Archive for the ‘Industry News’ Category

Information Gold Mine

Wednesday, March 24th, 20102010-03-24T19:32:31Zl, F jS, Y

Good morning, Effers! I wanted to pass along to you some news I received from my friend Jason Scoggins and that is that the subscription prices for It’s on the Grid are going up as of April 1.

So if you were planning to sign up and see whether the site is something you’d use on a regular basis, now’s the time: Everyone who registers between now and April 1 will get the current, introductory pricing for as long as they stay a subscriber.

There’s a risk-free three-day free trial so you can play with the site for a couple of days to see if it’s something you’d use. If not, just email Jason and have your account deactivated.

Last week It’s on the Grid launched a cool new enhancement that makes it even easier to browse the following offerings:

576 open writing assignments, out of a total of 1886 projects
4884 entertainment industry professionals (agents, managers, writers, directors, executives, producers, etc.)
1034 companies (primarily agencies, management companies, production companies, studios and other buyers)

I know I couldn’t do without It’s on the Grid so if you want to take advantage and subscribe before the prices go up, you can do so HERE.

1 Comment | Category: Industry News

Eff the Academy Awards

Friday, March 5th, 20102010-03-05T22:32:01Zl, F jS, Y

Yeah. I said it. I’m boycotting this year. Sure I’m in a totally different time zone and continent, making viewing a big pain in the bum. Sure I’m tempted to see Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin co-host the telecast but I gotta tell ya – AVATAR in the Best Picture category – plus the plethora of other movies now that we’ve bumped the nominees to 10 is just – it’s too much for me this year. A healthy amount of outrage makes watching the Oscars fun but this year I’m just plain over it. Over. It.

I think the Oscars have reached a real nadir. Five words and three punctuation marks: THE BLIND SIDE? Best Picture?! Three of my favorite movies of 2009 were nowhere on the major nominations list: (500) DAYS OF SUMMER, ADVENTURELAND and THE LOVELY BONES. Dudes, I quit. I really do. What does it all mean?!

For me it confirms what has been a suspicion of mine for many years…that the Academy is irrelevant. Seems like each year there’s some kind of sweep, and it’s just dull sitting there watching it happen. I’m not saying AVATAR wasn’t a good movie and I’m not saying it will sweep (but it might) but – BEST PICTURE?

So you’re saying to me, Academy members, that AVATAR – no, no, THE BLIND SIDE belongs in the same sentence with best picture noms/wins like: AMERICAN BEAUTY, FROM HERE TO ETERNITY AND SILENCE OF THE LAMBS? Uttered in the same breath as RAIN MAN, MILLION DOLLAR BABY or AMADEUS?

All right. Full disclosure. I haven’t seen it. That’s right. I HAVEN’T SEEN IT. And I don’t plan to. I never see movies in which the story is 100% evident in the trailer. Simmer down in the back, I still feel pretty damn confident about my gut on this movie.

Anyway, so maybe this clammy London weather is making me cranky, or maybe I took the words of Henri to heart when he said I should come across as “less nice” – so okay fine, you asked for it, you got it!

Burnt cupcakes for everybody!

How was that? I wasn’t convinced either. Damn it! I’ll try again next time I get really annoyed!

Of course, this being a very subjective business, I try to temper my opinions on things like the Oscars just a bit – publicly. I don’t think you’d want to watch the Oscars with me this year. Unless you’re fond of seeing Ladies Lose it Somewhat. But those who know me well know I never pull my punches. Blunt is my middle name. Well – actually it’s Eustace but you get my drift.

So that’s my rant on this year’s Academy Awards. Here’s another one.

What are your Oscar beefs, hopes or praises this year? What movies are missing, in your opinion? Overrated? Or just right? Is AVATAR going to sweep?

Washingwood, by Steve Faber

Monday, February 15th, 20102010-02-16T02:28:33Zl, F jS, Y

Hello everybody! Just spent some time with one of my favorite people in the world – Steve Faber. It’s not just that he’s a fan of my cooking or that he keeps my teenager in line, no, Steve is also one of the smartest people I have ever had the privilege to befriend. Plus he of course wrote “Married With Children” and WEDDING CRASHERS. And he smells nice.

Steve’s just started to write a regular column for the Huffington Post entitled Washingwood, which features Steve’s thoughts (and experience) in DC and the crossover between Hollywood and politics.

Do yourself a favor and check out his column and add it to your feeds. I promise you’ll be highly effing entertained and will probably learn a thing or two.

You can find Steve’s column here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-faber

Or by simply clicking HERE.

That is all. Now get back to work.

2009 and 1939: 70 Years of Film

Thursday, February 4th, 20102010-02-04T20:19:07Zl, F jS, Y

Good morning, everybody! If you didn’t get a chance to catch it live, Gary Goldstein and I had a great conversation today on Blog Talk Radio, about this year’s Academy Award noms and trends at the box office. If you missed it, you can listen HERE. I for one cannot believe this is the 82nd Academy Awards. Wow.

As we talked about box office history Gary reminded me that GONE WITH THE WIND, released on December 15, 1939 by MGM, still holds the all-time box office record  which, adjusted for inflation is 1.5 billion dollars. Let me say that again – ONE POINT FIVE BILLION DOLLARS. The cost of going to a movie at that time was 5¢ for a matinee and 10¢ for an evening showing. So that’s quite a lot of behinds in seats, huh?! Actually 1939 is said to be one of the best years for film releases that Hollywood has ever had. MGM released the other color juggernaut that year as well – THE WIZARD OF OZ – in August, 1939. Actually, GWTW kicked the Wiz’s behind at both the box office and the Academy Awards, beating it out for best picture. The Wizard of Oz only grossed $17M domestic. And that’s adjusted for inflation.

The 1939 Academy Awards have something in common with the 2010 Academy Awards: Both nominated 10 movies in the Best Picture category. Interesting parallel. And it struck me that from a technical standpoint, THE WIZARD OF OZ was the AVATAR of 1939.

