How I Sold A Movie Idea To Ridley Scott - Corey Mandell

In this Film Courage video interview, Screenwriter Corey Mandell on What It's Like To Pitch A Movie Idea To Ridley Scott. For the counterpart to this video, please visit this link on KZbin where Corey talks about the writing and filming of BATTLEFIELD EARTH movie: • Battlefield Earth Scre...
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[@anthonylangone2861]

What an inspiring story. I like this guy. Raw, honest, and unpretentious. Good luck to you sir and thankyou for sharing

[@RSEFX]

Thanks for this. Very refreshing in his straightforward honesty. This is someone you can really get behind. Seems like a very nice, sharp and observant person. Wishing him lots of good luck on all his future endeavors.

[@Comedyschule]

I Love this. I have a big pitch meeting on 18th...Cant wait to get that shaky feeling :D

[@atallguynh]

Break a leg!

[@user-rh1uf5dl9q]

💪

[@exxmormon]

Good luck!

[@iRCinema]

Best of luck!

[@piticfilms]

All the best!

[@Yvaelle]

I used to be a contract negotiator for a large multinational (before I started writing), which meant I met every day with business development people who were always super charismatic and experts at reading people. I remember one of our largest vendors after he got to know me for a few years telling a story about the first time we spoke. I had just joined the company, I was their largest client, and he had no relation with me personally at all - so this is a huge deal to him, he loses us he could lose his job. I'm stone-faced the whole time, resting bitch face, furrowed brow, sighing and grunting, asking hard questions and not then not looking happy with any answer. He went home and was terrified - all the body language told him he was fucked. So I call back about a week later, and tell him not only is he remaining our largest vendor, I'm cutting our second largest vendor in category and driving an extra $10M/year of work at him: overjoyed. So I never knew his side of the story, so I explained. The whole meeting I was anticipating our stakeholders, their needs, their concerns, their skepticism - I'm in a very negative head-space because I'm trying to rule out risks: so that's coming through my body language like I'm angry or disappointed or disinterested. By contrast, I used to meet with other vendors where I knew before they stepped into the room we had no use for them - but they were someone's cousin or something - so I needed to give them an audience. I'd be happy and smiling and laughing with them and building a network connection - because I had nothing serious to consider - then I'd probably never speak to them again. Point is, like Corey is saying, don't assume a meeting is going bad off body language - don't psych yourself out. Someone who appears frustrated, or distracted, or skeptical - might just be taking you seriously - and someone who loves everything you say - might be doing so because they know they have nothing to risk with you (because you won't be doing business together).

[@ben4216]

Great story.

[@ajtaylor8750]

Great story from Corey, and it must've felt awesome to meet a legend like Ridley Scott. The biggest lesson to takeaway from this story is that when one door closes, there will be another door that opens, and it may be from someone even more influential that what you originally thought. Never stop pushing.

[@MelaninMonarchy]

This really encouraged me today. Thanks Film Courage

[@filmcourage]

Doing our best, glad this one found you Pete!

[@scottwatrous]

"I'm gonna ask you a question" "Great. I'm gonna go about 10 steps back and answer every question ever that you diddn't even know to ask." Epic

[@filmcourage]

And I'm glad he did. This is why the video is great. Thank you for watching, Scott.

[@sign543]

I was in the room with Columbia records head of A&R in the early 2000s...I wasn’t pitching an artist, but I was on the team with an artist, his manager was pitching, and I was so nervous FOR him....I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in that driver’s seat. The cool part is that we left with a stack of CDs like 2 feet high...and I got to see the same office where Barbra Streisand had just sat the day before, talking to this guy. I’m not cut out for this kind of business. I was a wreck, and I didn’t even have to say anything to anybody.

[@mr.b6789]

I'm really curious why the film wasn't made

[@jonathanstewart351]

Mr. B -- Me too!

[@purefoldnz3070]

Mimi from the Drew Carey show sabotaged it

[@nandoflorestan]

Ridley probably decided to shoot "Black Hawk Down" instead. I am kidding, that would be tragic, that movie sucks balls.

