I’m always scratching my head over why obvious duds are dragged unto the screen, while some of the best ideas are left to turn to dust. When I think of all the actors complaining about lines, and discussing if this ‘next big thing’ will be a flop, and probably ruin their career, I wonder which delusional exec signed for it, and why? Are there tax incentives to produce terrible films?
Note to studios: If a screenplay is good, make the film. If it sucks, don’t waste another minute on it.
The annual Blacklist was revealed yesterday. On it, are over seventy of Hollywood’s best? unproduced screenplays. Keep in mind, Best Picture Oscar winners The Kings Speech, Slumdog Millionaire and Argo were once part of this collective.
Here is the link: http://www.blcklst.com/
Some of these sound fascinating, and some sound like they’re going unproduced for a reason. Half of these sound like movies that have already been made, just with some of the nouns changed.
See this is my issue with The Black List…
You will only find them pick scripts that are Oscar bait, or the clever type (the ones with that indie feel) that would get into Sundance.
Because The Black List wants recognition and validation from the industry to become some kind of new entrenched Hollywood standard they can profit off of, rather than truly try and find a great story. One that can be a real four quadrant crowd pleaser.
In other words, you will never see a script like The Last Starfighter or Back to the Future or especially, a new Trek or Star Wars make the Black List final list, or receive good coverage at their site. You will never see an original Space Opera make this list, anymore than you can expect to see one get a best picture nomination.
The sad truth is, studios and the production companies that are left, don’t read original scripts anymore. Look how many of those on the list are either established or with the very best level of representation. If you’re an unsold/unproven writer, even with legitimate representation, it’s almost impossible to get your script not just read and considered and passed on, but just simply read at all. No matter how good a ranking the Black List may give it.
Why? Because of job security. If an exec pushes forward a story that gets greenlit into a movie, and that movie bombs, it’s on him or her. If it’s a story based on a property from other media, be it books, comics, games, then the exec can say it wasn’t their fault if the movie bombed or didn’t meet expectations. They chose the story based on the built in audience the property had already established. And of course, Money. Lots and lots of money.
IMO, the game has changed that screenplays are now only read after a shoot date is set. And that’s a shame. Because we all know that screenwriting is it’s own art form, and there’s some incredible original and successful franchises written for the screen and it is possible. If it wasn’t, the industry wouldn’t be in the process of remaking every hit from ’77-’97.
OR…two documentaries about Jaws? I know Jaws well enough that I’ve seen the making-of’s on the special features of the DVD, but did they really shoot so much unusable footage that they can cut another movie out of it?
I guess hindsight is for 2014.
-Dagobot
Get at me on twitter: @markdago
Like me on THE Facebook: facebook.com/markdagoraps
Download my latest EP for free: markdago.bandcamp.com
Listen to MY podcast http: http://poppundits.libsyn.com