Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

[sc111]

Quote:

My assistant Matt went to the WGA panel last night, and took notes for readers who couldn’t make it.

...Development gets shafted. David Beaubaire warns that you only get one shot at getting a movie through the system. If a script is passed up for greenlight that isn’t ready or doesn’t have a crystal clear idea for the marketing department to sell, that’s the end of the line. No going back into the development cycle for reworking....

...Pre-branded material still rules the game. Amusement park rides, board games (CLUE), comic books will continue to win out over original material. Spink joked that they’re working up a treatment for STAIRMASTER, just because it’s a known entity...

...Marketing is getting more involved in development. This fact sets writer Jonathan Hensleigh (THE ROCK, ARMEGGEDON) on fire. “Scripts can die a death of a thousand cuts when marketing starts giving notes,” ...

...J.C. Spink: Writers have to be talented, collaborative and better at one thing. “Do one thing that distinguishes you.” Sadly, you’re “better off being the mediocre writer who’s good in a room” than the great writer who has a tough time coming out of their shell. ... (sc111 aside: so much for the meritocracy saw.)

....David Beaubaire: As good as a script is, decision makers aren’t reading scripts. His job is to make sure they understand it and want to make it....

Q&A

1. Should writers do unpaid rewrites and polishes before handing in a script to the studio? Across the board, yes. Every panelist, especially Hensleigh, noted that writers have to ignore WGA rules and do as much work as needed to get the script in shape.
2. Does the success of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE change anyone’s viewpoint about what audiences want to see? Across the board, no. Every year Fox Searchlight does a great job marketing a small movie. It’s what they do; we’re in a different business.
3. Is making a short and putting it on Youtube a waste of time? Across the board, yes. Don’t do it. Write something good instead.
4. Biggest turnoffs when reading new material? Across the board: lack of original concept. *

Keep in mind this is an all-male panel of big Hollywood studio filmmakers. Consider other viewpoints before dumping all ideas that aren’t as commercial as THE B TEAM.

http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/notes-on-industry

*sc111: This after saying "Pre-branded material rules the game."

[zenplato]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

I found this to be an interesting statement:

"Competitions, the Nicholl excepted, are useless. There's too many to keep track of. Successful people fail more than they succeed."

[DaltWisney]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

Good stuff. Might be common knowledge for vets, but worth reading.

[Terrance Mulloy]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

Ah crap. Now I gotta start writing comics again.

[ScriptShadow]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

If you're a great writer, write anything you want. If you're an okay writer, make sure it's an awesome concept.

These guys all live in the extreme. Almost every script on the Blacklist is original and different and takes chances. I think something like 65% of the 2006 Blacklist entries were made into films (way above the average for the rest of Hollywood). So don't let these guys influence you too much.

[Popcorntreect]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

I understand the whole "pre-branded material" argument but it's all just a fad. It took really just 2 movies, X-Men and Spider-Man, to kick off the whole comic book craze in Hollywood. Pirates of Caribbean had all the reason in the world to fail but it was the amazing writing that made the movie fun and unique. Board games a bit ridiculous. I would think they would tap more video games to make into movies before they go for board games. I figure a movie based on Halo would be the blockbuster of the year if done right, of course.

The Slumdog Millionaire question seems a little dumb, if we learned anything in 2008 it's that the next Batman movie is guaranteed to make at least $100 million... in the first weekend.

[sc111]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

Does the success of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE change anyone's viewpoint about what audiences want to see? Across the board, no.

I found this across-the-board-no answer really, really dumb.

[Ben]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

I found this to be an interesting statement:

"Competitions, the Nicholl excepted, are useless. There's too many to keep track of. Successful people fail more than they succeed."

Cheers!

[Moviequill]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

Does the success of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE change anyone's viewpoint about what audiences want to see? Across the board, no.

it sure does for studio heads and devellopment execs because they tend to base all their decisions on how a film does box office

[Mac H.]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

Does the success of SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE change anyone’s viewpoint about what audiences want to see? Across the board, no.

I found this across-the-board-no answer really, really dumb.

Why?

