I'm currently working on a specific movie script idea mixing real life with cartoons just like Space Jam and Who Framed Roger Rabbit. I'm using all Warner Bros/Cartoon Network cartoon characters.
I'm planning to try and pitch to producers with ties to Warner Bros. Does anyone have any insight or tips on where to begin with that or other routes I should look into? I'm planning to do a pitch session or two, but I am very set on trying to work with WB in some way I'd it's even possible.
Thank you for any helpful tips or knowledge you can give.
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Automatic pass. Cant even submit "fan fiction" to screenwriting contests. Reps wont read it.
Wasting money paying solicitors to review your idea based on WB property.
Follow Greta Gerwig's career plan: make good indie movies for 15-years, then a studio offers an IP.
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Have you thought about replacing the Warner Bros/Cartoon Network characters with your own, then pitching the script as an original spec, Curtis Fulster?
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It is possible. But you have a super small customer pool. The pool eventually is reduced to one customer.
If you are desperate to do this. I would focus on building a career before this. So when people say “guess what Curt has”. People are automatically interested.
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Thanks for all the input. I do have three other scripts I'm working on but did this one as a passion project plus something I thought would be a good mashup, but I understand it would be very difficult and limit me to WB approving it or nothing.
I think I will keep it on the side just in case any of my other scripts hit and then I can have it as an extra idea to use.
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The book that WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT was adapted from did not use studio animation characters (It had some comic strip references such as Blondie) so the rights all came together as part of the production via Amblin, Disney and then others. If you are saying that your idea is solely WB -- it would behoove you to understand how much of a mess their animation division is in. Immerse yourself in that space (it is much different than straight live action). Not that they would be looking for scripts from an unknown writer as others have mentioned, but the more you understand how animation business works the better chance you have and meeting the right people. You could do it as a stunt script (there are some that have garnered attention on the Black List such as Lucy and Charlie Brown), but it would have to be spectacular.
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I appreciate your confidence, but I would piggy back off of @mauricevaughan and go with original character who "maybe" have a lot in common with those WB characters. It's a bold move for an unestablished writer, but I wish you the best of luck.
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You're welcome, Curtis Fulster.
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I didn't know that about WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, Laurie Ashbourne. That's pretty cool. Do you know why they call them stunt scripts?
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Agreed with Maurice. Following for the answer to his question.
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I read an oral history of WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT? a while back, and it was a nightmare for Producer Steven Spielberg and Director Robert Zemeckis to arrange for the rights! If they had a Looney Tunes character, they usually had to have a Disney character with the same number of lines or somehow the same importance in that scene—like when Donald Duck and Daffy Duck play a duet at The Ink and Paint Club, or when Porky does his "That's All, Folks!" Tinkerbell flies up and kisses him. They also had a lot of "You can't do that with OUR character!" backing and frothing between them and WB and Disney....
Most of the Toon characters they used were original, or in the source novel for that reason.
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Yea, im sorry but this is an utter waste of time to use WB Characters. I would strongly suggest not doing that. Dont write movies with characters you dont own the rights to. especially when theyre owned by WB.
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With a script like that, you'd have very little leverage as a writer. WB could state it they already have an idea like that and just do your script without you, because they own all of the IP/source material. However, if it's a knockout script, while it's unlikely to get you a sale, it could get you meetings for writing work.
Whatever you do, DON'T pitch to WB execs (or any members of the AMPTP) during the strike.