Like AVATAR, THE WIZARD OF OZ, directed by Victor Fleming, was a game changer. Not only because it was filmed in Technicolor but because it went FROM black and white TO color. Even to this day, that moment is so magical.  But here’s where GWTW and THE WIZARD OF OZ, two of the most iconic films ever made, differ from the record of Cameron. They were released within four months of one another and were both directed by Fleming.

Whereas AVATAR has been nominated for best picture and so was the Wiz, I have a funny feeling AVATAR might win. No comment on how I feel about that although there’s your hint. Three of my favorite films in 2009 went without nominations: THE LOVELY BONES, ADVENTURELAND, and (500) DAYS OF SUMMER. It’s clearly the end times because this is ridiculousity.

The 1939 Best Picture nominations were:

THE WIZARD OF OZ
GONE WITH THE WIND
DARK VICTORY (geez, wow, this is the THE BLIND SIDE of 1939, seriously)
GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS
LOVE AFFAIR
MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON
NINOTCHKA
OF MICE AND MEN
STAGECOACH
WUTHERING HEIGHTS

82nd Academy Award Nominations

Tuesday, February 2nd, 20102010-02-02T17:44:35Zl, F jS, Y

….and let the arguing commence! So what do Effers think about this new nominating 10 movies for best picture? Does it open up the competition or bog it down?

1. Best Picture: AVATAR, THE BLIND SIDE, DISTRICT 9, AN EDUCATION, HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE, A SERIOUS MAN, UP, UP IN THE AIR

2. Actor: Jeff Bridges, CRAZY HEART; George Clooney, UP IN THE AIR; Colin Firth, A SINGLE MAN; Morgan Freeman, INVICTUS; Jeremy Renner, THE HURT LOCKER

3. Actress: Sandra Bullock, THE BLIND SIDE; Helen Mirren, THE LAST STATION; Carey Mulligan, AN EDUCATION; Gabourey Sidibe, PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE; Meryl Streep, JULIE & JULIA

4. Supporting Actor: Matt Damon, INVICTUS; Woody Harrelson, THE MESSENGER; Christopher Plummer, THE LAST STATION; Stanley Tucci, THE LOVELY BONES; Christoph Waltz, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS

5. Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, NINE; Vera Farmiga, UP IN THE AIR; Maggie Gyllenhaal, CRAZY HEART; Anna Kendrick, UP IN THE AIR; Mo’Nique, PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE

6. Directing: James Cameron, AVATAR; Kathryn Bigelow, THE HURT LOCKER; Quentin Tarantino, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; Lee Daniels, PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE; Jason Reitman, UP IN THE AIR

7. Foreign Language Film: AJAMI, Israel; EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS, Argentina; THE MILK OF SORROW, Peru; UN PROPHETE, France; THE WHITE RIBBON, Germany.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, DISTRICT 9; Nick Hornby, AN EDUCATION; Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, IN THE LOOP; Geoffrey Fletcher, PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE; Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner, UP IN THE AIR

9. Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, THE HURT LOCKER; Quentin Tarantino, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS; Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, THE MESSENGER; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, A SERIOUS MAN; Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Tom McCarthy, UP

10. Animated Feature Film: CORALINE; FANTASTIC MR. FOX; THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG; THE SECRET OF KELLS; UP

11. Art Direction: AVATAR, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, NINE, SHERLOCK HOLMES, THE YOUNG VICTORIA

12. Cinematography: AVATAR, HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE, THE HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, THE WHITE RIBBON

13. Sound Mixing: AVATAR, THE HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, STAR TREK, TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

14. Sound Editing: AVATAR, THE HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, STAR TREK, UP

15. Original Score: AVATAR, James Horner; FANTASTIC MR. FOX, Alexandre Desplat; THE HURT LOCKER, Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders; SHERLOCK HOLMES, Hans Zimmer; UP, Michael Giacchino

16. Original Song: “Almost There” from THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, Randy Newman; “Down in New Orleans” from THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG, Randy Newman; “Loin de Paname” from PARIS 36, Reinhardt Wagner and Frank Thomas; “Take It All” from NINE, Maury Yeston; “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from CRAZY HEART, Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett

17. Costume: BRIGHT STAR, COCO BEFORE CHANEL, THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS, NINE, THE YOUNG VICTORIA

18. Documentary Feature: BURMA VJ; THE COVE; FOOD, INC.; THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS; WHICH WAY HOME

19. Documentary (short subject): CHINA’S UNNATURAL DISASTER: THE TEARS OF SICHUAN PROVINCE, THE LAST CAMPAIGN OF GOVERNER BOOTH GARDNER, THE LAST TRUCK: CLOSING OF A GM PLANT, MUSIC BY PRUDENCE, RABBIT A LA BERLIN

20. Film Editing: AVATAR, DISTRICT 9, THE HURT LOCKER, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS, PRECIOUS: BASED ON THE NOVEL ‘PUSH’ BY SAPPHIRE

21. Makeup: IL DIVO, STAR TREK, THE YOUNG VICTORIA

22. Animated Short Film: FRENCH ROAST, GRANNY O’GRIMM’S SLEEPING BEAUTY, THE LADY AND THE REAPER (LA DAMA Y LA MUERTE), LOGORAMA, A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH

23. Live Action Short Film: THE DOOR, INSTEAD OF ABRACADABRA, KAVI, MIRACLE FISH, THE NEW TENANTS

24. Visual Effects: AVATAR, DISTRICT 9, STAR TREK

1 Comment | Category: Industry News

MovieMaker Magazine Mention

Wednesday, January 27th, 20102010-01-28T02:55:21Zl, F jS, Y

Well Effers, I am so proud because Just Effing was named one of the best 50 blogs on screenwriting by MovieMaker Magazine.

I am very honored. You Effers already know the story of this blog and how when I began it three years ago I had no idea anyone was reading it at all until, 200,000 words later I realized I’d written an entire book and that along the way, readers from places like ICM, WME, Disney, Fox and Sony were bookmarking the blog. We’ve had our ups (short scene competitions) and downs (me being gone for weeks in the Middle East and not blogging) but a whole lot of fun lies ahead for Just Effing and I thank everybody for being along for the ride.

Oh, oh and before I forget, MovieMaker is running a special on subscriptions of only a dollar per issue for blog readers. Click HERE for that.

