Creativexec

[writeway]

Since you seem to have your pulse on the biz - was wondering if 9/11 will make family-friendly scripts more desirable. Obvioiusly, a good vehicle is a good vehicle, but are any of the 'big guy/gal' actors making a concious effort to find family-friendly stuff?

Thx.

[creativexec]

9/11 may matter for a while. And certain story
elements may be questionable, but I find it
unlikely that Americans are going to turn away
from action movies.

There is a proliferation of comedies, historical
scripts, and family stuff on the spec scene now -
with reps unsure of the action spec script market.

Most actors are open to any kind of GOOD
material.

Actually, this could be a good time to go out
with the right kind of action script (no terrorists)
and target those companies who make those
films. It's still hard to say.

Family films (and this doesn't have to mean
little kids and shaggy dogs) are always welcome
and have a broad appeal not just as features
but as TV movies too. It's a bigger market than
penning a hugely expensive action script.

Ultimately, the American audience will make the
final decision.

[writeway]

Thanks. Am polishing a family-friendly piece now - no kids or dogs - just teenagers, their mothers and a cross country chase. :)

[AndyWarholsGhost]

Creative,
Kind of on topic:
Do you feel that Serial Killer flicks have been done to death, or just done poorly, since Silence Of The Lambs? I thought Hannibal was pretty to look at, but lacked heavily in other areas, as did The Watcher.

What are your thoughts? And yeah, I wrote one, cuz I just had to get this story out of my head.

[creativexec]

Yes, I think they've been done to death, but there
are still plenty more in development. I don't see
Hollywood turning away from them just yet.

I'm definitely bored with the genre - unless someone
puts an interesting spin on it.

[AndyWarholsGhost]

I've brought the Tarot Deck into it, and also a love subplot with the killer and a psychic. Would you consider this enough of a twist in today's soggy serial killer bowl? And I really am just asking for an opinion here, not a slitherish way to get you to read it.

Thanks!

AGhost

[creativexec]

Well, I read a lot of scripts - of all genres - that
use Tarot Cards. In the original draft of THE
HEIST - with Ed Norton - they were after a
priceless deck of Tarot Cards.

Ultimately, it's about execution. Your concept
doesn't exactly woo me back over to serial
killer flicks - but if it's well executed someone
will appreciate it.

[richfigel]

I have a dilemma related to 9/11. My script, VEIL OF DECEIT, has won a couple of contests, and a prodco called me the day before the attacks to say they were interested in optioning it. Here's the rub though...

It's about an aspiring actress who's hired by a wealthy MUSLIM woman to be a nanny -- to a doll. Then the woman accuses her of killing the real baby, and the girl must use her acting skills to elude police until she can find out why she was framed.

The answers involve cultural differences, religion and a doomed love affair. Nothing whatsoever to do with terrorism. But the prodco decided to pass because of "the Muslim character and today's climate."

Even before the attacks, some agents and prodcos told me flat out they would not touch anything with Muslims or Islam in it. Some writers suggest I keep the doll/baby hook and drop the Muslim angle completely.

However, in light of the anti-Muslim backlash I feel it would add another layer of suspicion and drama. In fact, part of the frame-up includes having the materialistic American girl wearing the veil and clothes of her Muslim employer -- she literally is put in the shoes of this woman, who will never be looked at the same way after what happened on 9/11.

Also, I can't think of any Hollywood movie that has ever featured a Muslim character who was NOT a terrorist or fanatic. Am I crazy to think that might result in a lot of free publicity for the project?

So I ask you, should I shelve it, take out the Muslim stuff, or try to rewrite it with the subtext of the attacks' aftermath in mind? Having read your past posts, I'm very impressed with your movie knowledge and kind feedback.

Thanks for your time!

Aloha,
Rich Figel

[AndyWarholsGhost]

Creative,
Thanks for the input. I hope that it is well executed, and not executed by firing squad! :-)

Appreciate your time.

AGhost

[Eli Cross]

CE,

I have a couple of quick questions for you. Do you have any suggestions where I could flog a sci-fi comedy that's similar in theme to such films as "Men in Black" and "Galaxy Quest"? And is there still a market for such a creature?

Thanks in advance

[creativexec]

Aloha to you Rich,

Your post doesn't state WHERE the script is set.

Regardless, the fate of America - in the eyes of
Islam - is rather precarious at this time. The
situation could be assuaged or become inflamed.

Since your script puts the Muslim woman in the
role of antagonist - it's safer for execs to keep
their distance.

Hollywood will avoid most Muslim related themes
for awhile.

Why should anyone take a chance with your
story, when there are a zillion other scripts
without the controversy?

My suggestion: change the ethnic orientation.


Good luck!

[creativexec]

Eli,

Are you British? It's rare that anyone use the
word "flog" in the context you have.

"Evolution" didn't fare too well at the box-office.
And MEN IN BLACK 2 is scrambling to change its
climax (which involved the WTC).

I wouldn't say creature comedies are dead yet.

