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Day 1 Assignment
Reply to Post Your Assignment.
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42 Replies
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1. Title: Pandemonium. Genre: Action. Concept: A corrupt cop gets a shot at redemption when he’s released from prison to help stop a ruthless drug lord causing violence in the streets.
2. The story is action-packed and relentlessly-paced.
3. I will target producers who specialize in this type of material.
4. What I learned today is the importance of marketing the correct way.
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Manny Makris
OK
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Jennifer Thym. OʻAHU 2080. Teens (direct audience) and then Producers.
Genre: Young Adult Science Fiction.
Title: OʻAHU 2080.
Comps: Top Gun meets Stranger Things, underwater.
Logline: When her family mysteriously disappears down a toilet drain, a wannabe pilot and her rag-tag friends hunt down clues which embroil them in a battle with the newly-sentient monster garbage strangling the city.
What makes this cool: Planes, pipe guns, and sea monsters… all set in a dizzyingly neon, crystal-encased Hawaiʻi.
I am targeting the teen audience with a Webtoons comic named *OʻAHU 2080: lovetree*, followed by a graphic novel set in the same world. I am bringing the TV Pilot adaptation of the graphic novel to Stowe Story Labs this October. Next step is finding a producing partner or production company to shop the pilot to streamers.
What I learned today is “less is more.” I am prone to sharing too many details and I will practice at keeping it short & sweet!
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Jennifer Thym.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Jennifer Thym.
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Title: Invasive Species Genre: 1-hour Horror Series
Concept: When archaeologist Abby Resnik becomes impregnated by alien sperm, she loses her wife, her best friend, and her identity to fight the invasion of not only her womb but of the earth.
This is a Rosemary’s Baby meets Aliens story with excruciating suspense and building horror.
I think I’ll target television producers first, though I may change my mind and go after managers.
What I learned today is that I’m going to have to spend as much time marketing as I will writing, so I better set myself a schedule.
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Thomas F. Duffy – Project and Market
1. Drama, ONE LAST SHOT, The ROCKY of hockey.
2. When a fatal crash takes his wife and leaves his body and spirit shattered, a gimpy ex-hockey goalie struggles to reunite with his only daughter, but when he is given one last shot to prove himself, he must make the save of his life.
3. I’ll target managers. I had a top-rated manager years ago, and I learned that the process involved with a manager (script appraisal, re-writes) led to a better script and better meetings with top production companies.
4. What I learned today is less is better, when pitching your script.
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1. Genre: Drama. Title: SCARRED NOT SCARED
Concept: The young woman’s battle-scarred face leads her co-passengers to scorn and avoid her until the cruise ship is hijacked by terrorists and their lives will depend on her courage and battle-field skills.
2. It’s “Voyage of Terror, The Achille Lauro Affair” but with a female lead.
3. Target: I was going to say producers because I am not familiar with managers or what they do, but, after reading Thomas Duffy’s post, I will certainly explore that route.
4. What I learned today is that less is better and the importance of being able to get a message across with few words. I also learned that managers can play a very useful role.
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Genre: buddy comedy
Title: Watch Out For Drop Bears!
Logline: A bungling pair of American zoologists quit their dead-end jobs to track down a hoax animal in the Australian Outback, testing the limits of their bromance.
Concept: It’s a story about friendships that can lead you down the wrong path in life.
Comps: The Bang Theory meets Dumb and Dumber
Most attractive: It has 3 over-the-top characters in a compelling relationship – an introverted bug specialist and a brash taxidermist in a sparing bromance, topped off with a man-killing museum director in a love-hate triangle. All on a quest to trap a barely-credible mythic animal in the Australian Outback.
I’ll target an actor’s production company first as I think the quirky characters and whacky storyline are fun and unique, forming a platform from which actors can show off the breadth of their comedic talents and build on their careers.
What I learned today is standing back and reassessing the material from a marketing perspective leads to valuable insights on the story as well as how to market it.
