“Imagine And Reliance Big Launch Writers Lab”

From Deadline:

Imagine Entertainment partners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard have started the Imagine/Reliance Writers Lab, an enterprising venture that pools a group of 10 screenwriters. Those writers are being paid a set annual salary to generate scripts in a variety of genres, and they are financially incentivized to participate in a collaborative support system. 

Universal Pictures and Reliance gets first crack at the screenplays that come out of the arrangement.

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“Basically at its core, the idea of this is meant to take away the loneliness from the creative process that writers face,” [Ron] Howard told me. “We are adding a collegial environment to authorship, a support system and guidance and we will help get their work made into movies. When we talk to the writers Karen [Kehela Sherwood, Imagine exec] has recruited, the thing that was attractive to all of them was the notion that this will be an antidote to writer’s block and the terror that goes with the blank page. There will be a running exchange and conversation going on about the projects, led by Karen and with me pitching in. We are grateful to have found in Reliance partners who share our excitement for the Lab and all it promises.”

The writers mentioned in the article (and their IMDB links where applicable):

Margaret Nagle

Michael Fitzpatrick

Lee Patterson

Glen Lakin

Michael Perry

Stacey Harman

Jason Mantzoukas

Scott Aukerman

Daniel Casey

So basically a first-look deal with each writer, then some sort of collective arrangement to create a collegial, supportive environment and incentives for the group.

This makes too much sense to work, right?

UPDATE: More from the LAT:

The writers will be paid a salary to work exclusively for Imagine-Reliance, writing scripts and serving as “creative executives” for one another, evaluating and giving notes on their ideas outside of the traditional studio process. For any script out of the lab that is sold to a studio, all of the participants in the program will be paid an additional fee for their work, with the writer of that project receiving the largest share.

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Amid challenging economics for the movie business, all of the studios, including Universal, have been spending less on development as they make fewer films and attempt to cut down on the number of scripts and ideas they buy that will never be produced. Studios also have been decreasing the amount of money they provide to production companies to help fund operations. Indeed, Imagine itself was forced to reduce costs as part of cutbacks at Universal late last year.

As a result, production companies like Imagine are seeking creative new ways to develop scripts that could turn into feature films.

Again this seems to make too much sense to work.

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