Is Your Script Not Getting Noticed? Turn It Into IP
Webinar hosted by: Matt Harry
Screenwriter and Novelist (SORCERY FOR BEGINNERS, SUPERKID)
When Matt Harry's original fantasy script SORCERY FOR BEGINNERS was going nowhere, he turned it into a novel that became a hit. The novel was described as “J.K. Rowling meets V.E. Schwab,” and Publishers Weekly declared it “a charming package and drily funny adventure.” Since then, the book was recently optioned for television by Boatrocker Media and Matt was hired to adapt the pilot. Book II in Matt’s series, CRYPTOZOOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS was published in 2019 and his middle-grade adventure novel SUPERKID is slated to be published in June 2021. His first produced feature screenplay, FUGUE, landed on several top-ten lists, won Best Horror Film at the Mississippi Film Festival, and was picked up for distribution by GoDigital. Matt has also written screenplays for Primary Wave, Platform One Media, Co-op Entertainment, and Flynn Picture Co. His short film SUPER KIDS, which he wrote and co-directed, has over 6 million views on YouTube. His TV pilot MONSTER COPS was awarded Grand Prize in the Second City Original Sitcom Contest, and is currently in development. Matt has experienced firsthand what can happen when you turn your own work into existing IP and is ready to give you the lowdown. Full Bio »
Webinar Summary
Getting your work seen and considered is a SLOG, as any writer can attest. No matter how great your script is, even if it has placed in contests, even if you’re repped by a manager or agent, it is hard to break through the noise and get execs or studios interested in what you have to offer. Part of the problem, though, is that execs are often scared to move forward with an original story. It’s more of a gamble than relying on remakes, sequels, or other projects that already have brand awareness and a built-in audience. Yet this doesn’t have to be a deal breaker for you or your script. Instead, you can use this to your advantage.
Like it or not, production companies and studios big and small are moving forward overwhelmingly with projects based on IP, or intellectual property—in other words, films that feature characters, worlds, and stories that already exist in other formats or other films. IP is the name of the game now, so let’s play the game! How? Turn your script into IP. It’s actually more possible than you think. Whether it’s a novel, a podcast, a web series, or other formats, you can prove your story’s worth and independently build your own audience so that execs start coming to you and that dream script of yours can actually get made. It’s been done, it continues to be done, and you can do it too.
Don’t believe us? Listen to writer Matt Harry. When his original fantasy script SORCERY FOR BEGINNERS was going nowhere, he turned it into a novel that became a hit. The novel was described as “J.K. Rowling meets V.E. Schwab,” and Publishers Weekly declared it “a charming package and drily funny adventure.” Since then, the book was recently optioned for television by Boatrocker Media and Matt was hired to adapt the pilot. Book II in Matt’s series, CRYPTOZOOLOGY FOR BEGINNERS was published in 2019 and his middle-grade adventure novel SUPERKID is slated to be published in June 2021. His first produced feature screenplay, FUGUE, landed on several top-ten lists, won Best Horror Film at the Mississippi Film Festival, and was picked up for distribution by GoDigital. Matt has also written screenplays for Primary Wave, Platform One Media, Co-op Entertainment, and Flynn Picture Co. His short film SUPER KIDS, which he wrote and co-directed, has over 6 million views on YouTube. His TV pilot MONSTER COPS was awarded Grand Prize in the Second City Original Sitcom Contest, and is currently in development.
Matt has experienced firsthand what can happen when you turn your own work into existing IP and is ready to give you the lowdown.
Exclusively for Stage 32, Matt will teach you how you can turn your own script into IP to prove your story’s worth and get producers and execs interested. He will dig into why IP is so valuable, what types of IP exist, and how time consuming or expensive each type can be to create. Matt will lay out the seven main types of IP you can adapt your story into, all of which can offer your script leverage. Matt will discuss each type of IP and explain the steps you can take to make each happen and will also give you tips on deciding which IP format is right for your own project. He will also lay out what to do after your IP is out there to build your audience, get reviews, and incorporate your success into your pitch for production companies and studios.
If you have an original script you believe in, keep at it. Matt will show you how you can use IP to your advantage and beat Hollywood at their own game.
Praise for Matt's Stage 32 Webinar:
"Overall it was very informative. The fact that there was an actual tried and true professional of the industry willing and able to answer questions and give the talk was a very huge plus for me."
- J. Brown
"Matt has such a way with words. Articulates concepts exceptionally well."
- K. Masters
"I loved how well-rounded he was in his creative endeavors. Matt knew about so many avenues to getting a script noticed."
- Peter M
"Matt Harry is a very knowledgeable person. Matt went into it with a solid plan that made picking up what was left out easier due to him referencing materials to look into for ourselves."
- Jaboris B.
What You'll Learn
- Why Is IP Important?
- The Benefits of IP That You Can Apply to Your Own Project
- Things to Keep in Mind Before Attempting to Adapt Your Script
- Time involved
- Understanding a different market
- The effort needed to put into the new version of your idea
- The 7 Main Types of IP
- Short Story/Essay/Article
- Notable examples
- Where to post or submit your short story
- Start your own magazine
- What gets short stories attention?
- Tips on how to find a smaller story from your original material
- Resources required
- Novel
- Notable
- Resources required
- Self-publishing
- Indie publishers
- Traditional publishing (the big 5)
- How to make your script work as a novel
- Comic Book or Graphic Novel
- Notable examples
- Resources required
- Finding artists
- Self-publishing vs. submitting
- Play
- Notable examples
- Resources required
- Adapting for stage
- Grants
- Playwriting contests
- Local theaters and rentals
- Somebody to Love example
- Podcast
- Notable Examples
- Resources required
- Narrative considerations
- Short Film or Web Series
- Notable examples
- Resources required
- Considering your platform - YouTube, TikTok, Vimeo, others
- Film Festivals - what’s best for your project?
- Action Movie Kid example
- Video game
- Notable examples
- Resources required
- Making your story interactive and immersive
- Other Less Common (But Still Possible!) Types of IP to Consider
- Short Story/Essay/Article
- How to Determine Which Type of IP is Right for Your Specific Project
- Story
- Genre
- Characters
- Audience
- Moving Forward After You Develop Your IP
- Determining ownership
- A look at THE WALKING DEAD lawsuits
- Building your audience
- Marketing/reviews
- Incorporating into your pitch
- Determining ownership
- Q&A with Matt
About Your Instructor
Matt Harry
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