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Title: DEADLY REFLECTIONS Genre: Supernatural Horror
Concept: A strangler from the 1800’s uses black magic to move through the world of reflections to target a group of present day teens trying to pull off a zombie scam.
Tagline: You’ll never look into a mirror the same way again.
My plan: to target producers first.
What I learned: the importance of the “one moment”. About the power of a few, well-chosen words to engage. As the ancient Chinese proverb goes:
“A well-described trailer moment is worth a thousand words.“
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Phyllis MacBryde
1. Genre: Feature Film – Drama Title: Creating Zinzi
Concept: Creating Zinzi tells the story of a white American playwright developing a musical about an African child and the Black American producer who, almost against her will, helps finance a workshop production. The emotional heart of the story is how a diverse group of human beings, unexpectedly thrown together, join in an effort to create something special.
2. Attractive: Two leading female roles – layered and often comical – that are likely to attract strong actors. A fascinating world of African people and music; unusual and spectacular locations.
3. Targets: An actor’s production company. Approached after its formation was announced in the trades. The company requested the screenplay. I’m compiling a list of indie producers to target, based on what I’ve heard them say on panels (what kinds of stories attract them, what films they produce, and in what budget range) and I’ve done further research to determine if they might have an interest in this project.
4. What I’ve learned today is to continue gathering and honing marketing materials and, in the process, learn how to represent this project like a pro.
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Andrea Higgins – DANIEL AND THE SEA DRAGON – Target 1: Managers
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Genre: Family Action Adventure
Title: DANIEL AND THE SEA DRAGON
Concept: The story asks what it means to be a superhero when you’re just an ordinary kid.
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Most Attractive…
though the project, which features a child protagonist, will have great appeal to kids, the action sequences offer the undercurrent of a thriller that will have crossover appeal for adult audiences. The story also features great roles for adult actors, including an action leading man type, a mad scientist, an inventor/grandfather, and two older female actors, which all have the potential to draw names.
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First Target: Managers
Why: Because I want to build a creative team for this and future projects that I want to write and make.
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What I learned today: Think about what’s attractive to your target.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Andrea Higgins.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by
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Halloween’s Project and Market
LESSON I HORROR
DEVIL’S LIGHT
Writer’s Logline:
After a biological attack devastates New Orleans, a transgender soldier is tasked with rescuing a t.e.r.f. scientist from zombies that can freeze with a touch
I will target producers because a writer that can do their own leg work makes it more appealing for a manager to sign.
Most Attractive:
1) The intense dynamic between the trans soldier and the trans exclusionary radical feminist scientist.
2) zombies that can freeze you with a touch before eating you
3. It is contained and low budget.
What I learned today is that creating a screenplay starts with making something that will attract producers from its’ inception.
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Leland’s Project and Market
Genre: Action/Crime
Title: Dick and Jane go to War
Concept: A Movie where Cops, Killers, Hackers meet for coffee and bullets
Logline: Young cop protects her autistic computer genius friend from mercenaries, fights internal discrimination as she chases a serial killer.
What makes it attractive: A young and beautiful Dallas City Cop beats the odds, fights departmental prejudice in her quest to be a detective while chasing a serial killer. She must save her friend and confident, an autistic geek genius from a super hacker out for revenge.
Primary Target: Producers.
Why: They’re buyers.
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Title: How to Train Your Tutu
Genre: A 98 page Comedy
Concept: A frenzied, ballet dancer practices unorthodox methods to fit into her tutu after eating doughnuts for several months during Covid 19.
Theme: Does the ballerina make the tutu; or does the tutu make the ballerina?
This is a story about a frenzied, teenage ballerina who struggles to emulate her late mother’s ballet career, against her father’s will, and a devious competitor, while battling her doughnut addiction during Covid 19. (This essentially is my logline.)
