Test Your Screenwriting I.Q. (Pt. 8)

1. “Pay or play” is a term that means a writer has to be paid whether the buyer likes the material that’s been written or not.
That’s true.

2. For a television series to be sold, a show runner has to be found first.
True.

3. A deal memo is an agreement between an agent and a writer for representation.
That’s false. A deal memo is an abbreviated copy of a contract listing the major points of the deal.

4. The biggest set pieces are found in horror movies.
That’s false. They’re found in action movies.

5. When you pitch your logline, the potential should be obvious if it’s a comedy, adventure, thriller or action movie.
That’s true.

6. You should mention your story falls into multiple genres when you pitch.
That’s false. Pick one predominant genre and stick to it.

7. The expression “turn it upside down and inside out” is a brainstorming technique that means take an existing story and change it substantially to make it fresh.
This is true.

8. When you pitch an action movie, you must mention who the hero and who the villain is.
That’s true.

9. The expression “half baked idea” is a negative term.
False. It means that there is something of value in the story but it needs to be developed further to become “fully baked.”

10. Acquiring rights to a story can be done by the writer himself.
While that’s technically true, it’s best to go through an entertainment attorney.