That is all. Now get back to work.

Did Reitman REALLY Write UP IN THE AIR

Wednesday, January 20th, 20102010-01-21T02:08:23Zl, F jS, Y

From the LA Times a few short days ago:

In Michael Tolkin’s script for the 1992 Hollywood satire THE PLAYER, studio executive Griffin Mill (Tim Robbins) strangles a screenwriter he believes is trying to blackmail him.

It hasn’t gotten that gruesome in Hollywood. But for some involved in the script business these days, the movie’s arc may feel a little too familiar.

Click HERE to read the rest of the article.

Life on the Bubble 2009 OWA Report

Tuesday, January 12th, 20102010-01-13T00:22:36Zl, F jS, Y

What a busy news day we’re having on JFEME! This one is important, guys – my friend, literary manager Jason Scoggins, the creator of Life on the Bubble, has just posted part three of his OWA breakdown for 2009. OWAs are open writing assignments – something VERY hard to track – but Jason, with his connections, has managed to do so and make it public for the first time ever. It’s a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of what’s going on in Hollywood. I know it’s not as fun as talking about donuts and writing great characters but we do need to take our Reality Medicine once in awhile, right?

So thanks to Jason for providing us all with such an informative and critical piece of the puzzle! Check it out HERE!

The Black List

Friday, December 11th, 20092009-12-11T21:31:57Zl, F jS, Y

It’s here! The Black List for 2009!

THE BLACK LIST

1

THE MUPPET MAN by Christopher Weekes

“The life story and tragic early death of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Bill Weinstein, Adriana Alberghetti

MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Britton Rizzio, Lawrence Mattis, Kelly McCormack

Jim Henson Company producing.

2

THE SOCIAL NETWORK by Aaron Sorkin

“The story of the founders of the social networking website Facebook and how overnight

success and wealth changed their lives.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Ari Emanuel, Jason Spitz

Sony. Scott Rudin Productions, Michael De Luca Productions, Cean Chaffin, and Dana

Brunetti producing.

3

THE VOICES by Michael Perry

“A disturbed man attempts to walk the straight-and-narrow while receiving advice from

his ‘talking’ pets.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Charlie Ferraro, Jenny Maryasis

MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan, Sean Perrone

Vertigo Entertainment producing.

4

PRISONERS by Aaron Guzikowski

“After his six-year-old daughter and her friend are kidnapped, a small town carpenter

butts heads with a young, brash detective in charge of the investigation. Feeling

failed by the law, he captures the man he believes responsible, holding him captive in

a desperate attempt to find out what he did with the girls, whom he’s convinced are

still alive. But the further he’s forced to go to get the man to confess, the closer he

comes to losing his soul.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – David Karp, Rich Cook, Adam Levine

MANAGER Madhouse Entertainment

Warner Brothers. Alcon Entertainment, Madhouse Entertainment and Kira Davis producing.

5

CEDAR RAPIDS by Phil Johnston

“After his co-worker dies from auto-erotic asphyxiation, an emotionally stunted

insurance salesman from small town Wisconsin takes the man’s place at the division

insurance convention in Iowa City, IA, only to find himself coming out of his shell as

he bonds with his fellow conventioneers and gradually uncovers a money laundering

scheme involving his employer.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Jason Burns

MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Eryn Brown

Fox Searchlight. Ad Hominem Enterprises producing.

6

LONDONGRAD by David Scarpa

“Based on the book by Alan Cowell. The story of the life and subsequent poisoning death

of Alexander Litvinenko, a former officer of the Russian Federal Security Service, who

escaped prosecution in Russia and received political asylum in the United Kingdom.”

AGENT HML – Bob Hohman, Bayard Maybank, Devra Lieb

Warner Brothers. Initial Entertainment Group and Infinitum Nihil producing.

7

L.A. REX by Will Beall

“Based on the author’s book of the same name. A young gangster goes to work in the LAPD

as a mole investigating a crime against the head of the Mexican mafia but learns more

about justice than he expected from his seasoned partner.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Shari Smiley, Jay Baker

MANAGER Management 360 – Darin Friedman

Scott Rudin Productions producing.

8

DESPERADOS by Ellen Rapoport

“After a woman sends an indignant email to her new beau, who’s gone radio silent postsex,

she discovers he’s comatose in a Mexican hospital and races south of the border

with her friends in tow to intercept the email before he recovers.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Jessica Matthews

MANAGER Management 360 – Susan Bymel, Daniel Rapoport

Universal Pictures. Blumhouse and the Mark Gordon Company producing.

9

THE GUNSLINGER by John Hlavin

“A tough ex-Texas Ranger has unfinished business with the Mexican gangsters who

tortured his brother to death, and when they kidnap his brother’s young son, he comes

after them with everything he has got.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Jason Burns

MANAGER Benderspink – Jill McElroy, Charlie Gogolak

Warner Brothers. Mad Chance Productions producing.

10

BY WAY OF HELENA by Matthew Cooke

“A Texas Ranger and his wife move to a frontier town to investigate the disappearance

of Mexicans in the area, and soon find themselves caught in the cult of personality

that rules the area.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, Danny Gabai

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Keith Redmon, Bard Dorros

Sergei Gordeev producing.

THE DAYS BEFORE by Chad St. John

“A man who possesses a time travel device uses it to go back in time to prevent an

alien invasion.”

AGENT International Creative Management – Lars Theriot, Ava Jamshidi

Warner Brothers. Hollywood Gang Productions producing.

11

DOC AND HOWIE WHACK A GRANNY by Steve Leff

“Two men, Doc and Howie, inadvertently kill an elderly woman when they neglect to help

her carry groceries up stairs. The incident puts them in position to get closer to the

woman’s attractive granddaughters, and they struggle with deciding whether to tell the

women the truth about the circumstances under which they met.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Doug Johnson

MANAGER Rain Management Group – Jonathan Baruch, Geoff Silverman

The Montecito Picture Company producing.

12

WHEN CORRUPTION WAS KING by Frank Baldwin

“A scrappy lawyer from Chicago’s South Side rises to be a trusted attorney for the

Outfit – the mob that controls the city through an elaborate web of bribery, voterigging

and violence – until he turns state’s witness and brings the whole corrupt

system to its knees.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts

MANAGER Leverage Management – Michael Prevett

Paramount Pictures. Temple Hill Entertainment producing.

