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The Untold Horror Story of My First Screenplay Sale
When I sold my first pitch, I celebrated…too soon
Many of you have read about my horror story creating “Dracula” (2013), something I often call a cautionary tale for screenwriters about what can happen when all your dreams come true. Well, it’s not the only development story from hell in my life. In fact, it’s not even one of five or six — which, let me tell you, is far from unique in Hollywood. What is unique is how often I’ve found myself working with people who, after the fact, everyone around me — sometimes even my reps — said some version of, “Oh god, everybody knows not to work with that person.” Except when you’re new to the business, still emerging as a so-called talent and desperate to secure any work you can, you don’t stop to ask these kinds of questions when someone says they’ll pay you to write anything for them. You take the money and hope for the best. These days, though: I always ask these questions.
I’m going to share with you now the story of my first feature screenplay sale, in the hopes that it prepares you for similar if similar ever comes your way. But also, just because I think it’s an amusing yarn, at least in hindsight. Up until now, I’ve only discussed this in a roundabout way here, so this will fill in a few blanks for some of you.
