Here is a challenge

scripter1 · May 23, 2007

for all of us, especially those who know the backstories of so many scripts.

We've been talking about the process of getting past the reader.

SO, let's take a look at the scripts that have actually been through that exact process.
The real true blue spec script.
Sent in cold, got read by that scary creature we know as the READER, low and behold got a consider, and went on it's merry way to become a film.

Start naming them.
Any chance of finding a series of drafts?

Rainy Night · May 23, 2007

Great idea. You know the script for 50 First Dates comes to mind, but I'm not 100% on if it was a spec. The writer is George Wing and it was his first "sell" (credit). The script was originally 50 First Kisses. George won a writing competition in Washington State and that got him a number of calls, so maybe this doesn't count... hummm will try and think of some others.

Rainy Night · May 23, 2007

I was also thinking about HIGHLANDER, George Widen's first script, I think he sold it while at UCLA.

dpaterso · May 23, 2007

Rainy Night said:
I was also thinking about HIGHLANDER, George Widen's first script, I think he sold it while at UCLA.

Would that be Gregory Widen, writer/director of my second favorite "angel" film, The Prophecy?

Heck, looking at imdb, he's been living off Highlander and Prophecy sequels.

These are fine scripts.

-Derek

Rainy Night · May 23, 2007

You are correct, I bow to your superior knowledge... Highlander is one of my all time favorites. The Prophecy wasn't half bad either.

scripter1 · May 23, 2007

I think

writing contest winners can play.
That IS something that can be included in a query.

So 50 first dates is a maybe.
We're waiting to see if it was a real spec bt a total newbie.

Plot Device · May 23, 2007

I think (but don't know for sure) that The 40-year-Old Virgin was a spec. And I heard it was written by a Mormon, and the original draft overtly said that the Steve Carrel charcter was a Mormon, and that's why he had a bike.

Plot Device · May 23, 2007

Being John Malkovich

dpaterso · May 23, 2007

Plot Device said:
Being John Malkovich

Being John Malkovich was written by Charlie Kaufman, and technically it wasn't his first script (several TV credits, ergo track record and industry contacts, which a spec writer doesn't have):

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0442109/

-Derek

dpaterso · May 23, 2007

Plot Device said:
I think (but don't know for sure) that The 40-year-Old Virgin was a spec. And I heard it was written by a Mormon, and the original draft overtly said that the Steve Carrel charcter was a Mormon, and that's why he had a bike.

40-Year-Old Virgin, written by Judd Apatow http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031976/ and Steve Carell http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0136797/ -- these guys have writing credits coming out the wazoo.

www.imdb.com is your friend.

-Derek

Boo_Radley · May 23, 2007

Scream, by Kevin Williamson, which he was paid 5 million for. If memory serves, it came down to a bidding war between Miramax and Oliver Stone.

I believe he'd optioned one script before that (I Know What You Did Last Summer), but it wasn't greenlit until after Scream became a hit and put him on the map.

jonpiper · May 24, 2007

Boo_Radley said:
Scream, by Kevin Williamson, which he was paid 5 million for. If memory serves, it came down to a bidding war between Miramax and Oliver Stone.

I believe he'd optioned one script before that (I Know What You Did Last Summer), but it wasn't greenlit until after Scream became a hit and put him on the map.

Here's a version of Scream. http://corky.net/scripts/scream.html

Boo, how do we know if this is the spec script that was actually submitted or a later version? In fact when we go to one of the freee script sites how do we know which scripts are the spec scripts and which are shooting scripts?

Plot Device · May 24, 2007

dpaterso said:
40-Year-Old Virgin, written by Judd Apatow http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0031976/ and Steve Carell http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0136797/ -- these guys have writing credits coming out the wazoo.

www.imdb.com is your friend.

-Derek

You mean I can't trust everything I hear in random conversations?????? :tongue

dpaterso · May 24, 2007

Plot Device said:
You mean I can't trust everything I hear in random conversations??????

Hell no, and the same goes for writing forums!

-Derek

Plot Device · May 24, 2007

dpaterso said:
Hell no, and the same goes for writing forums!

-Derek

I'll take your word for it.

*scratches Derek off list of "relaible sources of information" *

Hey! Waita minute!

scripter1 · May 25, 2007

Um

Why would a 40 year old Mormon still be riding a bike?
That's given up like the moment you leave the mission field.

Sheesh, people and thier crazy ideas.

zagoraz · May 25, 2007

In 2000, Michael Arndt was an unemployed writer with no credits who wrote a screenplay and sent it to one person, someone he sort of knew at a production company in Los Angeles. That person gave the script to Marc Turtletaub, who bought it and five years later finally made "Little Miss Sunshine," which of course won the Oscar this year. Because of the success of LMS, he was then paid to write Toy Story 3. Miracles do happen.

Here is a challenge

scripter1

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dpaterso

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