Indian film industry.
Changing scenario
10-11-22
A must read for every writer and producer.
In olden days producers buy scripts/ screenplays after paying the writer. Now there is a new trend among Indian producers.
If a story writer tries to sell his fiction for movie production first thing the producer will ask him about the budget for the movie version of his story. Not every story writer is working in the film industry. How can a story writer work on budget? At the most he can say the story needs star value or not. Maybe the percentage of CGI involved in making the movie version.
Ultimately it is the producer who is going to spend millions to make a movie out of his story. First he should listen or read the synopsis instead of asking the writer about the budget of the movie version. With years of experience the producer should be able to work out a budget after understanding the story. If he cannot then he should ask the director. They will be able to give you a rough estimate.
Nowadays the producer wants the story writer to rope in the hero and cast for his story. This is ridiculous . Casting is the work of a casting director , not the work of a story writer.
There are two types of stories for film making. High budget requires star value, read style without substance to bring box office collection. Some stories do not require star value. It needs real actors who can give life to the characters .
Budget. If a story writer says his story requires a leading star then can the producer afford to spend one or one and half billion INR just for the star value?
Okay , even if the writer gets the nod from an actor, I don't think it will be in the documentation. Will the leading Hero commit or sign an agreement without taking money from the writer?
Every producer should be capable of seeing business opportunities in a story with his decades of experience in film making. casting and making a budget for the movie version of the story should be his decision. Giving unnecessary demands on writers is not a business proposal.
This is how producers make movies in India but not movie production houses. Producer will spend 25% of the production cost, the rest of the amount he will collect from the regional film distributors after signing agreement of rights in advance. Making an Indian movie takes three months to 100 days.
My question for Indian producers , why should you insist story writers to get a hero/cast call sheet if you are going to spend money for making a movie as per your budget ?
For a story writer a producer is like a demiGod but nobody is doing charity business. Story writer needs money but the producer will not pay for nothing unless he selects your story for movie production.
Nowadays another demand from Indian producers for story writers. They will insist us to get OTT approval for our story if we want to sell our story for movies or OTT platforms .
Author
Jivan