[@heeeresjohnny7503]

It was made, came out in 2000, with travolta, Scott didnt direct it. It was a terrible movie, dont mean to be mean..

[@tommylakindasorta3068]

@@heeeresjohnny7503 He's not talking about Battlefield Earth. He's talking about a script that was sold and didn't get made, just like 99.9% of all scripts that get sold.

[@BoomEpic]

I love those videos! Real life, real people, real stories.

[@SphereBeingAlliance]

Amazing story!

[@markmsmeltzer]

I love the vulnerability! I'm looking to start pitching next year when I finish my four scripts. Definitely cool to hear this sort of story! This is great stuff.

[@kikkih2043]

What a sweet story- his joy and excitement is infectious. 🙂

[@alexandraacreator-art]

Amazing, amazing story! Wowww. I could listen to him all day long...

[@filmcourage]

Thank you Alexandra. The script was for Metropolis which was never made unfortunately. Here's everything we have published with Corey thus far - bit.ly/2v8SPgy (We have 2 more hours of a new interview with Corey that we look forward to sharing in the coming months)

[@lincolnrhodes1548]

@@filmcourage thanks for putting all this out on youtube. it must be a lot of work for you guys to produce these videos. you've helped a lot of people with your channel. keep it up.

[@Guhonter]

This guy is so authentic and grounded, I thoroughly enjoyed this. 16k views but 640 likes? wtf? WTF??? Subbed and the bell, as I only got notified today that this channel exists, it's wonderful!!!

[@shelbyindianajones3226]

I am not a writer, screenwriter, editor or anything close to it. I got my degree in science. But through a heartbreaking event, I wrote a story centered in the paranormal and would love him to direct it. It's more of a long series than a movie. The mood is exactly in his ballpark. Thanks for this upload!

[@RealVinnyCuevas]

Love to hear Corey's insight. He keeps it real with positivity.

[@djanitatiana]

Great storyteller. Of course. Enjoyed every second of this tale.

[@djwhitesox]

This is a great story. Thanks for sharing 🎉

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

*_"Stay on target! STAY ON TARGET!"_*

[@serratusband]

What an exciting story! Shows you to stay creative and you’ll always have the answers to your problems because your artistic moral center is in the right place. Knowing what’s right at a moment’s notice is a lot easier than figuring out complex solutions.

[@stevegeorge7773]

The take away, don’t read the room and JUST be the train getting to its destination of completing the pitch/task at hand. Great advice for a person who incessantly wants to read peeps. It’s such a bad habit at the wrong times.

[@mr.b6789]

No, don't always blindly trust yourself in reading the room. You should always try to read people 🤨

[@thenamelessone6119]

@@mr.b6789 In any situation you should have a mixture of both, have self-awareness, but dont let it take control of you.

[@toseeornot2see]

I've been watching this videos for sometime, but feel that often the most important component is networking! Knowing who is who always helps!

[@starwise2005]

That's exactly what Netflix said..no someone who knows someone..

[@1800astra]

The script he's talking about is called 'Metropolis', a sort of Williiam Gibson cyberspace caper. You can read the full text of the script here:maddogmovies.com/almost/scripts/metropolis_mandell.txt

[@MartinCooney1]

thanks for that. Corey has a short IMDB listing of 2 movies. I was wondering what ever happened to the pitch. Presumably Ridlet Scott never did anything with it

[@JohnMatthew1]

What a great encouraging story! Thanks for sharing.

[@gordondavis6168]

This explain the decline in movie quality. In the 70s and 80s, directors read scripts themselves, and either got interested or not. Now, things are more corporate where directors don’t read things directly, but rely on the recommendations of assistants.

[@Roman-ey3yi]

There's a lot more risk because movies don't cost under a 100 mill anymore, also there's so many scripts being written by everyone. Makes sense for their to be a filter.

[@leondelafonte]

Sorry, but movie quality has not gone down. Movies have been their greatest for decades now. Prove me wrong.

