So I've been thinking about it, and thinking about it some more, and now I have an official idea what I want to do, and what needs to be done.  A petition on its own means *nothing,* as we fans have learned in the past.  First things first- we, the fans of Spike, need something tangible.  We need a 200-215 page script to present to these people (the directors to whom we will be issuing the Spike movie challenge to), alongside the petition, and a request to Joss, and whoever else owns the character.

There are a lot of brilliant writers on here, and others that we know of who do Spike justice.  I propose a round robin of sorts for the script to the authors who feel that they know Spike best.  However, keep in mind that in canon, we are left with the alley scene with a soul having Spike, so of those of you who like him soulless, sorry, but we're picking up where they officially left off on screen- comic books be damned.

I plan on starting the petition by the end of the day, and will post the link here, and any other Spike or Spuffy groups out there, and I encourage you all to do the same.  In fact, anyone with a valid email (friends, relatives, etc.), get them to sign too if you can.  I figure by the time the fan script is done, there should be thousands of signatures.

So, when the script is done, and the petition is in full swing, I suggest that we post a full page, open letter to the directors that we like, as well as to Joss, whoever else owns Spike, James, and any other characters from the show we feel should be in the film (I'd like to see all four of the characters who were left in the alley personally) in The New York Times, The LA Times (?), and maybe even the Tribune (and since there aren't many, if any of you in Chicago besides me, I, the full time student, will come out of pocket and pay for that my damn self, as long as someone or someones takes care of the East and West coasts) all on the same day.  In addition to the papers, email the exact same letter to media outlets such as Extra and E! Hollywood News, and maybe one of them can talk to those people or one of their reps.

This is not some dream, but a goal you guys.  I am dead serious.  I am a fan who wants her Spike movie, and I'm serious with this plan.  I feel that it's feasible, and if we do it right, I feel like it could be done.  Also, there doesn't have to be a love interest- let's focus on the story- the Spike journey...

So... anyone with me?  Anyone?

:help:

I think your idea is brilliant! I am willing to sign the petition and because I'm not the best writer myself I can offer moral support for those who are going to write this script :) Go you!

i think it's an awesome idea and i will grab as much fan support as i can down here in Jacksonville, Fl, and will be as involved as i can be. I did forget to sign in but I'm Daniel_Nieves, a US Navy sailor who loves Spike, and will do all he can to see a Spike movie in the making.

My cusion is down in Jacksonville too, in the Navy. Not sure if you know him though. I foget hsi rank as well, but last name is Babbs.

Saclet I think this is a wonderful idea and I'm all aboard. As for writing, I think a do a pretty good job at it, lol. But I don't think I can write Spike that well. But I can try. I'll keep an eye on this post for more updates.

Cool beans, everybody.  We need more author suppport though if we're to get this done in a timely fashion, cause time isn't on our side...

I'm certainly willing to help out. :) The only thing is, I can't devote myself full time to it because of school. But if someone wants to outline the plot and have me pick up on it, I'm definitely there.

Ahh... you DO realise that fan fic in itself is copy write infringement, don't you?

Eps, I haven't thought about it like that. *drat* Well is there any other method we can do it by? I mean didn't a fan write the comic with Spike were he gets turned into a puppet? What if we did anoutline of the plot maybe a few pages of it typed out then sent it to Joss. If that's possible see what he thinks of it. Would that be stepping on his toes? At least we're showing him that fans want a Spike movie.

I don't know. I've heard of television writers doing that...writing an unsolicited script for a show they don't work on, in order to get their foot in the door. I would definitely want to look into copyright laws beforehand, however....

Then again...I knew someone who wrote an X-files script and sent it in, and she got a letter back saying they never read scripts, for fear that their writers might unintentionally plagiarize rejected material. This might be the real problem you face with Joss.

Okay, isn't it only copy write infringement if there's payment to the writers of some kind?  I write fan fic anyway, so not being paid for a storyline wouldn't be any skin off my back- labor of love, and all.

And that's what the letter was for- to ask for Joss and whoever else owns the characters for their permission.  Joss basically said that they didn't have the time or the money to do such a film, so if the fans give a helping hand... what's the big there?  We would basically be doing the foot work and whatnot for them.  If he really wants a Spike movie like he said he wanted to do, I don't see him objecting.