PAWN SACRIFICE by Steve Knight

“The life story of chess legend Bobby Fischer leading up to his historic world

championship match against Boris Spassky.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Brian Siberell, Sally Willcox

Sony Pictures. Maguire Entertainment producing.

13

TOY’S HOUSE by Chris Galletta

“When fourteen year old Joe Toy and his buddies tire of their parents overbearing ways,

they decide to build their own house in the woods, away from the restraints of the

lives they have come to know.”

AGENT The Gersh Agency – Carolyn Sivitz

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Bard Dorros

Big Beach Productions

14

MIXTAPE by Stacey Menear

“A thirteen year old outcast finds a mixtape that belonged to the deceased parents she

never knew, accidentally destroys it, and uses the song list to go on a journey to find

all the music in an attempt to get to know her parents.”

AGENT Paradigm – Ida Ziniti, Valarie Phillips

MANAGER Parallax Talent Management – Jim Wedaa

Jim Wedaa producing.

15

THE ISOLATE THIEF by Kevin Leffler

“In the dead of winter in the middle of the U.S. Civil War, a young man tries to hide

the gold he stole from rogue soldiers who have taken over his remote house.”

AGENT International Creative Management – Aaron Hart

MANAGER Energy Entertainment – Brooklyn Weaver, Adam Marshall

Hawk Koch producing.

BOOK SMART by Emily Halpern and Sarah Haskins

“Two overachieving high school seniors realize the only thing they haven’t accomplished

is having boyfriends, and each resolves to find one by prom.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Lis Rowinski, Sharon Sheinwold (Halpern)

United Talent Agency – Kassie Evashevski, Rio Hernandez (Haskins)

Fox. Handsomecharlie Films producing.

MOTOR CITY by Chad St. John

“A small time hood is framed and sent to prison, only to exact revenge years later.”

AGENT International Creative Management – Lars Theriot, Ava Jamshidi

Warner Brothers. Dark Castle Entertainment producing.

THEY FALL BY NIGHT by Zach Baylin

“A burned out detective investigates the kidnapping of a socialite couple’s child.”

AGENT International Creative Management – Aaron Hart

MANAGER Mosaic – Brent Lilley

Di Bonaventura Pictures producing

16

CELESTE & JESSE FOREVER by Rashida Jones and Will McCormack

“A divorcing couple tries to maintain their friendship while they both pursue other

people.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Keya Khayatian (Jones)

Gersh – David Kopple, Lindsay Porter (McCormick)

MANAGER Brillstein Entertainment Partners – Andrea Pett-Joseph (Jones)

Overture. Team Todd producing.

NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH by Jared Stern

“A suburban ‘neighborhood watch’ group, actually a front for dads to get some male

bonding time away from the family, uncovers a plot bent on destroying the world.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Jeff Gorin

MANAGER Industrial Entertainment – Helena Hayman

Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment – Marc Provissiero

Fox. 21 Laps Entertainment producing.

CONVICTION by Jonathan Herman

“After serving five years in prison after a botched heist, a mastermind bank robber is

forced by a tenacious FBI agent to entrap his former protege who has embarked on a

multi-million-dollar bank-robbing spree.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola

MANAGER Luber/Roklin – Stephen Crawford

Warner Brothers. Silver Pictures producing.

17

BEST ACTRESS by Michael Zam and Jaffe Cohen

“The story of the infamous career-long battle between screen legends Joan Crawford and

Bette Davis, focusing on the on-set experience of the only film they ever made together

WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Adriana Alberghetti, Kimberly Bialek

MANAGER Artist Talent Management – Renee Tab

Plan B Entertainment producing.

BETTY’S READY by Jaylynn Bailey

“After she discovers that her boyfriend is gay, a high schooler, determined to lose her

virginity before she goes to college, pursues several possible ‘candidates’ before she

finds love with her geeky neighbor, who has always loved her.”

AGENT Hohman Maybank Lieb – Bob Hohman, Bayard Maybank, Devra Lieb

MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Britton Rizzio, Noah Rosen

THE SITTER by Brian Gatewood and Alessandro Tanaka

“A suspended college student, living at home with his single mom, is talked into babysitting

the three, young kids next door.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Keya Khayatian, Charlie Ferraro

MANAGER Brillstein Entertainment Partners – Eryn Brown

Fox. Michael De Luca Productions.

Z FOR ZACHARIAH by Nissar Modi

“A sixteen-year-old girl named Ann Burden survives a nuclear war in a small American

town..”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Jay Baker, Josh Krauss

MANAGER Energy Entertainment – Angelina Chen, Brooklyn Weaver

Zik Zak Filmworks producing.

WENCESLAS SQUARE by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely

“Based on the Arthur Phillips short story. Two spies fall in love while participating

in separate Cold War missions in Prague during the 1980s.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Charlie Ferraro, Keya Khayatian

Endgame Entertainment and This American Life producing.

18

BALLS OUT by The Robotard 8000 (Tim Talbott and Malcolm Spellman)

“When insurance salesman Jim Simmers has a near death experience, he decides that

nothing matters except getting a promotion, a new car, and the hot girl from work.

Jim’s new attitude alienates his friends and co-workers, and he must figure out how to

live his new life without losing his old one.”

AGENT Paradigm – Trevor Astbury, Mark Ross

MANAGER The Schiff Company – Nicole Romano

BURIED by Chris Sparling

“A civilian contractor in Iraq is kidnapped and awakens to find himself buried in a

coffin in the desert.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Charlie Ferraro, Doug Johnson

MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan, Sean Perrone

Dark Trick Films, The Safran Company, Versus Entertainment producing.

THE DIVERSIFICATION OF NOAH MILLER by Adam Cole-Kelly and Sam Pitman

“A liberal New Yorker realizes he isn’t as open-minded as he thinks he is and sets out

to make a black friend.”

AGENT William Morris Entertainment – Mike Esola, Bill Weinstein

MANAGER Management 360 – Darin Friedman

34th Street Films, Radar Pictures producing.