[@desoztoppieter9895]

@@leondelafonte you have got be kidding ? I havent seen a decent movie in 10 years, the 70s and 80s and even 90s were full of them.....movies today are total garbage

[@leondelafonte]

@@desoztoppieter9895 I think nostalgia paints rose tinted shades into our memories.

[@desoztoppieter9895]

@@leondelafonte you are a complete idiot, you must like comic book movies or CGI explosion fests, or you are 5 years old

[@jamesreid7238]

Wow awesome story very inspirational

[@jeffreychase3287]

What a great video. That would be so exciting to meet and pitch to a well known producer/director. I'm curious what his project was about.

[@vikkipakki]

That's a nice success story. I'm truly inspired!

[@LifewithShamanda]

This made me cry. So excited for this experience.

[@cbstevp]

Pitching is the ultimate test of nerves in the business. I'd be quaking in my boots if I ever had to pitch to Ridley Scott. He's lucky he didn't have time to think it over too much.

[@VinnyfromSouthPhilly]

I love this story!

[@yehonathan]

I like how Corey Mandell talk about something, he go and back but is clear in the words he use

[@susan908]

This was incredibly practical So much good information.

[@xxoxia]

What film was this that he pitched to Ridley? The only 2 writing credits he has on imdb are Battlefield Earth and a TV movie called Love Kills.

[@marjanp]

It wasn't made.

[@edgedeep]

@xxoxia I think this script was “Metropolis”. The sale was in the trades back in the day.

[@KaceyBakerFilms]

Amazing!

[@dallasdandigitalproduction393]

Very exciting. happy for him. He really won the lottery there, even if the script didnt get made.

[@markmsmeltzer]

Great stuff! I appreciate the new material! Thank you :D

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Mark!

[@jameshess1]

This story would make a great screenplay in and of itself!

[@robertnees9781]

Please, Two questions: 1) Any reason(s) why the script it was not developed? 2) Is the script available anywhere to read?

[@filmcourage]

We know Corey's script for Metropolis was available online at the time of our first interview in 2017 so we imagine it can still be found.

[@novelenterprise]

What's the movie?

[@QED_]

www.angelfire.com/movies/ridleyscott/script/Metropolis.txt

[@Crazy_Rich_Asian]

@@filmcourage was it produced into a movie though? I only see the old 1927 Metropolis trailers on KZbin.

[@filmcourage]

@@Crazy_Rich_Asian The movie was never made. Unfortunately the life of many working screenwriters is that they are hired to write movies that are never made.

[@baris90inan]

wow that is great story to listen. I hope he will make many movies with ridley scott.

[@urbanfox7322]

That's a great story. Thanks for sharing it

[@MultiAustin86]

I love this guy.

[@exxmormon]

The lesson I take away is: I am enough.

[@leoexgb3219]

Amen brother.

[@exxmormon]

@Nathan Thompson You have no idea what my level of success is, regardless of your definition of "success", though, right? Either way, I *am* enough, and I'll always continue learning and applying what I learn to be better. I'm not perfect. Maybe that's what my comment implied.

[@exxmormon]

@Nathan Thompson Okay. Thanks for clarifying.

[@dereksteele291]

Great story.

[@ComicPower]

I love these success stories. Its inspiring

[@DIEGOPSYCHE]

This was cheerful and delightful

[@user-ux5hp6vp2t]

Mimi here. I had a really bad burrito that day. My stomach was ready for evacuation. Hearing this guy go on about aliens and space battles really didn't help. Though eating that burrito still made more sense than this guy's pitch.

[@loststoryproductions]

Man this was good!

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Malcolm. We love this one.

[@brendenhamilton]

Wonderful story. Thank you.

[@filmcourage]

We love this one, glad it found you Brenden!

[@cbstevp]

I never had to pitch in person (thank God I think I would be terrible) but I have written many treatments for my screenplays and also had to make a pitch deck for a TV show I am trying to get made. Also I had to show samples of my work to various people and got hired for a writing job based on that.

[@TheFewzz]

Im nervous as hell guys, i have a Pitch to make to the wife next week, i really hope she goes for it and cleans my car.