I have left Linked in. The value of the site was not worth the money invested. Many producers who said they were producers were not. So, for that reason, I would consider producers on IMDB, which is what I have been doing, (but probably not enough.) I cannot seem to find a movie even close to mine; thus, I have chosen to redo some of my other scripts in hopes of marketing them. I am also outlining a sci/fi script I’m aching to write–a hoot of a story.
I have learned to pinpoint elements necessary for a pitch, knowing one needs to prepare for questions that follow.
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Paul A. Davis- Thrash- Horror
Horror, “ Thrash”, The towns most hated Witch befriends a bullied teen and turns him into a ruthless killer.<div>
<div>The thing that is most attractive about my story is that there is a partnership of two type of killers. A women who use supernatural powers, and a teenage boy who is a heartless slasher.</div><div>
</div><div>I will target “Producers” first because they have the power to give my project the green light.</div><div>
</div><div> I learned that writing is just half of the battle. It’s about making the deal and becoming a great salesman in the Movie Business Industry!</div></div> -
Stephanie’s Project and Market
Genre: Fantasy Teen Thriller Title: King Tut’s Revenge
Concept: A slacker high school student discovers he is the reincarnation of King Tut and battles the immortal wizard who killed him 3000 years ago.
This story has built-in name recognition and curiosity about King Tut whose exhibit is the most popular tourist attraction in the world. Audiences of all ages are fascinated to know more about his life, and the script is sequelizable.
I will target actors’ production companies first because Marsai Martin and Idris Elba both have one. Caleb McLoughlin is ideal for Tut, and he won the Nickelodeon Fan Favorite last year. That removes the main objection WME had for this script. No viable lead male for domestic or international distribution.
Today I learned not to tell the story during my pitch. Instead use high power hooks to grab the producer’s interest and meet their needs for marketing it to actors and the audience.
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Emmanuel Sullivan’s Project and Market
What I learned today is the key to marketing success is to have a target market, present a producer, agent or manager with a product they want/need and make it attractive to them.
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Mark’s Project and Market
1, My project is Sci-Fi TV series, titled SKYFIRE. The concept is: A Navy weapons test creates an intelligent lightning storm that hunts down and kills the scientists who have burned a hole in the atmosphere. The last survivor must escape Mother Nature to save himself, and outwit malevolent human agencies working against him.
2. Three things are attractive about this project. First, its based on IP – a published novel from the 1980s. Its got a great hook with the deadly, sentient storm that targets certain people with lightning bolts. And third, it is so timely in our age of growing climate turmoil and fear.
3. I want to target producers, because I haven’t yet done any mental casting for actors to submit to, and managers will be more interested in my long-term writing career goals, which I haven’t yet formulated. I don’t want to get into a writers room, and don’t know if I want to write full time. My impression of managers is that they are looking for dedicated, constant writers. I AM dedicated, but only to the three projects that I am writing and pitching.
4. What I learned today is that while producers are my first choice to market to, actors with production companies could be my second choice.
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Title: “Rilke & Rodin” or “Imitation of a Poet”
Genre: Drama
Concept: A historical biopic based on the true story of Rainer Rilke’s problematic friendship with Auguste Rodin following Rilke’s romantic split with Lou Andreas-Salomé.
2.) In relentless pursuit of validation from a former lover, an insecure poet befriends a famous artist who teaches him his source of artistic inspiration. But, it isn’t until this imbalanced friendship is broken that the poet discovers that his own fame could only come from a voice found in solitude.
3.) I will likely target European, British, or internationally-minded American producers or production companies working in med/high drama budgets – both feature and episodic – and particularly those interested in history and art.
4.) What I learned is that it’s important to think like a producer/agent/manager and to make sure that I am presenting my work as a marketable project to a paying audience. Understanding this will now aid my story structure both initially, and in rewriting. This isn’t an assignment that I can immediately complete with a satisfactory result.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by cara star.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by cara star.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by
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1. “ELEVATOR DOWN”, Thriller/Paranormal
A kidnapped young boy seeks to escape an underground cult of shape-shifting reptoids who kidnap and clone world leaders, then send them to the surface to take control of the governments and economy…solidifying their control matrix.