If it's a big-budget movie, you'd be better off
targeting the "summer movie specialists" like
Bruckheimer.

I'd need to have more details on the project,
however, to offer any useful suggestions.

[TravisBickle]

first off, thanks for being so upfront and
helpful with everyone on the board. a quick quesiton...

how do you feel about writers putting their films in the context of other movies? as in it's 'blade runner' meets 'american beauty', etc.

does that bother you or your peers?

thanks for reading.

travis

[creativexec]

I use the hybrid ALL the time.

It's the best way to put across the concept of
a story as well as the tone. A hybrid can capture
the essence and spirit of your screenplay.

I have read that it isn't used in the industry
anymore.

But, it seems to me that I work in the industry,
and I hear people use it often.

[Eli Cross]

CE,

No I ain't British, mate! I'm a Canuck. My vocabulary is just a tad retro, that's all.

The project I speak of is relatively low budget by Hollywood standards. Approx. 30-50 mil. The main characters (three aliens) would be CGI or audioanimatronic. This would mean that the leads would be doing all voice over. The script is 120 pages and would involve a good amount of computer generated sets and effects. The scenes are a fairly even blend of day and night shoots, most taking place in a desert locale similar to Arizona.

The plot is an alternate truth to the myth surrounding the Roswell UFO incident. It follows the misadventures of three aliens who are forced to flee their home world after reneging on a debt to a ruthless intergalactic crime lord. Their flight lands them in Roswell, New Mexico where their search for a safe haven from the ganglords relentless minions leads to them becoming the central historical figures in the infamous Roswell UFO landing of 1947 and the first permanent residents of Area 51.

I suck at loglines, I know! I hope this helps.

Thanks again

[WriterGirl72]

Rich Figel --

That really sucks that they called to option it the day before. We all wait years for something like that to happen, and then...

Ordinarily, I'd say, don't change everything...just wait and see what happens. But I do think the Muslim angle will be kind of iffy for a while. My completely amateur view would be to give her a different ethnicity or religion, if you can find one that works.

[creativexec]

I'm a little Canuck myself.

That story sounds fairly universal. Don't limit
yourself. Query every prodco that has the
funds to produced that kind of flick.

Let THEM determine whether or not it's
for them. Why limit yourself?

[Eli Cross]

CE,

Thanks, eh. So like what part of Canada are you from, eh? Cheronta?

But seriously...thanks for the response. I take it by your reply that you like the story. So one more question and I'll leave you alone, promise...at least for a while. What is your opinion of the logline? Is it good enough to "flog" about town? Or does it need something more?

Next time your in Southern Ontario the back bacon and beer's on me! Touques to you!

Good day

PS: As you might've guessed this is the script I bitched Storybay out about in my first post (pub4.ezboard.com/fdonedea...D=61.topic (http://pub4.ezboard.com/fdonedealfrm22.showMessage?topicID=61.topic) )and you asked me to keep you posted on it.

[creativexec]

I'm not from Canada, per se. However, my father's
people settled in Nova Scotia - from New England -
in 1766. Most of my grandfather's sibs and their
decendents live in (and around) a "rural" town called
Hansport. I visited in the late 70's.

Your idea is interesting (especially your revisionist
Area 51 stuff) and amusing. A good spin.

Without clogging your log line, it would be good to
know how the aliens mingle with earthlings.

To ease up on your log line, you could probably
excise words like "home" (since "their world" will
suffice). You could lose the term "ruthless". He
is, after all, a crime lord. Kill "relentless minions".
Just say gang lord.

I, personally, am always wary of "alien" scripts,
because they're often very cheesy. Oddly,
aliens are a favorite topic for newbies.

[Eli Cross]

CE,

Thanks again. Some good advice. The challenge for me has always been to come up with loglines and synopsis' that would make the script sound like the unique, well told and funny story that it is, and not cheesy. The focus of the story is the characters and their dilemma. There's very little tech-speak in it and no scientific theorizing. The aliens and their world are handled in a very tongue and cheek way with a slight pop culture sensibility. I guess if you just look at the surface elements of the story it would appear cheesy. But then again what sci-fi wouldn't?

I'll keep you updated on it's progress. Who knows it might end up on your desk someday.

[AndyWarholsGhost]

I think CE is right about the hybrid thing. It's now being used in my newly redone query letter (thanks to an outside reader's help in it), and it seems to be making the world of difference so far.

four requests came back for the script, the first day the query went out via email.

Just don't pick movies that blew chunks= My adventure script is like Supernova meets Hellraiser 5. :)

[Eli Cross]

Personally I like the hybrid thing too. But there are some prodcos that don't like it. I guess you have to research your prospective contacts and find out what they like and don't like.

The prodco I'm pitching to is very picky about what is in the query letter you send to them. I mean REALLY PICKY! But fortunately they've posted an extensive do's and don't's list on their site which makes it a lot easier to tailor make the letter to what they want. The info is very useful in a broad sense as well.