[@ardentmuskrat1361]

Well, did she go for it?

[@RSEFX]

I feel lucky to not have had to actually pitch a story, knowing that my actual writing could do (and did) a far better job. Pitching sort of puts certain people---like me---into the position of becoming an "actor", for the duration of the actual pitch, an actor who is playing the part of someone excited and enthused...and if there is anything I can't get excited about is showing excitement and enthusiasm, no matter how excited and enthusiastic I actually am. Weird I guess. Fortunately I sold a couple of scripts back in the days when studios were still reading and considering spec scrips...and we sold, in both cases, on the first weekend out. But, like this fellow, neither of these two particular scripts got made even after the studios invested pretty heavily in them. Hollywood is a one of a kind kinda place.

[@howardkoor2796]

Great interview.

[@TheDarkestForce]

So what was the movie about? Why didn't it get made?

[@songseakleng]

I love this.

[@filmcourage]

This is a great story.

[@jameslandonjr]

Didn't he write Battlefield Earth

[@InformantNet]

Corey had an agent at ICM while he was in film school? How did that happen? That's the interesting part of the story.

[@filmcourage]

We believe he talks about it in this video - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWLGfKl7iNBnn8k

[@thetramp785]

Ridley Scott ! His Gladiator mesmerised me !

[@AlohaMichaelDaly]

great story

[@fabulousjojo5619]

This is so inspirational

[@filmcourage]

Nice to see we aren't the only ones inspired!

[@davemckay4359]

I love these.

[@lyricarol]

I love this. He's so sincere and authentic.

[@Paul-zh2jp]

great story!

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Paul!

[@burtonpierre417]

What was the name of the movie he pitched of the movie?!

[@whisperingwind7]

BATTLEFIELD EARTH

[@christophermoonlightproduction]

That was a fun story.

[@filmcourage]

Thanks Christopher!

[@Dreaklock]

What movie did Corey and Ridley work together on?

[@filmcourage]

Metropolis

[@gordondavis6168]

Ridley has lost his way so much. He used to be about directing, and believing less is more ( the less you show, the more you leave to the audience’s imagination). Now, he shows all monsters and spaceships in full light and seems to want to work with heavy special effects. His older films had great characters, now his characters are one note cardboard figures.

[@robertawilson3688]

Gordon Davis rewriting the Ten Commandments.. Joel Edgerton and Christian Bale playing Ramses and Moses.... totally unnecessary... what’s the point? I love my directors cut of Blade Runner.. Rip Rutger Hauer... And American Gangster is amazing. He is too good of a filmmaker to sell out to sell tickets.

[@QED_]

Good. But . . . is it more than anecdotal (?) I'm guessing it takes a lot of experience to answer that question . . .

[@nikhilb3880]

what movie is he talking about?

[@filmcourage]

Metropolis - He sold the idea / screenplay. The movie was never made.

[@catonsvilleman6900]

Whoa whoa whoa, now who ja meet???

[@rc1982]

What was the story he sold?

[@filmcourage]

Metropolis

[@njftm]

Its because he was raised in a working class region , Newcastle, north east England. If you get above your station around northern's or vice versa, its conversion over. No race no colour no status, all content

[@starwise2005]

Man-animal are grossly undersize!! "BATTLE FIELD EARTH" 😎👍🏼💯💪🏽

[@cbstevp]

I love listening to these people talk about the film world but it is frustrating when they talk about things and people but can't tell you exactly hat a project was or who screwed them over and so on. I am sure there are legal reasons why they can't explain everything but still feels like half the story is missing. For example in this story I would love to know what the move he pitched to Ridley Scott was and why it never got made.

[@kamuelalee]

What happened to the film?

[@filmcourage]

It ended up not being made. Unfortunately this is one of the harsh truths for screenwriters and other people in the business. So many projects never get to the finish line.

[@kamuelalee]

@@filmcourage Thanks for the info. Guess there's only so much money -- time and talent as well -- to go around in the movie business.

