I just got back from a meeting with a director. You haven't heard of him (unless you happen to live in Denmark -- he's apparently got a short film that's well-recieved there). He's trying to put together an independent project, and needs a writer.

Voila! Here I am!

Now, right place right time? Nope. Contacts. Friend of a friend of a friend is the quick and dirty relationship. The director and I exchanged e-mails about an idea he wants to film. I sent him my currently-circulating script, he liked it, and we met face-to-face this afternoon.

(By the way, I have one script circulating to the Hollywood Establishment, but another in its first draft, another about to go into circulation and a couple more that are dusty but still solid scripts. It's part of being a writer, and it's also so that the Establishment knows I'm not a one-hit wonder. There's at least seven or eight hits in my career, I just know it.)

Back to lunch. He arrived on time -- always a plus. The first scope -- no horns, clean shirt, neatly groomed, no BO. Looking good.

We got to know each other, and talked about story ideas. The guy's a director. He's not a writer, and he knows it. Nor is he an actor, editor, grip or gaffer. He's a director and he's comfortable with that. We talked for an hour, mostly about story, and a little about our respective backgrounds (his wedding anniversary is four days prior to mine).

Of course he doesn't have any money for an up-front script payment. Back-end (meaning payment upon sale) is a definite yes, and "written by" credit is going to be on my list of requirements. He's going to submit the final film to festivals and the foreign markets. Apparently, Europe likes short films (about 40 minutes) for filler and television.

He had some characters he wanted to use, but only vague descriptions. We came up with a theme for the story. I started having story and character arc ideas. I consider this a good sign -- it means that I'll be able to produce something. So, I'm going to write up a small portion and forward it to him for final consideration. Then we'll draw up a simple contract (just so we have a very clear understanding of our roles and dues) and I'll dive in. It's a short film, and shouldn't take too long to produce. It should also be fun for me to take the characters and create stories for them.

But wait! What about the money?!?!

If I do my job it should come. I'm not the only one who has to do a good job -- once I hand it over, there's actors, director, editors... at any point along the line, something could mess up the works.

On a personal level, I gain much. This is my first writing assignment. Until today, all of my writing has been on speculation -- my ideas, my characters, my babies. I have never been handed somone else's baby and turned it into a movie.
This project will give me that experience. Did I take adequate notes? Did I correctly interpret the director's vision? Is his response because of my story, or his mood? Does the final movie look like I envisioned it? It's a safe learning experience, because there's very little at stake.

And who knows? If it screens well at the festivals, my name will scroll by as the writer. That won't hurt my career one bit.