A few weeks back, I ran into a "person of interest" concerning my screenplay Forgiveness. I've known this person for years. On a total lark, without much thought at all, I asked the person, who has read my screenplay, if they might be interested in bank rolling me for 18 months so I could quit my day job and focus all my energies on selling Forgiveness. In exchange, they would get a percentage of the proceeds when I sell it. It is assumed that the monies on the back end would be far, far more than on the front end. (Greed, fear and fame are the main drivers in Hollywood, based on what I have seen from a distance.)
They expressed an interest that was stronger than I expected. And although they are successful business people, they talked more about how "cool" it would be to get this unknown, epic American story out to a national audience. A chance to fix a mistake of history.
But, of course, business being business, they didn't want to take all the risk themselves. They proposed that if I could get 3-4 investors, so the risk could be spread out, that perhaps a deal could be struck.
When others have been approached, they have all expressed an interest. But, of course, why would a business person dismiss a proposal right out of the gate? It would seem wise to always hedge your bets. So now, I have six folks who are hedging their bets.
Am working on, at their request, a marketing plan. Marketing plans are not my strength. But, perhaps they are my strength. My speciality is fiction. Marketing plans might just be right up my alley.
Keep your fingers crossed.
