I have a close friend who lives in L.A. and works in showbiz (directing commercials). Let's call him David. He was having lunch with a fairly well-known TV director (let's call him Mike), who also makes the occasional movie, when Mike told David that he was approached by Universal Studios who were looking for sci-fi ideas for next year's fall lineup. David, who knows that I'm a science geek with over a thousand sci-fi novels read, instantly gave me a call.
I am very excited to help, and I spend a few hours writing down some thoughts on a sci-fi idea that I've had for a long time. David loves it, and he passes it on to Mike, who then calls me personally, and tells me that the idea "blows his mind", and that he wants to work with me and David to develop an outline for a pitch, hopefully in August. He says that if the studio is interested, then he'd like to bring me on as a writer for the pilot, initially, and the rest of the series if it's picked.
Which leaves me in a dilemma. I obviously want to do this. For one, it is an amazing idea. Not to toot my horn, but it is far better than any of the sci-fi drivel they usually put on TV. So if it's picked up, I don't want it butchered by TV writers who will dumb it down out of disdain for their audience. Secondly, the money is INCREDIBLE. I'd be making ~$250k for a few months of work every year.
But here's the problem; I would have to leave a great job and uproot my life knowing that there is a chance none of this will work. The studio can simply drop the show if they don't like the pilot. Or they can cancel it a couple of episodes in for a million different reasons. Also, it will be a number of months before this unfolds, so it is several months without work. (which would be fine if it eventually works out, but makes things worse if it doesn't).
Currently, I am leaning toward taking the risk. If it doesn't work out, I can always look for another job elsewhere. But that would suck, really. I have a good and comfortable situation here.
Of course, this is all based on the hope that the studio executives give the pitch the green light. They may just say "oh, we have no interest in this garbage", making this whole discussion moot.
But assuming it does work out, what do you people think I should do?
I am very excited to help, and I spend a few hours writing down some thoughts on a sci-fi idea that I've had for a long time. David loves it, and he passes it on to Mike, who then calls me personally, and tells me that the idea "blows his mind", and that he wants to work with me and David to develop an outline for a pitch, hopefully in August. He says that if the studio is interested, then he'd like to bring me on as a writer for the pilot, initially, and the rest of the series if it's picked.
Which leaves me in a dilemma. I obviously want to do this. For one, it is an amazing idea. Not to toot my horn, but it is far better than any of the sci-fi drivel they usually put on TV. So if it's picked up, I don't want it butchered by TV writers who will dumb it down out of disdain for their audience. Secondly, the money is INCREDIBLE. I'd be making ~$250k for a few months of work every year.
But here's the problem; I would have to leave a great job and uproot my life knowing that there is a chance none of this will work. The studio can simply drop the show if they don't like the pilot. Or they can cancel it a couple of episodes in for a million different reasons. Also, it will be a number of months before this unfolds, so it is several months without work. (which would be fine if it eventually works out, but makes things worse if it doesn't).
Currently, I am leaning toward taking the risk. If it doesn't work out, I can always look for another job elsewhere. But that would suck, really. I have a good and comfortable situation here.
Of course, this is all based on the hope that the studio executives give the pitch the green light. They may just say "oh, we have no interest in this garbage", making this whole discussion moot.
But assuming it does work out, what do you people think I should do?