2. Very conspiratorial, in a popular sense. Also, the arc of the main characters: a) 9-year old Ben goes from a scared child to a brave hero, and b) female Reptoid leader goes from cold hearted, evil being to one who develops compassion.
3. Managers, now that I have two completed, they can market my scripts better, especially to the larger producers
4. I learned the importance of the pitch, targeting producers in this genre, and setting up a quality campaign to sell my scripts. I learned I need a better “campaign”
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Jeff’s Project and Market
Genre: Crime-drama Thriller
Title: The Best Painkiller
Concept: After he is swindled by a boat broker, an anesthesiologist steals from criminals to pay for his grandson’s life-saving treatment. Inspired by a true story.
Attraction: Appeals to a wide audience age 18+. Ensemble cast with a variety of interesting characters.
Target: Producers first. I’m guessing that will be my best chance for success.
What I learned is the concept must be unique and have wide appeal.
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1. Title: Murder the Darlings
Genre: Thriller
Concept: During lockdown in NYC, Oliver falls for the handsome guy, Tony, next door, who is in an abusive relationship with a bestselling writer of supernatural thrillers, while a detective tries to solve the murder of the last guy who flirted with Tony.
2. Most attractive: the supernatural elements
3. First, I will target producers… because I want to get the movie made
4. What I learned today is that my classmates all have terrific ideas for movies! Can’t wait to see them all on the big screen!
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Kristina Zill.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by
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Title: LAREDO. Genre: Family
Concept: After an insecure, struggling actor rescues a stray dog, he must decide the fate of the old dog nobody wants to adopt, while his long-awaited chance at stardom approaches.
This feel-good story has a lot of heart, lots of comedy, an uplifting ending – a story the whole family will embrace.
There’s a manager I heard speak last year and she said she’s a sucker for dog stories.
What I’ve learned is: Having the skills to write a great screenplay is just as important as having the skills to market that screenplay.
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Stephen Maynard – Project and Market
What I learned today is; This is going to be enlightening. Looks like Handsom Hal and the BEAUTIFUL Cheryl are at it again. Expanding our thinking as they nudge us toward new opportunities.
GENRE: Horror
TITLE: PANDORA’S OTHER BOX
CONCEPT: A sexually frustrated loser launches on a transformational journey when he slays his professor to steal genetically engineered worms that enter old hags and morph them into hot young submissive beauties – that devour other men.
2. The most attractive elements are; A villain that makes Iago look like an altar boy, thems that resonates broadly with today’s audiences, and never-before witnessed horrifying scenes and sequences that will chill the spines of body horror aficionados.
3. Not sure about my TARGET but suspect an actor’s production company would be my best bet.
Why? Getting a bankable actor attached would increase our chances of getting the movie made?
Problem: Few young bankable actors want to be great villains.
So perhaps I will target producers? Perhaps both?
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1) Title: A Taste of Cold Steel.
Genre: Crime-Drama.
Concept: A young man overcomes his self-destructive behavior to find his brother, only to be embroiled in a life-and-death struggle with his gangster-father that leads to death.
2) What’s attractive in my storyline is the strength of brotherly love that propels one brother to find his brother, unwilling to back down in the face of a father’s hate and selfish reasons that cause the separation with lethal consequences.
3) I’ll contact a manager. They’re predisposed to help nurture and advise screenwriters.
4) Marketing is inextricably connected to and dependent on screenplays that cater to what producers want: cinematic and engrossing storylines that feed the viewers’ tastes.
So, crafting a screenplay requires a conscious recognition of marketing.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by barry Voss.
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Robert Barhite’s Project and Market
Genre: One hour Drama/Western
Title: “Eulogy for the Damned” although I am open to suggestions.
