I know that many people will not share this statement. It's OK, each one have the right to believe in what he/she believe, and I respect that.
However, for me, my work creating screenplays is based on that reality, like it or not.
As mentioned in the page about TV Scripts and other media that I have worked for, I had the fortune in many cases to have freedom to do what I liked to do.
To work making screenplays is another business, actually, IT IS A BUSINESS.
In the country where I was born there is not an industry of filmaking, sadly but true. There are very respectful efforts from individuals or small teams of individuals who do their best to make films.
Quality? That's another thing. What I have saw, the products made by those mentioned, and for my individual taste are mostly bad. But there are exceptions.
In my particular case I decided that due the reality of the lack of a Filmaking Industry in Peru I decided to go to the source: Hollywood.
Those who have traveled this winding path knows that it is really winding, hard, almost a dream.
For me, it is a matter of keep writing, as hard as I can, the best that I can and keeping an strong belief in my self and what I write. I have been in many similar paths, so, in some way, is nothing new for me.
One thing is clear for me about this: I'm not bad.
Maybe I'm not the best, but the quality of my work is good and in time will be great.
To be humble is not bad, but what I said above is true: I kick asses in this craft.
So, How to get into the Hollywood market? First: Research. I have done a deep study of the market, reading as much as I can, participating in as many GOOD forums and spaces for screenwriters that exist.
Once that has been done -and I'm still studying- I scketched an strategy under this idea: Which was the best way?
I decided to create EXPOSURE, simply because for the Hollywood market I was an "X". The best way that I found? Take my chances in the competitive arena of GOOD screenplays contests.
There are so many contest that you have to be selective. Actually, the GOOD contest, the ones that can bring you GOOD exposure are a fistful of them.
So, after learning as much as I could about the rules of the USA film market I decided on Fall of 2006 that it was time to go and fight.
It was not bad at all. I sent my first fully in English screenplay, ERASE, to a couple of contests: Creative Screenwriting Magazine's AAA contest and the American Screenwriters Association annual contest.
Results: In the first I was one of the top then finalists (between 1700 contestants.) On the second I have been chossen as one of their quarter finalist (between almost 2000 contestants) with final results on September 2007.
Not bad at all for a newby in the market, don't you think?
But this craft requieres to be constant, so I write as a professional: Every day, carefully, in a clean way.
Right now I have more than five screenplays done and I'm working in new ideas. Not all in the same genere... there are so many interesting stories to tell.
Deals with some production companies are on its way.
Just some snaps of a few of my materials:
ERASE: What could happen if a major TV network get an agreement with the local police of a big city to use their network of cameras all around (streets, stores, offices, even houses)?. Wrote as a CRIME/DRAMA story it's full of twists and what-you-believe-now-could-change-completely-in-the-next-scene. It's good. One of the top Hollywood screenplay critics called it "The Usual Suspects" meets "The Player".
CRITICAL: On real time, 155 minutes, a fully action movie about a plot in my beloved NYC to detonate a nuke. But, is the nuke in NYC? Are the bad guys the bad ones and the good guys the good ones? ACTION. Non stop action.
THREE DAYS BEFORE: Something strange is happening to someone. His life in three days constantly shifts from past to present to future in miliseconds. It takes some time for him to realize that something is wrong and now he must discover the reason -before loose his sanity- in his time-shifting reality. ACTION/DRAMA.
THE DEATH: A family of Hispanics in NYC have a problem: In the most important day of their life, the birthday celebration of their beloved younger child, an unwated bohemian uncle decide to die... and the wake ceremonies must be done in their house. A lot of surrealistic dark humor. COMEDY.
TRUTH: Facts without doubt about the origins of the humanity are discovered after a long search by a team of scientist, amateurs, priest and former military men and women. But strong forces in the top echelons of power will do all to avoid the truth to be known. However, all of them have a deadline: there's a count-down in move that started mileniums ago that will change soon the life as we know it in the planet, want it or not. The owner of the truth will have the power to manipulate the humanity's future when the count-down reach zero. Who will win? SCIFI/ACTION.
