Question: How did you get your screenplays optioned?

Answer:  First, I decided on writing the best screenplays from a long list of potential ideas I made;

Second:  My efforts of contacting the Heads of Development & Acquisitions has provided ALL of my success at gaining interest in my intellectual properties;

Third:  Even though I had the best Canadian agency representing me for several years, they did not contribute to any sales of my materials.  I was the one who located interest and directed those parties to my agent. Even then, the agent couldn’t close a deal , so I do not believe it is necessary to have an agent as I closed the option/sales contracts I am involved with.  Mind you, I am seeking representation in Hollywood now;

Fourth:  I kept sending query letters, one sheets and scripts to agencies, producers, actors, directors, networks and film distributors year after year. I wrote and offered screenplays of different genres and got some interest and requests to read them. Those that turned me down I keep in touch with in a positive way and I proved to those contacts over the course of many years that I was a reliable and serious screenwriter capable of providing a consistent body of work.  That is what this business is all about.

SPECIAL:  NIGHT OF THE NINJA – a Reality Role Playing Game is $10 US plus shipping and handling.  Black and White artwork by Neil Hansen.  Order before July 1st, 2012 to receive thisgreat price and the NIGHT OF THE NINJA Role Playing System (signed by both creators Sandford Tuey & Tom Wall is yours. Very rare collector’s opportunity.

Order today by requesting Ninja deal at admin@Playdigm.com

SPECIAL: Galactic Gladiators movie size poster $10 US plus shipping and handling. Excellent full color artwork by Scott Lee.  Order before April 1st, 2012 and the Galactic Gladiators poster will be signed by the creator Sandford Tuey.

Order today by requesting poster deal at admin@Playdigm.com

Seasons Greetings to all!!

May your wishes and dreams come true this Christmas.

Cheers

Ever since Avatar there hasn’t been a decent 3d movie worth $15.  In fact,, I don’t go to 3d movies that are not filmed in 3d.  The 2d movies that are rendered into 3d in post just don’t cut it as official 3d movies. So if it was shot in 2d I choose to watch it in 2d and save the difference.

We all know this is happening for producers and distributors to make more money from each film they show.  Profit at the theaters seems to be rising and all thanks to 3d films.  Did we really need to see Thor in 3d?  The story stayed true to the comic series but the 3d vision just looked pasted on and not worthy of the extra money.

So when Avatar 2 comes out AND if it is filmed in real 3d – then I will shell out the extra bucks to watch it in 3d.  Those films produced in 2d and then faked into 3d, if the option is there to watch it in 2d or 3d I will now on pick 2d.  I don’t like wearing the glasses any way.

Enjoy your movie experience and let’s hope original screenplays start being purhcased like they used to be…  cuz I have a few great scripts Hollywood should produce or television networks should make.

Sandford Tuey

info@Playdigm.com

$309 Million in Bratz Case

Playthings Staff reported = Van Nuys, CA – In a ruling by U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, Mattel was ordered to pay MGA Entertainment, maker of Bratz dolls, $85 million in punitive damages for “willfully and maliciously” misappropriating MGA’s trade secrets and $139,887,177 to cover MGA’s legal fees and costs. These amounts are in addition to the $85 million previously awarded to MGA by a jury, for a total of $309,877,177 in damages and fees.

On April 21, 2011, a federal jury ruled that MGA Entertainment owns the rights to the Bratz dolls and unanimously rejected all of Mattel’s claims; it did not award any copyright damages, finding that MGA, not Mattel, owns the idea for Bratz as well as the original sketches for the doll.

- Your brand has value even before it is on the shelf or in the marketplace.  All the development costs in the design stage add up and have value so keep documentation to prove that you created the product/project as you just never know when and where you may have to prove that it is your baby and not someone else’s.

Even the big boys fight over proprietary property because they know the true value of a successful project. Millions are at stake – protect yourself by keeping excellent records.

The following is copied verbatim and is important to brand owners worldwide. Check it out!!

(Reuters) – Brand owners will soon be able to operate their own parts of the Web — such as .apple, .coke or .marlboro — if the biggest shake-up yet in how Internet domains are awarded is approved.

After years of preparation and wrangling, ICANN, the body that coordinates Internet names, is expected to approve the move at a special board meeting in Singapore on Monday.

Today, just 22 generic top-level domains (gTLDs) exist — .com, .org and .info are a few examples — plus about 250 country-level domains like .uk or .cn. After the change, several hundred new gTLDs are expected to come into existence.

The move is seen as a big opportunity for brands to gain more control over their online presence and send visitors more directly to parts of their sites — and a danger for those who fail to take advantage.

It will also change the way search engines like Google find results, and the way organizations use search-engine optimization to improve the visibility of their websites in search results.

“As a big brand, you ignore it at your peril,” says Theo Hnarakis, chief executive of Australian domain name-registration firm Melbourne IT DBS, which advises companies and other organizations worldwide about how to do business online.