Concept: To clear his name of a murder he didn’t commit; a Black ex-Cavalry officer must infiltrate a powerful stock growers association hell-bent on wiping out homesteaders by any means necessary – including murder. But he learns that an ex-member of his outlaw gang may be responsible for the frame up, and for selling out the gang to Pinkerton detectives.
The protagonist is a Black male, and there are very few Westerns where the lead is Black. Most, like “Hell on Wheels” include a major Black character, but the central story isn’t about the character’s journey.
I plan to initially identify producers. Managers may be hesitant to take on a new, unproven client. Doesn’t mean I’m closing the door on sending queries to managers. It just means I’m targeting producers first.
What I learned today is that, for starters, I write really good book reports. My first query letter run through turned into “War and Peace.” I wouldn’t blame anyone for immediately rejecting it. I also learned that selling is selling – makes no difference if it’s health insurance (been there, done that) or a script. It’s basic – match needs to benefits. My job is to identify managers/producers/production companies that would be open to producing a Western and crafting marketing materials demonstrating why my script meets their needs.
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Mark Abel’s Project and Market
1. Genre: Action/Adventure, Lost/Hidden Worlds, Thriller
Title: ESCAPEGOAT
Concept: A world-famous but reckless escape artist, exiled for the death of his audience in a theater fire, can only reform his blame-casting ways by wresting control of a hidden oasis from the power-mad sultan controlling its secrets
2. Beyond its exciting set pieces, exotic locales, and twist ending, ESCAPEGOAT is a beautiful lesson in accepting responsibility packed with jaw-dropping magic and intrigue
3. I intend to target managers first as I believe they’re better equipped to get the script in front of producers and others — but I also research studios and filmmakers to discover those with projects similar to my own
4. I’ve learned that it’s better to deliver a clear concept than a detailed “book report”
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Jon’s Project(s) and Market(s)…
Please bear with me, I took three different stabs at this.
Genre: Action Thriller
Title: BlackCar
Concept: An app-based driver for a rich clientele goes on a murder spree to prove a point about those who live in undeserved wealth, and a young couple who own a successful start-up are his next passengers.
What is most attractive about the story: It takes two cultural issues that have tremendous anxiety around them, the unchecked power of Silicon Valley and the seemingly uncontrollable rash of gun violence, and explores them through a classic 90’s style action/thriller story.
Which you will target FIRST: Producers or Actor’s production company as it’s a small cast, creating a lot of room for the leads to shine, and likely a low budget (under $1 mil).
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Genre: Comedic Thriller
Title: Phelandra
Concept: When a retired man’s obsession with caring for his new exotic plant begins to threaten his marriage, his wife hires a down-on-his-luck tutor to assasinate the plant.
What is most attractive about the story: Instead of being about watching relationships fall apart it’s really a Hitchcockian farce that’s ultimately about the lengths people will go to to save relationships that they care about.
Which you will target FIRST: Producers or Actor’s production company since the roles of the older couple are quite dynamic and a bit more rare for actors of a certain age.
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Genre: Comedic Drama
Title: Cecily
Concept: A woman decides that in order to solidify her sense of self before her wedding day she must track down her old college car with her best friend from college, who’s questioning his sexuality after coming off of a failed four year relationship of his own.
What is most attractive about the story: It’s a second coming of age story that isn’t about “cold feet” as much as it is about securing your emotional foundation before boldly stepping into the next phase of life.
Which you will target FIRST: Producers or Actor’s production company as it’s a low-budget script with a strong female lead.
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What I learned today is how important a skill it is to be able to describe your story in a way that’s not simply describing what happens in the plot.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 7 months ago by Jonathan Marballi.
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Camerone – Action Adventure
Assignment 1 September 28, 2021
Gordon Roback
1. Genre – Action Adventure
Title – Camerone
Concept: The ultimate Alamo story. 65 French Foreign Legion
soldiers against thousands of Mexicans.
2. There is nothing more romantic than fighting a hopeless battle to the last man against overwhelming odds. But I am intrigued by the existential element: the Legionnaires fought to the death because “the legion is my country” and for no other reason.