THE GIRL WITH THE RED RIDING HOOD by David Leslie Johnson

“A Gothic imagining of the classic fairy tale in which a young woman is confronted by a

werewolf, this time with a teenage love triangle at its center.”

AGENT Paradigm – Chris Smith

Warner Brothers. Appian Way Productions producing.

MY MOTHER’S CURSE by Dan Fogelman

“The young inventor of a new organic cleaning product invites his mother on a crosscountry

road trip as he tries to sell his product to marketing outlets. His ulterior

motive is to reunite her with a man she loved when she was young, and her motive is to

help him overcome his ‘curse’ of non-commitment in relationships, for which she blames

herself.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Danny Greenberg

MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Eryn Brown

Paramount Pictures. Michaels Goldwyn producing.

RESTLESS by Jason Lew

“A tale of young love between a teenage boy and girl who share a preoccupation with

mortality.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Adam Levine

MANAGER Crestview Entertainment – Eric Black

Sony Pictures. Imagine Entertainment producing.

STREETS ON FIRE by Justin Britt-Gibson

“Two cops, reluctantly partnered, try to bring down a drug syndicate while navigating

the streets of Chicago.”

AGENT The Gersh Agency – Sean Barclay

MANAGER Media Talent Group – Chris Davey

Katalyst Films producing.

TAKE THIS WALTZ by Sarah Polley

“A young woman struggles with her infidelities and the budding realization that she may

be addicted to the honeymoon period of her relationships.”

AGENT William Morris Agency – Gaby Morgerman

MANAGER D/F Management – Frank Frattaroli

Susan Cavan producing.

THE TRADE by Dave Mandel

“The true story of two New York Yankees pitchers who caused a national scandal when

they swapped wives in the early 70s.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Bill Weinstein, Jeff Gorin, Phil Raskind

Warner Brothers. Idealogy producing.

WHATEVER GETS YOU THROUGH THE NIGHT by Morgan Foehl

“After ten years on the run from the mob, the son of a mob lawyer must choose between

prison and helping the man who killed his mother.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola, Lisa Hallerman

MANAGER Wirehouse Entertainment – Jessica Jordan

19

BAYTOWN DISCO by Barry Battles and Griffin Hood

“Three redneck brothers get in over their heads when they agree to help a woman kidnap

her son back from his seemingly evil father.”

AGENT Agency for the Performing Arts – Sheryl Peterson, Debbie Deuble Hill

MANAGER Elevate Entertainment – Jenny Wood

JIMI by Max Borenstein

“The life story of rock legend Jimi Hendrix.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Keya Khayatian, Jon Huddle, Rebecca Ewing

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Adam Kossack, Bard Dorros

Legendary Pictures. Billy Gerber producing.

LOVESTRUCK by Annabel Oakes

“Cynical best friends Amelia and Ruth love nothing more than to ridicule romance. When

they take it one step too far at their friend’s wedding, they are sentenced to a fate

worse than death – becoming heroines in their own romantic comedy.”

AGENT Untitled Talent Agency – Rio Hernandez, Jon Huddle

MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Sean Perrone, Bryan Miller

Apparatus producing.

THE GUYS GIRL by Nick Confalone and Neal Dusedau

“Three male best friends realize they’re each in love with their mutual female best

friend when she gets engaged.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Blair Kohan, Rio Hernandez

MANAGER 3 Arts Entertainment – Greg Walter

Ternion producing.

RITES OF MEN by Jonathan Herman

“When a working class dad’s only son is murdered, he sets out to discover who is

responsible.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola

MANAGER Luber/Roklin – Stephen Crawford

Universal Pictures.

SHIMMER LAKE by Oren Uziel

“As a small-town bank-theft job slowly unravels, it proves to involve virtually

everyone, from an ex-meth-lab runner to a crooked prosecutor and his vengeful cop

brother.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Bryan Besser

MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Britton Rizzio

Fox. Josephson Entertainment producing.

SMILE, RELAX, ATTACK by Eli Attie

“A young, ambitious political consultant finds himself in over his head when his first

big client – an incumbent Democratic Virginia Senator – becomes the subject of national

scrutiny by both Parties.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Bryan Besser

Mandate Pictures. Idealogy producing.

20

BOBBY MARTINEZ by Ric Roman Waugh

“A coming-of-age biopic about the titular Mexican-American surfer. Martinez rose out of

the gang-ridden streets of Southern California to become a hero to his community when

he swept every major amateur surfing tournament in his first year of competition and

won the ASP Rookie of the Year honors in his first pro season.”

AGENT International Creative Management – Nicole Clemens, Harley Copen, Nick Reed

MANAGER Management 360 – Darin Friedman

State Street Pictures and Participant Media producing.

GOOD LOOKING by Chris McCoy

“In a future where dating services perfectly match soulmates, a man rejects the person

chosen for him.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Brian Siberell, Sally Willcox

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Shawn Simon

Dreamworks. Double Feature Films producing.

LIARS (A-E) by Emma Forrest

“A twenty-nine year old woman on the way to President Obama’s inauguration stops to

retrieve lost items from her ex-boyfriend in the hope of getting over her most recent

heartache.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts

Casaratto – Eleanor Burns

Miramax. Scott Rudin Productions producing.

A FISTFUL OF QUARTERS: THE LEGEND OF NOLAN BUSHNELL by Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman

“The rise of Nolan Bushnell, father of the videogame industry, who started Atari in the

70s.”

AGENT Original – Jordan Bayer

MANAGER Principato Young Management – Paul Young, George Heller

Paramount Pictures. Appian Way Productions producing.

JIMMY SIX by Daniel Casey

“The screw-up son of a murdered mobster goes with a hitman to exact revenge on the

informer who sent his father to his death.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola

MANAGER Circle of Confusion – Noah Rosen

Whitewater Films producing.

CORSICA 72 by Neil Purvis and Robert Wade

“On the island of Corsica in 1972, childhood best friends Marco and Sauveur find their

lives veering in opposite directions – the first towards the Mafia, the second toward

a simpler life with his beloved, Lucia. When the Corsican mob kills Sauveur’s brother,

they ignite a tit-for-tat blood feud that inevitably leads toward a final showdown.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Jeremy Barber

Ruby Films producing.

