Behind a spec script sale: “Omega Point”
As any GITS reader knows, one of the things I do is track spec script sales. Yesterday was fun as I posted about three deals:
“House Arrest” by Justin Adler
“Bermuda Triangle” by Daniel Kunka
“Omega Point” by Cameron Alexander
The details of these sales may float in and out of our awareness. Yes, we may momentarily wish the writer well or more likely wish we were that writer. But soon it’s off to the next Tweet, email, writing session, and so on.
Yet each deal represents a story of creativity meets persistence meets timing meets luck.
In my position, I interact with a lot of writers. Some of the most enjoyable exchanges come from ‘first-timers,’ those who have broken into the business by selling a spec script.
Recently I was contacted by Cameron Alexander whose life has changed in a big way as CBS Films has acquired his science fiction spec script “Omega Point.” We had such an inspiring conversation via email, I asked Cameron if I could share some insights he offered about his journey to success. He kindly agreed.
Our exchange started with this email:
Hey Scott. Just wanted to let you know that I sold my first screenplay recently ‘Omega Point.’ I wanted to thank you because your blog was one of the few positive sources of encouragement on what has been a very long journey. Keep at it, love reading the site everyday.
In a later email, Cameron mentioned that I had posted a short film he had written, directed and produced when he was an undergraduate at UCSB. I went into my archives and sure enough, I featured “Aquarius of Hearts” here back in January 10, 201o. Here’s the film:
I asked Cameron if he had frequented GITS all that time up to the point where he sold his spec. His reply:
I visited GITS everyday Scott.
I asked Cameron how his big break occurred:
I sent out HUNDREDS of queries to managers and agents. I only got ONE response — and the manager’s assistant passed. And you know what? That was the script that just sold.
The whole getting representation thing is such a nightmare. It’s like the black gates of Mordor. No one will let you in.
I entered into the tracking b contest, and won an honorable mention there. That contest is SO cool. If you win the contest director promotes you to every great manager/agent around. I cannot recommend tracking b more to anyone that does not have a rep. It literally changed my life over night.
From there I talked with a few managers and went with the most passionate of them all about the material. Then two weeks later the manager (sidney sherman) introduced me to my now agent Abram Nalibotsky. We met in January at the Resolution building before they even had office chairs. Anyway, the three of us seemed to all be on the same page so that day I signed with him. It was incredibly surreal — especially after YEARS of no one even willing to read loglines.
We did a small re-write on it after winning the contest and then took the script out… It got a lot of positive responses and CBS Films ended up picking it up.
I think an important thing to note too is that while this might seem like an overnight success story… It’s really not. There were years of me rolling around in a bed at 2AM saying “Fuck. How am I going to find reps? This is impossible!”
… But it was all worth it.
I’d say!
Having been a Hollywood outsider myself who wrote and sold a spec script to bust my way into Hollywood, I have a special affinity for first-timers such as Cameron. And especially those who follow this blog!
So Cameron, good for you! Your story is an inspiration to every single aspiring screenwriter. Thank you for allowing me to share your tale with the GITS community
You may follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronAlxander.
Comment Archive