Beating the odds

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  • Beating the odds

    Given the chances of selling a spec script are stacked against a writer are there some genres that have better odds of selling than others?

    I'm thinking of writing a high concept comedy in the vein of Meet the Parents, but I'm leary of investing the time if it's an even longer shot than writing say... a horror script. Then again, I've never writen comedy so the end result might end up being pretty scarey after all.
    ___________________________________
    You're going to need a bigger boat.

  • #2
    Write the script that you feel most passionate about.

    UNLESS

    It's the one about the family who decides to spend the summer out in the country working through family stuff. Skip that one.

    High concept comedies are a good way to go.
    "Entertaining the world is a full time, up at dawn, never ending siege, the likes of which you will never fully understand."
    Billy Thrilly 2005

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    • #3
      I just added a bit to the business section of my website that speaks to this. Your instincts are right in terms of comedy, but only if you're d*mn funny:

      http://home.earthlink.net/~kullervo/

      kullervo

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      • #4
        Re: Beating the odds

        The info below may clarify the prospects a bit, while noting that book rights sales are included here in addition to scripts (but genre appetites are apparent).

        Horror seems to be folded into the Thrillers for the annual breakdown.

        The source is the 12/1 "So You Wanna Sell...." newsletter. You can gain some useful perspective from both breakdowns.
        -- Carlton

        November's Hollywood Sales Breakdown - The Top Selling Genres:

        Drama: 43 sales
        Comedy: 35 sales
        Action: 18 sales
        Horror: 15 sales
        Period: 14 sales

        2004 Hollywood Sales Breakdown - The Top Selling Genres:

        Drama: 478 sales
        Comedy: 317 sales
        Thriller: 154 sales
        Action: 147 sales
        Period: 128 sales

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        • #5
          Re: Beating the odds

          Those aren't spec sales though...

          You're less likely to sell a drama as a spec, and very unlikely to sell a period piece.

          Best choices?

          Comedy
          Thriller
          Horror

          (Includind sub-genres).


          Glenn.

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