They could have surrendered at any time but chose to die instead.
3. My first target audience is producers of war films. This is one of the greatest battles of all time. I am amazed it has not yet been made into a feature film.
4. The lesson I learned from this assignment was how many war films have been made in the past ten years. I was aware of but a few: Fury, 1917, Dunkirk, Sniper, Heartbreak Ridge. I discovered there have been over 50 war films made during this period. I would not have known this were it not for this assignment.
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1. Genre, Title, and Concept.
Genre: Thriller with humor, fantasy and psychological elements
Title: Dead Head
Concept: A young pilot works for a secretive “airline” that never flies–until one day a hijacker forces him to take off on his first commercial flight.
2. What I think is most attractive about my story.
The lead character–as teenager and adult–will attract a name actor, and his persona is a fascinating blend of computer genius, a mental depression patient, and a fugitive from the CIA and a Russian consul.
3. Whom I will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why I picked that target.
I decided to target film producers for pitching Dead Head first because that actually would start with producers whose repertoires include thrillers and who want to focus on character-driven features that showcase name actors in lead and major support roles.
At the same time I believe the film could be distributed successfully with less-well-known actors simply because the story hook and characters are unique and fascinating. Producers can be heartened by the prospect of a lower above-the-line budget.
4. What I learned today.
Not only must a screenwriter have a well-crafted screenplay with a strong hook, but he must wear two hats, as well: An accomplished screenwriter and a capable, committed business owner/operator. Having worked with an LA agent for over seven years (until his unfortunate death a few years ago), I found that it was necessary to do my own research and pitching to producers. That basic truth is doubly true today. But the agent or manager is a valuable resource for improving the script, guiding the screenwriter’s marketing campaign (e.g., targeting and pitching), and sealing option/purchase deals.
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Genre; Drama Title: KIDSIDE TRADER
Concept: A twelve-year-old kid shows the lack of transparency and hypocrisy in our financial markets, including those who regulate them, in a humorous way.
While there have been many successful movies about Wall Street, there are none that portray it from a child’s perspective seeking to emulate his Wall Street heroes and their “success”.
I will target potential co-producers to help attach talent that will help finance the film.
What I learned from this class was to organize my thoughts and ideas in a concise way to improve my pitch.
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1. Genre, Title, and Concept.
Genre: Thriller with humor, fantasy and psychological elements
Title: Dead Head
Concept: A young pilot works for a secretive “airline” that never flies–until one day a hijacker forces him to take off on his first commercial flight.
2. What I think is most attractive about my story.
The lead character–as teenager and adult–will attract a name actor, and his persona is a fascinating blend of computer genius, a mental depression patient, and a fugitive from the CIA and a Russian consul.
3. Whom I will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why I picked that target.
I decided to target film producers for pitching Dead Head first because that actually would start with producers whose repertoires include thrillers and who want to focus on character-driven features that showcase name actors in lead and major support roles.
At the same time I believe the film could be distributed successfully with less-well-known actors simply because the story hook and characters are unique and fascinating. Producers can be heartened by the prospect of a lower above-the-line budget.
4. What I learned today.
A screenwriter must be prepared to wear two hats: An accomplished screenwriter and a capable, committed business owner/operator. Having worked with an LA agent for over seven years (until his unfortunate death a few years ago), I found that it was necessary to do my own research and pitching to producers. That basic truth is doubly true today. But the agent or manager is a valuable resource for improving the script, guiding the screenwriter’s marketing campaign (e.g., targeting and pitching), and sealing option/purchase deals.
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Zohar Rom “Are We Home” Target: Producers
1. Drama, “Are We Home” — Aching to feel like they belong, a family of climate refugees struggles after they wind up in Chicago in the year 2050.
2. How does a family cope after climate change has wiped out their community? Like millions of other Americans in the year 2050, they’ve become refugees in their own country and ask themselves, “How can I ever belong again?”