Fan fic is very much a copywrite infringement... there are many published authors out there who have had fan fic removed and I believe some have even taken the writers to court... Joss allows us to write fan fic... personally I'd rather no one upset the apple cart and spoiled things for all the rest of us. *shrugs* But that is just my opinion.

Okay... in that case, anyone apart of the whedonesque group, and feel like asking the big man himself?

Anyone interested in writing spec screen/teleplays should check out Jane Espensen's Live Journal Blog.  She not only gives great writing tips, that apply to fic as well as screenplays, but she discusses the ins and outs of how and where to present them.  Of course, I don't know that she has addressed the issue of someone doing a spec screenplay for a TV movie about a character created by someone else.  Usually, her readers are trying to break into TV shows that are still on.

However, she's got the Mutant Enemy experience, so she  might answer a question if someone were to put it in the comments.

Slaymesoftly, do you have the link?

I love Jane's blog - the link is www.janeespenson.com - and I heartily recommend it for writers. Even if you're not writing for TV, you can still pick up plenty of tips. However, you can't leave comments, or even email her, I think. She accepts snail mail letters, though, if you want to contact her.

As far as the fan script goes, I would agree with the copyright infringement concerns. Mainly, I think Joss just wouldn't read it, because then he opens himself up to lawsuits if someone claims he stole an idea from them. That's why Jane will answer questions, but won't read scripts you send her.

Fanfic as copyright infringement is another concern, although less so, I think, since Joss is pretty lenient about it. Also, there's a HUGE difference between writers who submit spec scripts to TV shows, and fans writing a script and saying, "Joss, make this movie for us." The spec writers almost always have an agent, which makes it more legit, and the general rule is that you DON'T submit, for example, a House script to get a job on House. You submit scripts for another show that's similar, which avoids the issue I mentioned above about lawsuits. (It's also helpful from a writing standpoint, but that's not so important to this discussion.)

Thanks for providing the link, Eowyn.

Another small point (or maybe not so small) is that, as kind and encouraging as Joss has been to his fans, in terms of giving free rein for them to write fan fics to their hearts' content, he is also a bit touchy about any suggestion that he would allow them to dictate the direction of his show.  Is he aware that fans want a Spike movie? Of course, he is. It was his idea and he has explored doing it.  Will he take marching orders (or pleas or suggestions) from demanding fans?  Kinda doubt it.  Just think about how irritated you get when a reviewer tries to tell you how to write your fic (see UB's thread) or in what direction your story should go.  Now, imagine you are a well-known and respected, successful and brilliant writer/director/producer - one who is know for being contrary and doing 180's from the direction in which the fans expect a show to go.... I'm just saying.

Perhaps the way to go is for those who are interested to simply write a screenplay as a fanfic exercise and put it out there just as you would any other round-robin fan fic.  If it's good enough, word will get around and perhaps Joss, or someone else in a position to do something about it, will see it and express an interest in hiring some of you.  At least one of his writers on the show (maybe Jane? Either her or Drew) came out of the fan fic realm, I believe.  

It wasn't my intention to demand or plead for Joss to make the film- I was under the impression that because he didn't have backing for it, that he dropped the idea.  And because the idea was dropped, they probably didn't write anything for such a film... Well, screenplay aside, is it possible to do everything else I suggested- mainly issuing the challenge to directors and producers accompanied by a petition?  That was the main problem- getting others on board for the project.  I already know that S. DeKnight wants to write the screenplay, but there isn't anyone really fighting for such a project.  So, should a director or producer say yes, do you think Joss would give DeKnight the green light?

You need to find the money, first and foremost. Joss could get everyone else needed to work on it easy enough, and they could even find a distributor afterwards, but you need to find the money. Theoretically, if one of us won the lottery and handed Joss a couple mil, that's all it would really take. As long as it was quality, the fans would by a direct-to-DVD movie, no problem.

CM

Well I don't see any of us coming into some money in the near future. I'm out of fresh ideas.

First, we need to write the script.

We can deal with everything else later.

I'm with you 800 %

Okay, following up Dead Man Walking's comments, I'll ask again, starting fresh.  Any authors interested? Even partially?

I'm not much of an author, otherwise I'd write it all myself right now.

We should find other sites.

Attack LJ's, see what's crawling.