THE STORM by Richard Taylor and Bryan Bagby

“A bounty hunter and his prey must unite to take on an evil sheriff and his posse in a

lawless Wyoming town.”

AGENT The Gersh Agency – Carolyn Sivitz

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Bard Dorros

Simon Brooks producing.

21

ARTHUR by Peter Baynham

“Based on the 1981 film of the same name. A spoiled rich twentysomething must decide

between true love and the vast fortune he’ll inherit if he marries a society woman whom

he doesn’t love.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Jeremy Barber

Warner Brothers. MBST Entertainment and Benderspink producing.

2 GUNS by Blake Masters

“Based on the comic book of the same name by Stephen Grant. A DEA agent and an

undercover naval intelligence officer unwittingly investigate each other while stealing

mob money.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Blair Kohan, Geoff Morely

Universal Pictures. Marc Platt Productions and Boom! Studios producing.

CUT BANK by Roberto Patino

“A small town thriller set in Cut Bank, Montana.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Rich Cook, David Karp

MANAGER Principato Young – Evan Cavic

Stick n’ Stone Productions producing.

DEAD LOSS by Josh Baizer and Marshall Johnson

“A crab fishing boat crew rescues a castaway adrift in a life raft with mysterious

cargo that soon both captivates and divides them.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Bill Weinstein, David Karp

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Bard Dorros, Shawn Simon

Thousand Words producing.

THE GHOST AND THE WOLF by Rylend Grant and Dikran Ornekian

“An ex-cop and his old partner must reunite, burying years of distrust, to take on the

vicious Russian mobsters who altered their lives profoundly in the 90s… destroying one

and propelling the other to Captain.”

MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Andrew Deane

I HOPE WE CAN STILL BE FRIENDS by John Whittington

“A couple breaks up after 5 years together but vow to remain friends after the fact,

which proves much harder to do than they imagined.”

AGENT The Gersh Agency – Sarah Self

MANAGER Mason Novick

Inferno Entertainment. Mason Novick producing.

I HATE YOU DAD by David Caspe

“A father moves in with his son on the eve of his son’s wedding and promptly begins

feuding with the bride-to-be.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Phil D’amecourt, Elia Infascelli-Smith

MANAGER Magnolia – Javier Contreras

Sony Pictures. Happy Madison Productions producing.

IF I STAY by Shauna Cross

“Based on the novel of the same name by Gayle Forman. A teenage girl leaves her body

after a tragic car crash and needs to decide whether to return to her life or not.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Cliff Roberts, Lis Rowinski

MANAGER Jaret Entertainment – Seth Jaret

Summit Entertainment. Di Novi Pictures producing.

THE KING’S SPEECH by David Seidler

“George VI, also known as Bertie, reluctantly takes the throne of England when his

brother, Edward, abdicates in 1936. The unprepared king turns to a radical speech

therapist, Lionel Logue, to help overcome his nervous stutter and the two forge a

friendship.”

MANAGER Jeff Aghassi Management – Jeff Aghassi

The Weinstein Company. Bedlam Pictures and See-Saw Films producing.

THE LOW SELF ESTEEM OF LIZZIE GILLESPIE by Mindy Kaling and Brent Forrester

“A single girl in Manhattan dates the hottest guy in the world but must overcome her

insecurities when she hears him deny they are dating.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Blair Kohan, Julien Thuan (Kaling)

United Talent Agency – Jason Burns, David Kramer (Forrester)

MANAGER 3 Arts Entertainment – Howard Klein (Kaling)

Levity Management Group – Kevin Stolper (Forrester)

Mandate Pictures.

22

CON MEN by Eric Lane

“Greg Weinstock and Kevin Russell, two drug reps from Burlington Labs with nothing in

common aside from a shared gift of moving product, are dispatched to a convention to

hook the biggest sale of their lives.”

Shay Weiner producing.

THE BLIND RAGE OF PEACOAT MILLER by Adam Penn

“A college student home for the holidays discovers that an internet porn film turns its

viewer into homicidal maniacs. As the epidemic spreads, he has to save his longtime

crush while struggling to control his own urges.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Billy Hawkins, Brian Kavanaugh-Jones

MANAGER Energy Entertainment – Adam Marshall, Milana Rabkin

Michael de Luca Productions and David Gordon Green producing.

JOSH by Gary Ross

“The lives of a single father and his teenaged son are dramatically changed when the

boy’s mother returns and wants to be part of her son’s life.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – David O’Connor, Maha Dakhil

Universal Pictures. Larger Than Life Productions producing.

MY SISTER IS MARRYING A DOUCHEBAG by Wendy Molyneux and Lizzie Molyneux

“A young woman, thinking that her sister’s new fiance is a douchebag, sets out to

sabotage their wedding.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Phil D’amecourt, Simon Faber

MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan, Sean Perrone

RENKO VEGA & THE JENNIFER NINE by John Raffo

“Renko Vega, once a hero and now a rogue thief wandering the galaxy with his

hyperintelligent spaceship the Jennifer 9, is forced to become a hero once again when

the young daughter of the President of Earth is kidnapped.”

AGENT Agency for the Performing Arts – Debbie Deuble Hill, Sheryl Peterson

MANAGER Brucks Entertainment – Brian Brucks

NORM THE MOVIE by Sam Esmail

“A buddy comedy in which a guy is transported into a movie… or so he thinks.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola, Danny Gabai

MANAGER Energy Entertainment – Adam Marshall, Milana Rabkin

SMASH AND GRAB by Marc Wolff

“When his wife is kidnapped, a reformed thief has to team up with his hapless expartner

to save her, while dodging the LAPD, the FBI, and various members of the Los

Angeles underworld.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Tobin Babst

MANAGER Mason Novick

Mason Novick and Julie Yorn producing.

THE TRUE MEMOIRS OF AN INTERNATIONAL ASSASSIN by Jeff Morris

“Joe, an insecure writer with a boring desk job, finally manages to sell his assassin

novel, The Memoirs of an International Assassin to the one publisher that will buy it.