3. I picked “producers” to target because I know of a couple of them. I hadn’t focused on managers or actors’ production companies.
4. What I learned today is to open my eyes and widen my net.
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GT Peterson
Genre: Reality Comedy
Title: Fingerprints
Concept: While a man struggles with his reality he discovers evidence about his destiny at his fingertips. A funny and unusual trip to his uncle’s ranch in Texas results in a dynamic change in his life.
The story is attractive because the lead character has funny experiences in the midst of harsh realities.
I would pick producers because in this current social climate people are looking for comeback stories that have comedy and hope.
I learned how to focus on my target market to market my script.
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Title: Sister Lizzy
Genre: Drama
Concept: In 1977, when the NYPD closes the case of her mother’s disappearance, 16 year-old Lizzy begins her own search for her mother, thrusting her into the midst of a battle for control of the Irish mob, which may ultimately hold the answer to her mother’s fate.
2. This coming of age story, features a young woman who is transformed by the violent world of the Irish mob.
3. I will target producers first because it makes sense to me to find a producing partner who will partner with me to get this script produced.
4. I’ve always known that pitching is about selling and not about spewing out as many story details as you can. I’m starting to learn how to incorporate marketability into a pitch.
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John Vanis Project and Market
1) Genre: Comedy
Title: Potty Mouths
Concept: We hear the vulgar, inner thoughts of two infants as they are left with their inexperienced dads for five days.
Comps: It’s an R-rated version of “Look Who’s Talking.”
2) I think new and experienced parents can relate to this story.
3) I’m first targeting producers that do comedies. More specifically Screen Gems since they’re trying to make a Look Who’s Talking reboot and Point Grey Pictures since they were behind projects like Good Boys and Blockers. This story has a wide market appeal and the budget should be low. (Depending on talent, of course.)
4) What I learned today is that it is relevant to develop a strong marketing campaign to help sell my script.
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Michael Mercer, Ph.D. “LOVE YOU FOREVER” – Feature Film – Market
ASSIGNMENT
1. Genre = Coming-of-Age Drama-Romance
Title = “LOVE YOU FOREVER”
Concept =
In this coming-of-age drama-romance, six teenage girls go through the most intense emotional roller-coasters of their lives – because of the one handsome, fun, very affectionate guy they all adore.
2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.
The main characters are in late-high school and early-college.
They get into a non-stop, startling array of emotional roller coaster coming-of-age problems with parents, romance, jealousy, legalities, threats, death, jealousy, and friendships.
3. Tell us which you will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why you picked that target.
FIRST = Managers
Specifically, Managers of produced screenwriters who wrote Coming-of-Age Drama-Romance movies.
Why? Because those Managers will know the Producers of Coming-of-Age Drama-Romance movies.
4. Answer the question “What I learned today is…?”
> I need to improve in very briefly writing a brief & exciting “what you think is most attractive about your story.”
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Dramedy / The Mortality Game / The Bucket List meets Thelma & Louise with a dash of Little Miss Sunshine thrown in.
My story is a sardonic look at life while facing death, in the format of a road movie.
Targeting Actor’s Production Companies, because it’s hard to get a film funded without an A-List (or at least B-List) actor attached to the project, and since my piece is dialogue and character driven, one of the lead characters in it will be a middle-aged actor’s wet dream.
What I learned today is… I never thought that as a writer, or creative of ANY kind, I’d have be learned in business or marketing, let alone BOTH!
Ed Vela
The Mortality Game
Actor’s Production Companies
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· 1. Genre: Horror, Title: Flint Hill
Concept: Flint Hill centers on an eleven-year-old boy, Evan, whose dad can’t keep a job. As a result of being constantly uprooted he has recently been hospitalized and takes medicine for anxiety. In yet another new town, Evan encounters a dead girl, Abigail, who longs for a mother and family. When Abigail decides his mom and his family is the one she wants, the battle begins. She threatens him with magic and violence. Evan knows he must destroy Abigail before she kills him, or he’ll leave his sister, mother, and unborn sibling without a champion.