“We’re advising people to buy their brands, park them and redirect visitors to their existing site, at the very least,” says Hnarakis, whose more than 3,500 customers include Volvo, Lego and GlaxoSmithKline.

If the change is approved on Monday, applications are likely to open in January for a 90-day period before closing again, potentially for years.

It will cost $185,000 to apply, and individuals or organizations will have to show a legitimate claim to the name they are buying. ICANN is taking on hundreds of consultants to whom it will outsource the job of adjudicating claims.

“The commercial participants are the most active, aggressive and articulate members of our society,” ICANN CEO Rod Beckstrom told Reuters in a recent interview, saying trademark owners in particular were anxious about how the new regime would work.

As well as big brands, organizations such as cities or other communities are expected to apply.

GTLDs such as .nyc, .london or .food could provide opportunities for many smaller businesses to grab names no longer available at the .com level — like bicycles.london or indian.food.

The new domains will also change how ICANN works, as it will have a role in policing how gTLDs are operated, bought and sold. Until now, it has overseen names and performed some other tasks but has been little involved in the Internet’s thornier issues.

To prevent so-called cyber-squatting, gTLD owners will be expected to maintain operational sites. ICANN will have to approve transfers to new owners at the top level.

Disney will not be Trademarking ‘Seal Team 6′ since the US Navy has decided to protect it’s rights.  Wouldn’t you expect them to defend what is theirs.

I am glad that this has happened as it is the right thing. Too many times entertainment companies try to scoop the rights from the creators. In this case, Seal Team Six wins another one!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/may/26/disney-withdraws-seal-team-6-trademark-application

Why didn’t the American Government protect the military designation SEAL TEAM 6? Sure it would cost a fortune to trademark every branch of the military but now it looks like Walt Disney Company has applied to register “Seal Team 6″ according to MediaBistro

This is the name of the special forces unit that killed the world’s most wanted man and terrorist Osama Bin Laden.

It seems Disney now owns the exclusive rights to use Seal Team 6 on ‘merchandise. So expect Disney to capitalize on clothing, footwear, headwear, toys, games and entertainment and education services. This is not the first time Seal Team 6 was trademarked by a company. NovaLogic, Inc., abandoned two associated trademarks in 2006. Those trademarks were for computer and video gaming.

It is my personal opinion as a veteran that the commercialization of a government entity should not be done by corporations unless legally allowed by those that created the group or armed forces department. At the least, I hope Disney will allocate a fair royalty percentage to the members of the real elite members of SEAL TEAM 6.

Sandford Tuey
admin@Playdigm.com

QUESTION – “What should be in a query letter to gain interest from a film producer?”

ANSWER -  Query letters are the standard accepted way to entice producers, production companies, studios and other groups that will inspire people or companies to ask for more information on your project or product.  Here is a simple explanation of the format I have found the most effective:

Contact’s name = the person you need to contact (if you don’t know the name of the head of Acquisitions at the company or the person you need to contact, call the company in question and ask who handles the department you want to contact). Make sure you also take the name of the person you talked to as they are able to put your future calls through to the right people or in time, they may become the gatekeeper you need to pass through to talk or meet the person that can green light your deal.

Address = straight forward. When you call to get the name of who you need to call make sure the address you have is correct.

Date = Always record when you sent this correspondence for record keeping purposes.

Re: = The ‘To the point line of what you are asking for.’

Personal Name = If you were introduced to someone as ‘Bob’ instead of their full name ‘Robert’ then by all means address this person as informally as possible. This is to help become a friend of this power person as quickly as possible, because we all know that people help their friends a lot more than strangers.

First Paragraph =  Come to the point with a catchy, positive, interesting way. Explain your project/product in as few words as possible but in enough detail that will get them to want to know more or at the least read on.

Second Paragraph = Give them as many reasons why your project/product is a perfect fit in their organization and/or why it will be successful. Try not to generalize but be specific and if you have some easy to digest facts/data insert it (like market size or audience your project has or users of your product or volume of sales.

Third Paragraph = This is where you explain who you are and insight about your background and how you can assist in the success of your project/product.  Don’t give a resume but specific information about yourself and how your knowledge helped you create what it is you are trying to interest the reader in or how you can help ensure its success.

Ending = A simple ‘Best Regards’ or ‘Respectfully’ can’t hurt.

Your name = What ever name the contact knows you as or your full first and last name.

Contact Information = If you are not using letterhead then under your name and signature put your telephone number, email address then your mailing address.

Written Note = I have found adding a personal hand written aside or note will also be read as much as a PS. This shows that you wrote the letter and not one of your staff.   Personalizing each contact is a bonus and stands out. When Robert Ludlum jotted down a few points any where on letter margins believe me I turned the letter and read them all.

Keep your Query letters one page or maximum two.  I also like to add a One Sheet or color brochure describing the project/product.

Respectfully,

Sandford  Tuey

PS:  If you have any questions send them to Admin@Playdigm.com and you may see an answer to it.