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You've heard Oscar Wilde's great line "The worst thing in the world is not getting what you want;the second worst is getting it."
There is some applicability to this little ditty when it comes to actually getting a deal. It's what you've been waiting for. Doesn't matter how you got it--through an agent, manager, production company, development executive you knew in college, your uncle...whatever.
Once all those "No's" you've been hearing turn into a resounding yes you suddenly have to be wary. Somebody, somewhere is going to either want you to work on the cheap or ask for lots of work for nothing or while they're sweet talking you they're already planning on getting you off the project so they can hire (and pay real money) to someone they know (who may not be any good, but is tried and true and will do what they say).
As much as you want and need this deal, don't be naive. If they're calling you or your agent or manager it means they found something they like. This, of course, is good. The thing you need to find out--and this is hard--is to find out how much they like it. If they want to use it to attract a name or hot director, to get him they may need to guarantee that he'll be able to rewrite the script, should he want to.
Same with a star they have in mind. The star may have ideas on how to "improve" the script. The star might be right and have some great insights that'll make the script better. But the star might also have ideas that will alter and ruin your script.
You never know.
You may also be inundated with opinions, notes and attitudes from the various producers on the project. Some will like you. Some you will like. Some won't like you and will do their best to get you off the project so they can bring someone of their choice on.
Not that I'm being negative. Just practical. I'd rather have a deal than not have a deal. I'd rather be arguing with producers and a director than changing the toner for my printer. I'd rather be at the party, than outside looking in.
OK. I'll stop with the analogies.
But remember: when you get the deal, the real work begins.
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