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Click on a question to view its answer.
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| Number | Date | Question | Expert |
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| # 8230 | 3/20/10 | Do you know of any agents that will not charge a dime to submit a true story to hollywood but only collect fee when they sell? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 8071 | 6/10/09 | If you were down to your last 100 bucks and had what you believed to be an exceptional screenplay would you: A. Enter it in a screenplay contest. B. Use a service that would send out an e-mail(query) to hundreds of industry pros. C. Pay for coverage of the screenplay. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 7766 | 3/3/08 | Thanks Derek! What you said is perfect for what I was getting at. I want reinforcements coming in automatically when there's no response, or a wrong response. Actually, in my script, they lose contact due to a blizzard. For some reason, I couldn't come up with "revolver". That's perfect that some still use a 6 shot revolver, as I'm playing with the old "Dirty Harry, was it 5 shots or 6? theme". Thanks! | Derek Pritts |
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| # 7765 | 3/3/08 | Hey Derek, 2 questions for you. 1) If an officer does not respond to his 2 way, how long before reinforcements are sent out? 2) In a small town, would it make sense for an officer to carry an "old fashioned" 6 shot pistol like a magnum or the like? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 7535 | 10/14/07 | If a character drops a large, suspicious trunk off a pier in the San Diego area at night, is observed, and divers are sent to investigate, could charges be pressed? How would that be handled, and what might be the consequences? Thanks! | Derek Pritts |
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| # 7217 | 3/21/07 | I would like to know which birds are the laziest? e.g. on their way to their usual migration post, the birds give up and settle instead in a swimming pool. thank you. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 6874 | 10/11/06 | Hi Derek, I wanted to know what the police procedure is when a child is reported missing. Probably kidnapped. What is the exact order of actions the police will undertake. And how do police officers talk about such a case on the radio? Thanks very much. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 6044 | 11/30/05 | Can you provide a name(s) and phone number(s) for a lawyer or lawyers who specialize in litigation re: getting the full or complete rights back to one's script and/or book property? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 5617 | 4/24/05 | Do Black bear, especially cubs, nap on sunny early fall afternoons? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 5471 | 2/20/05 | Hi: I have a comic scene where four guys confront a bear and wind up killing it. Or think they have - one guy deduces that the bear died of natural causes- its heart gave out. I know this is a highly unlikely scenario-- but is it possible? I want to make the scene work - but not if it's totally implausible. Your help is greatly appreciated - thanks! | Derek Pritts |
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| # 5273 | 11/30/04 | I am writing a thriller set on the south eastern coast of Connecticut. I want to see my character fly-fishing from a rocks on/near a beach. Is this plausible? Could he catch a fish big enough to grill on an open fire? Later he hitches a ride with a guy who makes conversation along the lines of: "Good X fishing this time of year... You like Y...?" Any thoughts? (It's set in late August.) | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4732 | 6/30/04 | My husband is a producer and obtained an option on a script to be shpped in Hollywood. Business associates offered him $25,00 for the project for a five year effort on the project. He turned the offer down. Well, these folks then wrote their own screen play and since has been purchased by ICON Pictures. They stole the project. What would you suggest a person(s) do to remedy the situation? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4613 | 4/27/04 | Dear Mr. Pritts: I would like to pitch my television pilot to an excecutive from the Women's Channel, in person. How do I go about it? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4490 | 3/5/04 | Hey guys I am an actor/writer I have written a pilot for a TV series. I want to know is it a good idea to film it myself but I wonder has anyone ever done anything like this before and not been laughed right out of the studio and how would I get it into the hands of a studio.Please help me | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4319 | 12/11/03 | Derek, this may not be a question for you but hey, you're my man. If you want a character to stretch a word "I was 'so' hurt" - vs. "I was 'so-o' hurt" vs. " I was so...o hurt". what is the proper way to show this, or, is that the big bad-ie, directing? Pre-thanks, Jim | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4169 | 11/1/03 | I'm so pumped that I found someone to ask these Elk questions. Within my story, I have Rocky Mountain Elk and your answers are vital to my story. Thank you very much. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4168 | 11/1/03 | Have improvements to Elk herds been attempted like what is done in breeding livestock, where, usually males are exchanged to bring in new blood? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4167 | 11/1/03 | Tranquilizer guns. Are they rifles only? What is the physical size of the dart (shell, I guess � before it's fired) that would be needed to put down a bull Elk of 10 years? Also, what would happen to a adult human male, 200lbs, if he accidently sat on the dart? Finally, are game and fish persons the only ones allowed by law to use tranquillizer guns? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4162 | 10/30/03 | The American Elk will fight to the death for dominance. Has this ever been filmed? Also, how old would a Bull Elk, without intervention, live to be? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4145 | 10/29/03 | Hello, I will be down in the Los Angeles area in two weeks, and I would like to know, since I don't have an agent, what is the best way to get a script sold, or even looked at? Thank you. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4100 | 10/14/03 | Agriculture question: Along the lines of Plant Pathology, what is a common 'cause of death' in field plants (wheat, corn - rural Midwest U.S.A)? And/Or a disease or some condition that plant pathologists would study, investigate? Thanks. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 4012 | 9/16/03 | Hi,I am an audiovisual student in the city of JOHANNESBURG in SOUTH AFRICA. I have a simple question; what can I do to become a good screenwriter, while maintaining my originality? Thanks for your time. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3967 | 8/24/03 | Dear Mr. Pritts, As I drove past a scummy swamp last week, I wondered if the scum was debris from a hidden still. Then I thought about the excellent information you provided in your answer to my question about stills a few months ago and realized I had not thanked you. So THANK YOU! It was just the information I needed and I will put it to good use. Mary | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3960 | 8/23/03 | When writing a script what does EXT. and INT. mean? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3813 | 7/22/03 | I would like to know can an aspiring writer sell a spec television pilot? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3714 | 6/26/03 | Hi! How can an aspring screenwriter get representation if no one is accepting new writers? Secondly, Where can i find a list of good agents or managers that will look at new writers | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3649 | 6/15/03 | If run-off from a still flows into a river, will it kill fish and if so, how do you determine the chemical is present in the water? Thank you. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3420 | 5/3/03 | Derek: I recently posted a screenplay on writersscriptnetwork.com, and although it's only been 2 days, out of the 8 co.'s that've viewed the logline, NONE has viewed the synopsis, let alone the script. It's a high-concept idea, so I would think people would be curious to read at least the synopsis. Now I'm concerned about people using the site to get ideas, then pass them to friends.THANKS! | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3404 | 4/30/03 | Hi, Derek! Forgive me -- but your bio on this site gave me impression that you were fish/boat/wildlife expert only. After reading your response to #3339, I'm impressed with your knowledge of the industry. Can you tell me what you think about "writersscriptnetwork.com" and it's script listing service for writers? Also, any other sites like that you would recommend? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3395 | 4/28/03 | Mr. Pritts, do you know of any great books on police lingos you can recommend to me? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3339 | 4/22/03 | I have a script but it is not formatted properly. However I met someone who has connections at a major studio. He claims he neds to see 45 pages of script and I'm leery that he might swipe my idea. I do not have an agent yet, so is giving this guy my script a good idea? (I know he does have the connections.) | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3289 | 4/15/03 | Hi Derek, I'm looking for the penalty for modern day bootlegging (Dry counties/Native Alaskan villages) I've been told it's treated the same as drug trafficing. Could you steer me in the right direction of where to look. Thanks for the time Jordan | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3254 | 4/9/03 | Mr. Pritts, I understand that when a student tells a teacher that he or she is being abused, the teacher has to report it. I was just wondering if it is the same thing with doctors. Do doctors have to report abuse to the police? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3187 | 3/26/03 | My name is Natalie. I am very interested in making a career of acting. I have good grades,and love to write stories as i have a good imagination & can get into character very easily. I really love performing and would like to take this further. Do you think agencies will take me on now? or do i need to go to college? I basically need to get some help on starting off! | Derek Pritts |