To his horror the publisher retitles it The True Memoirs of an International Assassin

and markets the book as non-fiction — making it seem as if Joe is the assassin

himself. He soon finds himself in the crosshairs of the CIA, various drug lords, the

media, and a beautiful investigative journalist while on a vacation in Belize.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola, Rich Cook

MANAGER Art/Work Entertainment – Julie Bloom

The Film Department. Michael De Luca Productions producing.

NO BLOOD, NO GUTS, NO GLORY by Chase Palmer

“A spy and twenty Union soldiers in disguise board a train in Georgia to execute a

scheme that could bring a quick end to the U.S. Civil War.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Craig Kestel

MANAGER Gotham Group – Peter McHugh, Lindsay Williams

Misher Films producing.

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY by Mark Bomback

“Based on the comic book written by Gerard Way. After being raised by a brilliant

scientist and a hyper-intelligent chimp, six super-powered former ‘child superheroes’

reunite to stop one of their own from leading a violin symphony that will destroy the

world.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Jason Spitz

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Adam Shulman

Universal Pictures. Stuber Productions and Dark Horse Entertainment producing.

23

ALLIES WITH BENEFITS by Elizabeth Wright Shapiro

“The female President of The United States falls for her old college fling, the now

Prime Minister of England.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Blair Kohan, Tobin Babst, Jay Gassner

MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Jess Rosenthal

Scott Free Productions producing.

30 MINUTES OR LESS by Matthew Sullivan and Michael Diliberti

“A comedy about a pizza delivery guy on an unlikely caper.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Bill Weinstein, Simon Faber

MANAGER New School Media – Brian Levy

Red Hour Films and New School Media producing.

COMIC CON by Matthew Sullivan and Michael Diliberti

“To save their beloved neighborhood comic shop, a justice league of comic geeks must

plan and execute a daring heist at Comic-Con.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Bill Weinstein, Simon Faber

MANAGER New School Media – Brian Levy

CROOK FACTORY by Nicholas Meyer

“Based on the novel by Dan Simmons and true events. An FBI agent is ordered to baby-sit

Ernest Hemingway as he goes about running a motley spy ring in WWII Cuba.”

MANAGER Alan Gasmer & Friends – Alan Gasmer

Warner Brothers. Infinitum Nihil producing.

HANNA by David Farr

“A fourteen year old girl is raised by her father to be a cold hearted killing

machine.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Bob Bookman, Josh Krauss

Curtis Brown – Nick Marston

Focus Features. Adelstein Productions producing.

THE HAND JOB by Maggie Carey

“A coming-of-age comedy about a teenage girl who gives her first hand job (among other

life experiences).”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Blair Kohan, Julien Thuan

MANAGER 3 Arts Entertainment – Greg Walter, Tom Lassally

Team Todd producing.

THE HUNGRY RABBIT JUMPS by Robert Tannen

“A man becomes entangled in a secret society that forces him to murder.”

AGENT Feature Artists Agency – Brian Dreyfuss

MANAGER The Shuman Company – AB Fischer

Maguire Entertainment and Endgame Entertainment producing.

DUE DATE by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland

“An uptight father-to-be is forced to travel across the country with an idiotic stoner

in order to close a major business deal and make it home in time for the birth of his

first child.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Jason Spitz, Richard Weitz, Mike Esola

Warner Brothers. Legendary Pictures and Green Hat Films producing.

THE CURSE OF MEDUSA by J Lee and Tom Welch

“An origin story of Medusa the Gorgon.”

MANAGER Anonymous Content – Adam Kossack

Original Films producing.

MEDIEVAL by Alex Litvak and Michael Finch

“An unlikely group of imprisoned warriors are forced on a suicide mission to steal the

King’s crown in order to gain their freedom. They soon realize they’ve been set up to

take the fall for the assassination of the King.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Adam Levine

Fox, New Regency. Wonderland Sound and Vision producing.

OWENS MANUAL by Greg Ferkel

“A mild-mannered IT guy finds an ‘owners manual’ to his dull life but struggles to

manage the realities of it when he reaches the end of the manual.”

AGENT International Creative Management – Harley Copen, Sophie Holodnik

MANAGER Caliber Media – Max Roman

Gary Sanchez Productions producing.

THE LAST STAND by Andrew Knauer

“A drug cartel king escapes his trial in a 200mph Gumpert Apollo, and the only thing in

between him and Mexican freedom is a small town cop in a bordertown.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola

MANAGER Energy Entertainment – Jake Wagner

Lionsgate. Di Bonaventura Pictures producing.

JAWS OF LIFE by Michael Goldbach

“A seventeen year old boy falls in love with a woman old enough to be his mother and

begins to question the meaning of love and relationships while his parents go through a

divorce.”

MANAGER The Collective – Ava Greenfield

Mason Novick producing.

JITTERS by Marc Haimes

“A dysfunctional, recession-struck family moves into a new neighborhood and is

terrorized by superbugs.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Jeff Gorin

MANAGER Benderspink – JC Spink, Charlie Gogolak

Paramount Pictures. Benderspink producing.

SWINGLES by Zach Braff

“A bachelor who is dumped by his wingman teams up with a sharp-tongued woman he can’t

stand in order to meet women.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Craig Gering

MANAGER Industry Entertainment – Sandra Chang

Paramount Pictures. Misher Films producing.

THE TREES by Tyler Hisel

“Isolated and threatened, a mysterious force hidden within the trees outside the small

town of Laytonsville, Maryland strikes fear in the townsfolk as Sheriff Paul Shields

attempts to overcome the demons of his past while protecting those that he loves.”

MANAGER Insignia Entertainment – Alexander Robb

THE SPECTACULAR NOW by Scott Neustadter and Mike Weber

“A hard-partying high school senior’s life changes when he meets a shy, insecure girl.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Bill Zotti, Greg McKnight

MANAGER Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment – Aaron Kaplan, Sean Perrone

Fox Searchlight. 21 Laps Entertainment producing.

