question

[zagoraz]

So I've been kicking around this idea of writing a dark comedy centered around the profession of embalming/funeral services. Then I discover that A&E has a show called 'Family Plots' which is kind of basically the same thing, reality style. Now I'm wondering if it would even be worth it, or if it would be viewed as a rip-off or a copycat, or even worse, a stolen idea. Any thoughts?

[Chesher Cat]

So I've been kicking around this idea of writing a dark comedy centered around the profession of embalming/funeral services.

Isn't that Six Feet Under?

Everything has been done before.

If your version has awsome and original characters and your theme and plot are original, go for it. If you are going to rehash a fictional version of Family Plot then you might want to rethink it.

[zagoraz]

Six Feet Under. Yeah, forgot about that too. Thump me in the head as I move on to a different idea.

[Joe Calabrese]

I wrote a spec a few years ago called "Working Stiffs" about two brothers who moved from a small village in Italy to open a Funeral Home in Boston in the 1970's and gets caught between the rivalry of a high powered MacDonalds-like "American" funeral service and the interest the local Mob has to branch out into this money making avenue. Kinda like a Mortician's version of "The Big Night."

Scrapted it when "Six Feet" came out, but lately been getting some interest in it.

My point is that just because it's similar to something out there, doesn't make it a bad thing, just as long as it's fresh and adds something to the familiar concept.

Good luck.

[bison]

Perhaps you can find a template for TV sitcoms and write one for one of those shows.

I understand you never use the name of the show you are petioning. If they accidently came up with something similiar, you could sue for plag.

Quit worrying about anything being done before. That simply means your idea sells. You're on the right track.

The thing that sells a script is concept (high concept). Your writing style and content are secondary. Sell your idea to the pros.

Best of luck.

[Boo_Radley]

Doesn't matter if your script whiffs familiar of something else so long as you write it well. You could write some slasher flick about a masked psycho whacking out pot-smoking kids in the woods but if it's good, then resemblence to Friday the 13th won't matter.

I don't know how many times I've started a script only to see a movie come out with an eerily similar title or storyline, and I've let it stop me from writing the story. Then, a few months later when I catch the flick on DVD or Cable, I see that any similarities were incidental because that film's story was a big departure from the one I'd started on.

[Chesher Cat]

I don't know how many times I've started a script only to see a movie come out with an eerily similar title or storyline, and I've let it stop me from writing the story. Then, a few months later when I catch the flick on DVD or Cable, I see that any similarities were incidental because that film's story was a big departure from the one I'd started on.

Don't ya just hate that? Sitting in the theater and watching the story you finished a couple of weeks ago unfold before your eyes?

I'm thinking all the ideas are floating just above our heads and sometimes (ofttimes) more than one person grabs it. Guess it's the Idea God's way of making sure they get done - give to a few of us in case some of us don't follow through.