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View Full Version : Another question to Mr. Devlin


mightyho
11-05-2006, 12:40 PM
Mr. Devlin,

I'm attempting my very first dab at developing a story that's been deep in me for some time. I have a friend who's a semi Pro-Gamer and as soon as I gather enough of my story line together, I thought I'd seek his advice to start my story as a series game - all leading to one big picture.

I initially thought about the movie route, but I can only imagine the complications of getting anyone to read a script among the thousands written out there (then again, same practice applies in the gaming industry). Also, there's many chapters to this idea.

With that said, I've also got a business mind, but with the overall intent of getting my story out there so everyone can get the big picture.

Your Stargate & ID4 movies have been very instrumental in furthering my thoughts and theories on evolution.

Here's my question(s): How did you bring your idea to life? Did you actually write an entire script (I'm not a writer, BTW) and did anyone help you? What did it take for you to make it into a movie? Also, a big congrats to your success!

I was recently in charge of a Library in Santa Barbara that housed Joseph Campbell's library collection. While there, I discovered that the Library was George Lucas' influence to his trilogy. (BTW, this position was pure inheritance - in a fortunate way of course - as I'm actually an IT manager). I began to study Mr. Campbell's work and came upon his Hero's Journey. In all, I grasped the concept that we all as humans are influenced by Myths and Legends and it's better to have a hero to look up to to as a point of reference and study for discipline.

Then Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ came out (and thinking about his BraveHeart) - whether it's William Wallace or Jesus, all were considered heroes - and what an enormous effect it had on the shaping of our civilization! With that said, my theories and ideas are now shaping into a story, with a hero(s) as focal point.

Any advice you have would be greatly and ENORMOUSLY appreciated.

Sincerely,

"MightyHo"

devlin
11-17-2006, 01:04 PM
Roland and I wrote the script on "spec", meaning no one paid us to write it. After the script was finished we had several conceptual drawings done so people could get an idea of what the film would look like. We then shopped the script to every major studio in Hollywood and we were turned down everywhere. Finally, through a man named Marc Frydam (my Producing partner on FLYBOYS), we got the money from Canel Plus out of France. They financed the film and we made it independently. After the film was finished we made a deal with MGM to distribute the film in the United States.

After the movie's success, MGM decided to make a television series out of it and they've been doing it ever since.

Hope that helps,

-Dean Devlin

mightyho
12-15-2006, 01:07 PM
Thank you kindly for sharing this with me. This certainly helps! Hope to meet you one day!

MightyHo :)