SAND DOGS by Vineet Dewan and Angus Fletcher

“A pair of Western Red Crescent Paramedics weather a series of intense, dangerous days

in the Gaza Strip.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Ramses Ishak, Michael Sheresky (Dewan)

Agency for the Performing Arts – David Saunders (Fletcher)

MANAGER Caliber Media – Dallas Sonnier (Dewan & Fletcher)

SEX, GREED, MONEY, MURDER & CHICKEN FRIED STEAK by Reinhard Denke

“The story of oilman T. Cullen Davis, the richest man in the United States ever to be

tried (and acquitted twice) for the capital murder of his stepdaughter, marking the

end of the reign of Texas oil billionaires.”

AGENT William Morris Endeavor – Mike Esola

Infinitum Nihil producing.

WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Richard LaGravanese

“Jacob Jankowski is about to take his final exams in veterinary medicine at Cornell

when his parents are killed in a car accident. He drops out and joins Benzini Brothers,

a second-rate traveling circus trying to survive during the Depression.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Byrdie Lifson-Pompan, David O’Connor

Fox 2000. Flashpoint Entertainment producing.

THE WETTEST COUNTY by Nick Cave

“Based on the book by Matt Bondurant. The story of a moonshine gang operating in the

bootlegging capital of America – Franklin County, Virginia – during Prohibition.”

AGENT United Agents – Anthony Jones

Red Wagon Productions producing.

WALL STREET 2: MONEY NEVER SLEEPS by Allan Loeb

“Gordon Gekko, fresh from prison, re-emerges into a much harsher financial world than

the one he left.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Jon Levin, Carin Sage

MANAGER Scarlet Fire – Steven Pearl

Fox. The Edward R. Pressman Film Corporation producing.

THE UNDERLING by Dave Stoller and Ben Shiffrin

“A man slowly comes to discover his girlfriend is literally working for the devil and

has to find a way to escape.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Charlie Ferraro

MANAGER Gotham Group – Jeremy Bell, Lindsay Williams

THE VATICAN TAPES by Chris Borrelli

“In a highly secured vault deep within the walls of Vatican City, the Catholic Church

holds thousands of old films and video footage documenting exorcisms/supposed exorcisms

and other unexplained religious phenomena they feel the world is not ready to see.

This is the first tape – Case 83-G – stolen from these archives and exposed to the

public by an anonymous source.”

AGENT United Talent Agency – Jon Huddle

MANAGER H2F – Chris Fenton

Lionsgate. Lakeshore Entertainment producing.

YEAR 12 by Edward Ricourt

“Twelve years after an alien invasion leaves humankind decimated and brutally

subjugated, a former soldier must smuggle deadly uranium in his bloodstream and, with

help from a pair of rebels, fight his way to an air force base where the uranium can be

extracted and used to fuel a nuclear missile for a counterstrike that will reverse the

direction of the war.”

AGENT Creative Artists Agency – Matt Rosen

MANAGER Gotham Group – Peter McHugh

Paramount Pictures. Roth Films producing.

Paranormal Activity

Sunday, October 11th, 20092009-10-11T21:23:33Zl, F jS, Y

This movie scared the BEEJESUS out of me when I watched it last evening and as I thought of it all night while trying to sleep/recover from seeing it. What I really enjoyed about PA was the very, very slow build up. The suspense is so gradually built and so innocuously played – there are many, many scenes in which absolutely nothing happens. But you know it’s going to. And it does. In ways that you may not expect, exactly. The film takes its sweet ass time delivering the scares. A bonus was that I saw the film with my teenaged daughter and her friend and both remarked that they were pleasantly surprised that the lead actress, the wonderfully natural Katie Featherston, “looked like a real girl” – which is to say that she had a normal body and was therefore very relatable – unlike some kind of Megan Fox self-esteem nightmare.

Is PA perfect? No. Does it have some missed opportunities? Yes. But this is one paranormal movie in the sense that according to sources, its budget was 11K and for the weekend still in progress, it has an 8M domestic cume on 159 screens. It opened on September 25th on 12 screens and grossed 70K. Not a bad haul but not amazing, either. However, word of mouth led the screens to more than double the following weekend (to 33) and propelled the film to its current status as a thrilling renegade box office hit.

Well, to be perfectly honest and realistic, it’s not totally renegade; the project was purchased by DreamWorks. In fact, this article will give you a lot more insight into the film.

But still. What I really love about the story of PA is its grassroots beginnings, circuitous two-year path to release/distribution, the cool Spielberg connection and the Little Movie That Could phase it’s in right now. Why is all this happening? Because it was a good idea and because the events of this film push just about every imaginable button for audiences far and wide. You just watch how this film does in DVD release globally; it’s going to kill.

A good story well told, folks. There’s the magic formula. Ever hear weird thumps and bumps in your house at night? Ever wondered what the HELL it would be like if you actually captured that on film? It’s so universal it hurts.

Do yourself a favor and catch a screening of this fun phenom and get inspired – do you have a nice, simple story that a WIDE audience will enjoy participating in? Can you look at your script and be able to say to a producer, hey, this can be made for under 20M but will get such great word of mouth that it’ll be a real rainmaker?

Writers often get their heads a little far up their um – their behinds and give no thought to budget, P&A, the number of screens their film might be playing on, etc. But you know what? You should give these things thought. In fact, you should become fluent in the language of the marketing and sale of this product you are writing.

I know, I know, it’s art – and there are a lot of writers who do their thing, writing scripts without worrying about how it will fit into the maw of the machine but I’m telling you, knowing the way the market works and confounds, and surprises and is unknowable but is a BUSINESS pushing A PRODUCT that you are writing in your garret, putting you square in the middle of the equation, is nothing but pure advantage. Because now you can put this career aspiration of yours in context. Writing scripts is profoundly about YOU and YOUR STORY and yet – oh Hollywood, you contradictory little wench – it is not at all about you. It’s about product.

If you just do not get why a studio would not drop dollars for your 150M project written specifically for Bruce Willis and that by the way, you insist on directing – well, let’s just say that your dinner conversations about your failure, over two bottles of wine with a PBR chaser are gonna bore your friends into stabbing you with a fork and hiding the evidence. And I’ll volunteer to get the shovel.

Wise up, study up and catch PARANORMAL ACTIVITY for inspiration and some really fun scares.