Logline: When a young boy’s father takes a traveling sales job in a new town, he is left to save his sister and pregnant mother from a dead girl who will kill to be part of their family.
· 2. The most attractive thing about my script is the uniqueness of the story. A child goes up against a dead child his own age. She uses her spirit powers and dead “pets” against him, yet he battles on for the love of his mother and little sister. It’s attractive because it will appeal to not only horror fans, but younger viewers, and because supernatural and horror movies make a great deal of money.
· 3. I think producers or actor’s production companies are the fastest route to selling a script. They hold the money… but I could be wrong.
· 4. Today, I learned to target the market, which means to pick apart my script and think about what will sell it. Think about who wants it. Think about how to sell my script without wasting my time and others.
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Guil, Project and Market.
1. Give us your Genre, Title, and Concept.
Genre: Crime, Drama
Title: The Dreammaker’s Revenge
Concept: A struggling filmmaker makes the wrong move with a producer setting off a point of no return that jeopardizes not only his life but everyone around him.
2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.
My screenplay is a contained story that takes place in two interior locations with a few b-roll exteriors. Financially that might be attractive to producers. It’s also a character-driven crime drama with a dark comedy undertone with a contained cast of five actors.
Another way to express the concept is: my story captures some of film noir’s themes: the haunted past and the fatalistic nightmare. The main character is a dysfunctional screenwriter who makes terrible mistakes and the past comes back to haunt him. His deranged choices become a fatalistic nightmare, a point of no return.
3. Tell us which you will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why you picked that target.
Indie Producers. That’s because the target is producers that work with budgets of the 500G-2K range.
4. Answer the question “What I learned today is…?”
Being able to eloquently express a concept that hooks producers is a hard task. A skill has need to be honed. Something I’m looking forward to improving on.
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Assignment 1
Genre: Thriller
Title: Three Days Missing based on book by that title
Concept The love of a parent for her child gives her the strength to overcome her fears and work with others to find her kidnapped child.
What is attractive about the story: This is a story about every parent’s nightmare. What would I do if my child was kidnapped? This is a story of a kidnapping, but the wrong child is taken. What happens to the two families (the kidnapped and the would-be kidnapped) is what will draw the audience to this story.
Target to: Managers of actors, production companies, potential financial partners (other producers, streaming platforms, movie investors)
What I learned in Lesson 1: It’s important to match your material to the target you are approaching. You need to know what it is they are interested in, what it is they want. If your script matches what they want, you have a chance of being considered.
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Audrey Project and Market
What I learned today is how to focus on making the script a big picture concept, and appealing to any audience by thinking objectively like a producer. It’s a business.
1. Genre: Dramedy
Title: Family Trust (or Naïve Optimist)
Concept: Just as a Laughter Therapist’s career earns a high paying goal, she crashes when her husband dies and is attacked as a fraud with toxic optimism.
2. Dilemma of life long joy and optimism dissolving with grief issues, yet striving to campaign laughter as the best catalyst toward healing any loss.
3. First target: Producers with a matched genre, have the connections and appropriate budget for my current pilot script.
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“MOVE”
GENRE: Dance/Family
CONCEPT: It’s energetic, hi-level dancing, romance, and a strong emotional core about the definition of family.
The dance movie audience is faithful to the genre. In my research, I discovered that the international box office was often double the domestic numbers. I imagined what it would be like to write a story targeting an international and a domestic box office, instead of the other way around.
What’s attractive about MOVE ?
1) The cast leads are diverse: African-American, Asian-American, and Southeast Asian.
2) The brother’s relationship gives the story an emotional core.
3) The strong, energetic dance set pieces.
I want to target producers, studios, and streaming companies who’ve made dance/ family films and are looking for stories with global appeal.
I learned the difference between telling and selling and why less is more when you pitch.
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