practice.

The idea lifting is what bothers me. You do have some avenues to complain and protest about obvious theft (to Amazon), but the downside is that your entire works are made public for free. If you have unique twists, they can be stolen.

I have NOT considered uploading some of my best work, for just that last reason.

Bottom line -- I would be more concerrned about my competitors than in being ripped off by Amazon.

 

[Rob Ruffo]

why 50 k? El Marachi, you know that story.

some kid will go out with a 5d or red one and shoot something with friends and add in some after effects and make something of himself

while other people sit around thinking of why somethings a negative situation

El Mariachi was made, in fact, for about 50K - the rest is hype. They also paid everyone nothing - so I don;t see what's so special about exploiting people

"some kid" most likely doesn't have a real script, doesn't have good actors, doesn't have a lot of things. I look at our budgets, our lowest budgets, and even if the camera were 100% free, I can't see a feature for less than 50K - and even that would look like crap in many disturbing ways so I would walk away from that 50K feature before even starting. Pizza costs money, gas costs money, people SHOULD be paid, but even if they are not, there are hard costs and they add up very, very fast.

I also don;t see why Amazon as exciting. They don;t have real development executives I know, so why should I care? Why not Rite-Aid Pharmacies or In-And-Out Burger getting into indy film production?

I see this as Paramount crowdsourcing the search for suckers with no agents who might have talent. I have nothing against Paramount - I think they are a great studio with many smart executives, but no one with a job in the business should "take advantage" of this "opportunity."

 

[chrislancaster]

El Mariachi was made, in fact, for about 50K - the rest is hype. They also paid everyone nothing - so I don;t see what's so special about exploiting people

"some kid" most likely doesn't have a real script, doesn't have good actors, doesn't have a lot of things. I look at our budgets, our lowest budgets, and even if the camera were 100% free, I can't see a feature for less than 50K - and even that would look like crap in many disturbing ways so I would walk away from that 50K feature before even starting. Pizza costs money, gas costs money, people SHOULD be paid, but even if they are not, there are hard costs and they add up very, very fast.

I also don;t see why Amazon as exciting. They don;t have real development executives I know, so why should I care? Why not Rite-Aid Pharmacies or In-And-Out Burger getting into indy film production?

I see this as Paramount crowdsourcing the search for suckers with no agents who might have talent. I have nothing against Paramount - I think they are a great studio with many smart executives, but no one with a job in the business should "take advantage" of this "opportunity."

I totally agree with you .. if you have a job in the business it might not be worth it but there are a lot of college students or aspiring artist that will do it for exposure or experience

they typically dont make a living off it so it would be more for someone like that

not a seasoned pro, he should be past these contest

i thought that would be understood ..


and i believe most contracts are overly protective of those who own them
does not mean they will "screw" over the participants any chance they get

 

[Mark Allen]

I have NOT considered uploading some of my best work, for just that last reason.

And this is why the amazon venture will fail in the long run and only success by volume luck if it succeeds at all.

I don't think people are going to be willing to give up their best work and the people who do probably aren't doing the best work.

Plus I'm hung up on this test movie thing.

I did consider doing a test movie based on one of the scripts there just in a park or some random location with my improv group playing the part just because I know they'd put in some entertaining performances and shooting it like one might do a "reading" except they'd know the lines of course... but all said and done... it's still a lot of work to produce even that - so why not just do something you're really passionate about? The reward for putting it together once split among everyone is so slim considering it's a gamble.