One Day Ideas

An important question for any ODI, as mentioned before, is building interest and momentum in the early stages. This would require a publicity push. But this idea, especially with the $1 this-is-not-a-commercial-venture angle, is condusive to such publicity. A sweep of hollywood related bloggers would probably put out the word. We can also get some coverage in screenwriting magazines (which have concentrated circulations, but are pretty low-key and cheaply put together, so persuadable). Perhaps, even, we can make an agreement with such a magazine to have a regular feature about the experiment -- i.e. what's the current state of the screenplay experiment, including an update, and some exceprts. That would really be a best case scenario.

In all these initial pushes, we emphasize the potential to get upgraded to a moderator. That is, push people to get their early because that maximizes their chance of grabbing a bigger role.

Finally, we can anatagonize movie executives; find some way to disparage the experiment in collaboration, and then use this as ammo to bolster the community. Perhaps post the latest quote from someone saying why the idea can't work.

Posted by Cal Newport at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Here is a refined version of the idea taking your feedback into account...

TheScreenplayExperiment.com remains an experiment in collaborative creativity. At the lowest level, we have a discussion board for tossing around ideas. Above this, we have a collection of wiki's for writing rough drafts. Registered users can contribute to these wiki's. At first, we maintain ulitmiate control, but, the plan is, we invite users to become the moderators for each wiki based on their participation. Finally, once the rough drafts begin looking good, we have the entire community of registered users vote on which one they like best. At this point, the moderators of that draft can clean it up, and then we're done.

Following Michael's points from earlier, the idea has low risks, guarenteed small returns, and large potential upside. For example, browsing the site has the immediate return of reading the current state of the movie ideas. People are interested in movie concepts. And it's a good 10 minute distraction to check in every few days to see how the plots are unfolding. Are they stupid? Are they cool? Are they crafting a wicked twist ending? At the next level, participating in the ideation, the return is receiving recognition for your creativity. It feels great to have an important plot point or character be added on the basis ofyour recognition. At the highest level, is being a moderator. The benefits here are clear, you are in control of a creative community. Very ego-gratifying. The potential large upside is the treatment eventually getting turned into a movie. This is not a financial upside. It's a cool-factor upside. You were a part of Hollywood history. You can go to a movie, and know that you had a part in making it. In fact, you can go to a movie, and point to scenes that you yourself actually constructed. Great, fun, and exciting.

The key that brings this together, at least from a publicity and community standpoint, is this guarentee that the site owners will sell the treatment for exactly $1. In fact, we should have part of the registration process be clicking on an agreement that basically says "I am participating only on the understanding that the resulting idea can only be solds for no more than $1." There's the hook. It transforms this into a creative, community venture. The common movie-goer fighting against the excesses and mediocrity of the studio system. We think your movies suck, and we can do better!

Posted by Cal Newport at 01:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

The Pitch

How many times have you walked out of a movie and exclaimed: "I could have written something better than that" ? Finally, a chance to put this common boast to the test. The Screenplay Experiment is a study in both the power of collaborative thinking and the creative ability of the movie-going public. At TheScreenplayExperiment.com budding cinemphiles from around the world can collaborate, using wiki technology, to craft the perfect movie treatment. No more plot holes, boring characters, or weak twists...the optimistic premise of this site is that from the combined power of many movie lovers can emerge a movie concept devoid of the common problems that frustrate us at the theatre time after time. At least, that's the hope. Will it succeed? That's up to you -- and thousands of your movie-loving peers.

If the treatment ends up sucking, then everyone who participated is no longer allowed to complain once the credits roll. If, however, it ends up compelling, then the site owners will sell the rights, for exactly $1, to the production company or studio that seems to be most capable and most committed to actually getting the project onto the big screen.

Continued in the extended entry is a quick discussion of how to make money from the idea and some potential problems...

Continue reading "IDEA: TheScreenplayExperiment.com" »

Posted by Cal Newport at 04:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)