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| # 3082 | 2/27/03 | Paramount Pictures bought a pitch "very" similar to my screenplay. How do I go about getting another studio or developement executive to look at my script or at least my logline or synopsis. I know studios are often in a neck-and-neck competition trying to out do the other by making similar films at the same time. Any advice you can offer is greatly appreciated. Thank you for you time, Jeffrey Dainton | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2955 | 1/29/03 | I have so many questions, even regarding what managers I'm looking at I should sign with (who has a good rep, etc),plus actual questions regarding producing. Classes aren't an option, because things are happening too quick.Do you know of any consultants or anyone to help?I go to Samuel French and sit down with a stack of books and still need answers. Please, if you know anyone or anywhere to go it will save me. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2947 | 1/28/03 | Hello, I am writing a script at the moment, but i do not have any diploma or anything like that. Is it required to have a diploma before your script can be sold? I read that you need to send a signed release form along with your script. Can you explain what is meant by that? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2915 | 1/21/03 | I'm 15 and from N.Ireland, when I'm old enough I'm moving to Hollywood. I've never done anything about my acting career if I'm being honset but have took part in 3 school plays. I've came to the part where I'm now craving an acting career, is there anything else I can do to help myself or would my Asthma get in the way? I want to become an actress because I love entertaing people. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2821 | 12/18/02 | How can you reveal interesting characters from your script in query letters when most only want the storyline and hook? I've heard when actors read a script he looks for character first then story.FINAL NOTE- since most actors, producers, and directors complain of the poor supply of good scripts, why don't they look outside of the Hollywood "circle"? Where real people are writing real stories. God gifted them also. Thanks, Dennis | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2810 | 12/17/02 | Hi, I live in a rural town in Australia approx. pop of 12500. I want to become an actress. I am going to study arts (drama) at university. After i leave uni do you think i should move to Los Angeles to give my acting career a shot or not? Or should i stay in Australia and hopefully fulfill it here? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2784 | 12/11/02 | If a good entertainment attorney is interested in you as a long term client, will they charge you hourly, or jsut work on commision from your project sales like how an agent would? 2. Will an attorney help a client find an agent and manager? Does it make sense early in a carrer to have as much rep. as possible? How do you know who's goodwill a good one take on anyone for hourly? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2725 | 12/2/02 | I have my own story and where can i sell it? (server or email) | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2322 | 8/5/02 | I have written a 146 page screenplay. It is based on actual real life events. I have contacted several producers and agents, and was wondering what the going rate is if someone were to purchase my rights to the story and the screenplay. Any advice on what I should ask for such as royalties, etc. Help!! | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2193 | 6/23/02 | I have a SCI FI script. It is amazing. I want to know where can i sell my script ??? What price can i get on it ??? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 2134 | 6/6/02 | I have an idea for a great T. V. show. How can I get a meeting with a network to pitch my show's ideas to them? (ex.Disney) | Derek Pritts |
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| # 1996 | 4/12/02 | I'm doing an action-thriller in which a federal agent lists the various charges/crimes that a suspect has committed after blowing up a car and nearly killing a federal agent and several teens. I'm wondering what sort of charges would stem from such an act? Attempted murder? Illegal explosives use? Arson? I'm looking more for charges dealing with the explosion and explosives. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 1836 | 2/23/02 | You have recommended John D. MacDonald's books. What does he write about? What are some good titles? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 1541 | 10/31/01 | How do you set up a budget for your movie? | Derek Pritts |
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| # 1381 | 8/18/01 | Could a criminal smuggling endangered animals through a big U.S. city be investigated by a city police officer? Thanks, Brent. | Derek Pritts |
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| # 1288 | 7/13/01 | Dear Derek-- I'm writing a new spec script and I find that I can't pull it off without a little help from an expert advisor in Marine Biology. I was about to contact someone at a nearby university field lab when I realized I have nothing to offer them. I don't need mountains of time from them (a few phone calls and a couple of visits should do it), but I would like to offer them something for their time and effort. Being that it's a spec script, I don't know if I will be able to sell it or not, and I will make that very clear to the person(s) I contact. However, I can't afford to pay them out of my pocket right now, so I was thinking about offering them a small percentage from the sale of the script (if it sells). Any advice for me? Any guidelines and/or experience in this area? Thanks and regards, Dan Worley | Derek Pritts |
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| # 1104 | 5/17/01 | I am writing a police thriller and would like to know if an undercover officer can secretly video tape an individual without a warrant or court order. If so, how far can the officer go before a warrant is needed? | Derek Pritts |
