On The Lot-Steven Spielberg

MonaLeigh · May 21, 2007

I've sort of been looking forward to this, although I don't know how much I'll like it. Is anyone planning on watching this?

Lake

tourdeforce · May 21, 2007

First assignment: Take a perfectly good movie and screw up the ending.

Writer2011 · May 21, 2007

I'm really looking forward to this...it's different from anything that's on television... Hope it turns out really well.

Plot Device · May 21, 2007

With the whole reality TV thing these past few years, especially Project Runway and Top Chef, I have fantasized about a show for writers.

But ...

Watching a writer write is like watching the proverbial paint dry.

Rainy Night · May 22, 2007

It's not really a show for writers, more a show for directors. I thought of submitting a film, but my directorial skills are not that good, I was fairly sure I'd never make it. I try to focus on writing.

I liked Project Greenlight because it focused on writing and directing... a seperate contest for each. I fear that it'll never come back, it just didn't have the ratings to keep it going.

I hope On The Lot does well, but my fears are that it won't.

zeprosnepsid · May 22, 2007

I loved Project Greenlight.

I thought about submitting to On The Lot but it just seemed like film school all over again. Fairly useless assignments from week to week. And making films with lots of people who also want to make films. But this did, in film school anyway, lead to all kinds of drama. So I think the show may be fairly entertaining. I plan to watch. I just have no interest in going through it=)

Also, you win a Dreamworks development deal for a year which equals big fat nothing! At least you'll get paid. It's like get net points...

Rainy Night · May 22, 2007

zeprosnepsid said:
I loved Project Greenlight.

I really wish they'd bring PGL back.

MonaLeigh · May 22, 2007

What did you think of the show? I liked it-especially the pitching part. That seemed nerve wracking, and some really did a bad job. (not that I could do any better)

jonpiper · May 22, 2007

So that's what pitching is all about. A bit of acting ability helps. Some did well, others flopped. Do you think those who pitched better were primarily writers rather than directors, and therefore, had a better handle on the story.

Rainy Night · May 23, 2007

I liked the pitch sessions, I thought they were an excellent example of both good and bad and it just goes to show that you really have to know your story, which is why I think it's better if you are the writer that is pitching the script.

Jamesaritchie · May 23, 2007

Pitch

Rainy Night said:
which is why I think it's better if you are the writer that is pitching the script.

Maybe, but it struck me that knowing the story wasn't all that important. The way they looked, acted, and spoke seemed to mean more than what they were saying.

Honestly, though, I would have punched several of them, if I had to work in those groups. Talk about ego!

Rainy Night · May 23, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
Maybe, but it struck me that knowing the story wasn't all that important. The way they looked, acted, and spoke seemed to mean more than what they were saying.

I thought confidence was a key element.

jonpiper · May 23, 2007

Rainy Night said:
I thought confidence was a key element.

Could have been lack of confidence or stage freight, but it just seemed to me that most of those who did poorly did not have a complete enough story to tell.

MonaLeigh · May 23, 2007

Yeah, I think confidence definitely had a part in it. The nervous ones tended not to do so well. I'd be scared to death. You could tell by the look on the judges faces that they liked the ones who were confident and of course who could speak clearly and get their point across.

I feel bad for them next week, b/c they're not getting any sleep. Not to mention you have a bunch of people who all want to control things.

Plot Device · May 23, 2007

I can't find the link for it (so if anyone here has it, PLEASE share) but I read a few years back on the net a (fictional?) transcript of the pitch meeting for the film Armageddon. In it, the script writer was just all into his way-cool idea for the movie, and he's telling the execs the plot points with unfettered drive and enthusiasm. And every now and then one of the studio execs in the room would interrupt and very dryly point out a scientific fact that would totaly undermine the credibility of the latest outlandish plot point. And the scriptwriter would just confidently dismiss those scientific claims with some of the lamest one-line excuses, and then just push forward as if the interuption hadn't even happened.

Dancre · May 23, 2007

Plot Device said:
With the whole reality TV thing these past few years, especially Project Runway and Top Chef, I have fantasized about a show for writers.

But ...

Watching a writer write is like watching the proverbial paint dry.

I often thought the same thing, how about something for writers? But alas, watching someone type all day can be a bit, grueling.

kim

Plot Device · May 23, 2007

Dancre said:
I often thought the same thing, how about something for writers? But alas, watching someone type all day can be a bit, grueling.

kim

There's almost nothing visual about writing. All the work is done in your head. Might as well set a camera on me as I sit by the pool for five hours staring off into space. *yawn*

jonpiper · May 23, 2007

Plot Device said:
There's almost nothing visual about writing. All the work is done in your head. Might as well set a camera on me as I sit by the pool for five hours staring off into space. *yawn*

Thank God for voice over.

NikeeGoddess · May 23, 2007

i think they were looking for a coherent storyline. so many were just ideas an didn't have a 3-act structure. it was a pressure chamber for some and if you can't stand the heat... get outta the kitchen!

anyhoo -
most people in the business must know how to pitch well. directors, producers, managers and writers because they must convince someone to fork over millions of dollars for this project. the only ones who don't have to pitch are the ones who are paying for everything themselves which is extremely rare.

ie - the writer pitches to the producer... the producer pitches it to his favorite director... the director pitches to his favorite a-list actor... etc... it's how packages get made.

zeprosnepsid · May 24, 2007

There's actually a pretty funny article on Site link removed per request of other site's Webmaster And they're arguably the biggest writers in the business right now. So there is hope =)

dpaterso · May 24, 2007

link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.The Wind-up & the Pitch from link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.Site link removed per request of other site's Webmaster's most excellent link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.Columns.

-Derek

DanielD · May 24, 2007

On the lot with Steven Spielberg?
Project Greenlight?
HEY! They're not on my TV guide.
Damn!.... Must be pay TV.
Daniel.

Rainy Night · May 25, 2007

DanielD said:
On the lot with Steven Spielberg?
Project Greenlight?
HEY! They're not on my TV guide.
Damn!.... Must be pay TV.
Daniel.

On The Lot is on FOX, not pay TV.

PGL's final season was on HBO & Bravo about 2 years ago, I don't think it's coming back.

DanielD · May 25, 2007

To Rainy Night.
Many thanks .
Daniel.

Rainy Night · May 25, 2007

No problemo. All the short films from last night are on line too... there's a link in this thread: http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65195

On The Lot-Steven Spielberg

MonaLeigh

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