Happy Sunday, Creative Army!

Hope your July 4th weekend has been full of laughter, fireworks, and just enough peace to let those creative gears turn. Whether you’ve been writing, filming, editing, or dreaming up your next big idea, I’ve got something for you today that blends entertainment, education, and a little bit of “how not to do it.” So grab your coffee, and let’s dive in.

This week’s featured video comes from the team at It Was A Sh*t Show, a brilliantly irreverent and informative series that dives into the most chaotic, dysfunctional, and downright baffling productions in film and TV history. Today’s disaster? Independence Day. That’s right, the blockbuster that redefined '90s alien invasion films nearly didn’t happen.

From its inception, Independence Day was a battle. 20th Century Fox didn’t want Will Smith. They were afraid the movie wouldn’t sell internationally with a Black lead. The filmmakers literally staged a fake meeting to secure his casting. They also had to reshoot most of Randy Quaid’s scenes after his original performance didn’t land. Then there were countless delays, brutal VFX deadlines, and studio politics that almost shut the whole thing down. It’s wild to look back now at a film that made over $800 million and became a cultural touchstone, but almost died a dozen deaths before it ever hit the screen.

There are so many ways that a film can go awry. And if you’re a filmmaker or screenwriter, you already know: getting the idea is the easy part. Getting it made? That’s where things get tricky.

During my last Ask Me Anything event, a Stage 32 member asked me a great question that hits right at the heart of this issue: How do I protect my project when a producer has added it to their slate, but there’s no official contract, and nothing’s moving forward?

My take? If there’s no payment, there’s no exclusivity. Period.

When Amblin optioned my latest television script, they paid for that exclusivity. That’s the deal. But earlier in my career, I had people read my material and tell me, “I know two or three companies I’d like to pitch this to.” Cool, then let’s sign a deal memo. A simple agreement that says you can take it to those places only, and you’ll keep me informed on how it goes. That’s fair. That’s clear. And that keeps you in control. If you’re letting people shop your material with no transparency and no terms, you’re setting yourself up for confusion, potential rights issues, and missed opportunities. Because let’s face it: no one can advocate for your material like you can.

Have you ever felt like your project was stuck in limbo? What steps are you taking to protect your work and keep things moving?

As always, we love sharing inspiration, tools, and insights that help fuel your creative fire. Know someone who would love this content? Share it with them. And don’t forget to tag us (@Stage32) if you do. You can keep up with everything we’re doing on the Stage 32 YouTube and by following me on Instagram and X: @rbwalksintoabar.

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and creative Sunday.

Cheers,

RB

It Was A Sh*t Show | Independence Day (1996)

RBWalksIntoABar | Protecting Your Project on a Film Slate

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