April
18
2010
Can a non US citizen be a screenwriter in Hollywood?
Is trying to land an American agent legal? Then, if the agent manages to sell a screenplay written by a NON US citizen, would that be fine?
Has anyone here had experience with something similar? I’m working on a screenplay and I’ll want to try and sell it when I’m done.
Image taken on 2006-01-05 18:53:31. Image Source. (Used with permission)
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Tags: citizen, Hollywood, Screenplay, screenwriter
Category: Screenwriting Help | Posted by: brian on April 18, 2010
3 Comments to “Can a non US citizen be a screenwriter in Hollywood?”
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By WRG, April 18, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
If you aren’t in the US working without a work visa then nobody is breaking the law. May scripts come form writers overseas.
By gomanyes, April 18, 2010 @ 2:30 pm
Yes, that is definitely possible. Citizenship is not relevant here.
By Nutritionally Fortified, April 18, 2010 @ 3:03 pm
Yes, but how are you supposed to meet with an agent? Can you afford to fly back and forth? Video conferencing is an option but you need to meet people in person at some point to make sure they are who they say they are and to get a feel for their character.
Also, people can steal your work. Paramount Pictures, for example, has been sued several times for allegedly passing on submitted screenplays by lesser known writers and having them re-written without compensation to the original writer for the idea which is illegal. Work with what you have in your own country first and try to make a name for yourself. Sundance accepts films from all over the world. You could even apply to their screenwriting workshop where they do cover your expenses and you work with famous people in Hollywood.
Contact local film schools, place ads, and get in touch with aspiring directors and actors. Once you have a finished product submit it to all the popular film festivals like Sundance, Telluride, Seattle, etc… That’s where films are bought and sold for major distribution and people earn recognition they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Some of the best films ever made were cheap independent films made outside the U.S., like The Commitments.