Reader Question: Can a writer-actor expect to play a role they wrote if they sell their script?
From Marc Teichmann:
I highly doubt my situation is unique, but I haven’t seen it talked about much on the site. My writing partner is also an actress and a role in the script I’m currently working on (and roles in other scripts) was written for her to play. If we were able to sell this, or get meetings about it, how could we handle this? This wouldn’t be some indie flick, but a big budget studio film, that’s how I see it at least. Thanks!
First off, it’s probably a plus for you to be working with a writer-actor as you can push her to think story and plot, and she can push you to think emotion and character. Hopefully that’s a dynamic tension that benefits the quality of your writing.
As to your specific question, may I assume the role you are writing in this current script is a starring one? If so, my guess is you will have a really hard time convincing a major studio looking to finance and distribute this “big budget studio film” to give a leading role in the movie to a relative or total unknown. Even in this day and age of CGI-laden projects where movie star power is diminished somewhat compared to even a decade or so ago, the studios still rely on name talent to help them market a film. It’s a crass way of looking at things, but when a studio signs a well-known actor to play a role in a movie, there is an expectation that at least some of that actor’s fans will be motivated to see the movie in question. That makes the well-known actor an asset to the studio. Your writing partner may have acting chops that rival Meryl Streep, but if she isn’t a known commodity, the idea of casting her in a lead role would go against decades of Hollywood conventional wisdom re movie stars.
Two additional points. What about writing a secondary or even tertiary character in the current script with your partner in mind? A minor character’s role which will have to be filled anyhow and will not drive the marketing of the movie might be a better opportunity. And you could write the hell out of that role so that it generates some buzz because of how memorable it is.
The other thing is why not write a killer lead role for your writing partner in a small-indie film you can shoot on a budget? That way you control the casting decisions yourself.
I think back to My Big Fat Greek Wedding written and starring Nia Vardalos. As I recall, Vardalos wrote that originally as a one-woman play. Actor-producer Rita Wilson happened to see the show, loved it and met with Vardalos to see about getting it made as a movie with Vardalos playing the lead. They shopped the project all around Hollywood. Nothing but passes. Then Wilson, who just happens to be married to Tom Hanks, was discussing the project with her husband. Reportedly he asked, “How much would the movie cost.” She replied, “Five million dollars.” To which he said, “Why don’t we pay for it?” The movie was produced with Vardalos playing the lead and $368M later, it was a huge hit, launching Vardalos’ career as a writer and actor.
The thing is, you don’t need $5M to make an indie film. This week, the script we’re reading and analyzing is Buried. If you read writer Chris Sparling’s comments, he came up with the concept of a guy buried in a coffin in order to be able to make a movie for $5,000. There is no reason you can’t generate a story concept that radically minimizes production dollars. Again the value for you in terms of your desire to let your writing partner star in a movie you co-write is if you control the money, then you control the casting choice.
So to sum up: If you are writing a big budget studio movie, and if you sell it to a major studio, you can certainly express to them, “We wrote this part for my writing partner.” My guess is they will smile at you and nod their head appreciatively. To be polite, they may ask for your writing partner’s head shot and reel. They might even let her do an audition tape. But if it’s a lead role in a big budget movie, you can be virtually certain they will cast a name actor for the part. Ergo don’t get your hopes up too high.
What say ye, GITS followers? Any other angle to explore here for Marc and his writing partner’s acting aspirations?
Comment Archive