According to how many tickets have been sold, the most popular films in decreasing order have been :

The Dark Knight,Shrek 2,Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace,Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest,Spider-Man,Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith,The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,Spider-Man 2,The Passion of the Christ,Jurassic Park,The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,Finding Nemo,Spider-Man 3,Shrek the Third,Transformers,Iron Man,Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone,Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End,Independence Day,Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones,Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire,The Matrix Reloaded,Meet the Fockers,Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,The Incredibles,How the Grinch Stole Christmas,I Am Legend,Monsters, Inc.,Night at the Museum,Men in Black,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,Cars,Bruce Almighty,X-Men: The Last Stand,War of the Worlds,The Lost World: Jurassic Park,Signs,Hancock,The Bourne Ultimatum,Rush Hour 2,WALL-E,National Treasure: Book of Secrets,King Kong,The Da Vinci Code,Kung Fu Panda,Mission: Impossible II,X2: X-Men United,Austin Powers in Goldmember,Three Hundred,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,Ratatouille,Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me,Batman Begins,The Mummy Returns,Superman Returns

The addition of Slumdog millionaire would appear somewhere at the end of this list. It doesn't dramatically change the list - any more than the appearance of 'Rush Hour 2' does.

If you want something on that list that is a REAL outlier, look for 'The Passion of the Christ'.

If we simply look at that list of the top 50 films we find that:
* 80% are based on existing properties
* 92% are either based on existing properties or are Pixar films!

Adding 'Slumdog Millionaire' to the list doesn't change what the smart strategy to making a hit movie is.

Mac
(PS: Although if you want to look at ROI (instead of audience preferences) Slumdog makes more sense. However, you could argue the same using hindsight and any racehorse)

[Naudikom]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

Re: the Slumdog Millionaire answer, to say yes would be to give the impression that everyone needs to rush to their Macbooks and type out the next, well... Slumdog Millionaire.

That would be a tremendous mistake.

Because, as they said, every year there's an indie darling that pushes through and gains widespread appeal - My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Little Miss Sunshine, etc. These were not created through the studio system.

And if you want to be IN the studio system (which, unless you own a DV camera and know how to use it, is probably the way to go), you have to aim for that market. Know your audience.

[ShaneBlackFan]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

Don't spend too much time thinking about what's hot or not, you'll just end up chasing your own tail. Write what YOU want to see, and if it follows current trends, so be it.

[jonpiper]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

If we simply look at that list of the top 50 films we find that:
* 80% are based on existing properties
* 92% are either based on existing properties or are Pixar films!

Adding 'Slumdog Millionaire' to the list doesn't change what the smart strategy to making a hit movie is.

Mac
(PS: Although if you want to look at ROI (instead of audience preferences) Slumdog makes more sense. However, you could argue the same using hindsight and any racehorse)

At this point, I'm not concerned with investing in or producing a hit movie.

Those numbers only confirm that we (unsold writers) shouldn't write a big budget spec script with the hope of selling it. There is next to zero chance of convincing studios and investors to back such an unknown script.

Our only chance for success is a great low to moderate budget screenplay.
That's not too difficult, is it?

[RichMike]

Re: Exerpts from the John August Article Posted today

sometime in Jan 2009, i went through the script sales listed on Done Deal to get an idea of what had sold in the 2nd half of 2008.

i will look for the email. and i know the numbers are not perfect on DD, but out of the scripts that sold, the numbers were staggering that came from source material, mostly books, then remakes, then scripts not generated as specs, and then finally specs.

use the search function to search keywords for "spec".

and then out of the specs in the 2nd half of 2008, i think Shane Salerno had one sci-fi, but many spec sales were comedies of some sort.

so, to write a big budget action spec right now is probably a bad idea (unless it's Dan Mintner) even if you just hope it gets you assignments.

anything low budget, especially comedy, will greatly improve your chances. i know that sounds simple, but look at what's selling.
not sure if i care to brand it as a "fad", it is what it is...a trend, whatever...it's what is SELLING over a given period of time.

and if you go with action, it's gotta be lower cost like Transporter and have a total kickass concept.

i'm more surprised they talked about free rewrites at a WGA panel.

[wcmartell]

Slumdog answer

Yes, there will be more adaptaions of novels made in the UK that are scripted by big UK writers who have written hit movies in the past...

What does that have to do with Hollywood?

Or writers who are not from the UK and have not written a hit movie in the past?

- Bill