[@MrAnperm]

In Hollywood you're a catcher, not a pitcher.

[@87rtlandry]

This guy wrote Battlefield Earth. 😳

[@novelenterprise]

What movie?

[@QED_]

www.angelfire.com/movies/ridleyscott/script/Metropolis.txt

[@Skylark-nu4qt]

💕💕👌🏽

[@PRESSPLAYRADIO]

" It wasn't made... a long way to go in the int."

[@jdsartre9520]

not gonna tell us the movie?

[@C.Church]

Dr Ken says he doesn't take writers to pitches anymore because they don't read the room. Corey says: Don't read the room. 😅

[@gregmurphy2691]

I'm wondering how much he sold it for 🤔

[@leondelafonte]

Battlefield Earth? Don't know if this is the guy to ask for screenwriting advise.

[@nandoflorestan]

There's another video where he answers this exactly. Look for it.

[@tagheuer001]

Why does this have so few views?

[@filmcourage]

Brand new video

[@roymarsh8077]

He's a really nice, engaging person, but this is still fundamentally depressing, because it seems he got taken on because of his advanced improvisation skills, not because of the quality of the script (sounds like it was a bad script). The real question for me is how got an agent. And since I'm not a young American film school graduate based in LA with a sideline in stand-up, this interview really only works for me at a motivational level. And, yes, there it is inspiring, especially the bit about not mis-reading body language. Thanks FC

[@87rtlandry]

How the heck did he have an agent right out of school??? 🤨

[@filmcourage]

We think he talks about it here - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mWLGfKl7iNBnn8k

[@quindariousgooch4696]

Says the guy who wrote Battlefield Earth

[@jonathanstewart351]

The lesson I take away is: First, you make sure you have a good, polished product; Second, you know beyond a shadow of a doubt you are worthy; and Third, that everybody puts their pants on one leg at a time. Even Ridley Scott.

[@sylviadewall7173]

Nothing personal, but Battlefield Earth sucked. ;)

[@anthonyperry7296]

I dislike everyone except, Corey Mandell.

[@Comedyschule]

yayy im first! :D

[@Drforbin941]

The only three films Ridley Scott ever made which showed any real flare were, 'The Duellists ', 'Alien' and 'Bladerunner'. He's highly over rated.

[@ft6zzz]

You must be fun at parties.

[@Drforbin941]

@@ft6zzz Is the object to be fun? I didnt think I was running for a popularity contest.

[@jeanpaulmichell7243]

@@Drforbin941 Fun as in being deliberately naive, or just not knowing what you are talking about. But hey, opinions are opinions.

[@Drforbin941]

Jeanpaul Michell Really. That is also a matter of opinion.

[@jeanpaulmichell7243]

@@Drforbin941 Of course. But there is empirical evidence to the contrary. Gladiator, Thelma and Louise, The Martian, and (do I dare say it) Prometheus and Covenant are films any director would be proud of having in their repertoire. And a contrary opinion is fine, if one knows how to gauge quality.

[@Denver_Risley]

...Aaaaand the worst movie in the world next to Birdemic was born!

[@keanuwick1082]

Battlefeild Earth won a Golden Raspberry. Horrible fing movie

[@sagiriizumi8079]

He wrote Battlefield Earth. This guy is a disaster. His pitch never got made

[@MSordernature]

This guy has two credits on IMDB, one of them being Battlefield Earth that has a rating of 2.5! Why are we listening to him?

[@michaelclarkj]

Miloš This channel has an interview with him talking about his experience with Battlefield Earth and it is very informative. But in a nutshell -- he's made mistakes and learned lots along the way.

[@eddielopez2373]

What a ridiculous thing to say.

[@87rtlandry]

My take away: the guy who wrote arguably one of the worst movies ever put to celluloid, Battlefield Earth can 1. Get an agent and 2. Get a pitch meeting with Ridley Scott. I’m officially motivated.

[@Lailoken2]

They have the story about the Battlefield Earth script on this channel! Check it out.

[@Lailoken2]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKiwlJpslKaIlck