Instantly Transform Your Screenplay Into a Movie

Plotagon

Writing a screenplay is not easy. The writer has to transfer the scene from his or her imagination to paper. Once the screenplay is written, the only way to know if the scene was actually complete or needed to be rewritten was seeing the actors play the scene out. Or is it? Now, there is an app for that, and it is called Plotagon.

The creators of Plotagon refer to it as “the magic typewriter”. It is software for Mac and PC computers designed to make it easy to write a story, and immediately watch it as an animated film. Plotagon is still in beta testing, and it is free to download. It is designed to be simple. It allows you to choose from The Sims like characters and locations your story is set in. The characters actions and cues come directly from the screenplay you write in the program. The characters can only speak English, but the creators are working on French, Spanish, and German languages. According to their website, Plotagon will continue to be free even when it is out of beta testing. It is not available for any mobile device. The finished movies can only be uploaded to Plotagon’s website. However, the movies can be shared on Facebook and Twitter. It does not import any screenplays, but it will export them.

What does this mean for Hollywood and the filming industry? Despite its limitations, Plotagon will be a great way to be able to do a test run of a television series or movie. It will provide the writer the opportunity to “beta test” his or her screenplay before showing or pitching the final screenplay. It will be wonderful to know what was wrong with your scene or scenes beforehand. Plotagon will allow professionals and amateurs to create screenplays quickly and more efficiently.

Hollywood Representation

Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven), the Talent Agent in Entourage

Director Robert Rodriguez said, “If you do a film with a studio, agents step in, they start saying, ‘My actor has to get this amount of money’, and it becomes a deal.” These days one cannot get acting or writing job in Hollywood without knowing someone. You cannot walk up to a producer, director, or a network executive, hand them your screenplay and say, “I guarantee my script will become a blockbuster hit!”. If the person is nice, he or she may say, “O.k.”. When you walk away, your script goes into file thirteen (the trash can).  This is why writers and actors have agents representing them.

Many actors believe the myth that their agent gets the job for them. This is not true. The agent’s job is to get his or her client through the door for an audition by pitching his or her client to the casting office. It is up to the individual actor to win over the casting director to get the job. The actor accomplishes this by showing up for the audition, looking professional, and being charming to the casting director. Once the actor obtains the job, the agent is one who negotiates the contract’s terms with the producer on the actor’s behalf.

Many people confuse the agent's and the manager’s roles. Agents are licensed by individual states and usually have agreements with unions like the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). Managers are not licensed or required any special training or education. Agents obtain 10% of the actor’s work that is a direct result of the agent’s actions. In other words, the agent is only paid when the actor is paid. Managers obtain 10-15% on all the actor’s work regardless of the role the manager played in assisting the actor to obtain the work. Agents have many clients (50-250 actors). Managers have fewer clients (10-25 actors). Managers are not allowed to legally negotiate on behalf of the actor, but agents are. Agents are focused on obtaining employment and negotiating contracts. Managers are focused on the actor’s career including branding. 

Actors and writers must have good relationships with their agents and managers. Agents and managers have a lot of influence on the actor’s and writer’s careers. Anything worth having takes time and work.