Joe Calabrese
03-08-2005, 06:29 PM
hey all, here's what's been selling lately,
Stanley and Bitterling are 'Witchfinders'
Don't let the witches get to the new world.
Scribes Justin Stanley and Shane Bitterling have just had their spec script, Witchfinders picked up by Regency Enterprises, with Arnold and Anne Kopelson set to produce through their shingle Kopelson Entertainment.
Witchfinders centers on...
"... a group of 17th century witch hunters who are charged with destroying a coven of witches before they flee Europe for a new home in Salem, Mass."
'Ghost of 21' [Spec Sale]
- Twentieth Century Fox has paid low against mid-six figures to Blake McCormick, until now a waiter at an LA restaurant, for his comedy script.
- Davis Entertainment will produce the project, which is being compared to Old School.
- STORY: "A 30-year-old pillar of the community is on the verge of being married. His world is turned upside down when his old college buddies reappear to hold him to a promise he made not to get hitched."
'Step in the Name of Love' [Spec Sale]
- Carl Seaton and Kenny Young have sold their script to MGM, their first studio sale.
- The studio plans to develop the film as a starring vehicle for Usher.
- Stephanie Allain and Michael Jenkins will produce; Nichelle Proto (Urban Entertainment) will co-produce.
- According to the release in Variety, the film will be "an urban Saturday Night Fever, set in the world of steppin', a Chicago-bred derivative of swing dancing."
'The Wife's Away' [Spec Sale]
- DreamWorks has purchased the spec script from writer Mike Reiss (The Simpsons) in a mid-six figure deal. This is the third consecutive feature film deal for Reiss, who sold Fat Man to Columbia Pictures and The Adventures of Sinbad the Insurance Salesman to Paramount. Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider are attached to those projects, respectively.
- The Wife's Away is about "a bored husband who gets more than he bargained for when his wife leaves him home alone for the weekend."
New Line Picks Up 'Soccer Mom' [Spec Sale]
Anyone want to kick the ball around?
According to the trades, New Line has just picked up the rights to the Cindy McCreery penned comedy Soccer Mom. In a mid-six figure deal, this latest purchase is the second spec sale for McCreery since her graduation from the respected Disney Fellowship, which she completed just two short months ago. McCreery also sold Powderpuff Girls to the Mouse... How's that for a quick turn around?
With Karz Entertainment and Underground Films producing, Soccer Mom centers on... "... a mother of two who gets a second chance to go back to college and play on its soccer team, all while balancing her family life."
Cagan's 'Gotta Dance' (Spec Sale)
How many writers would like to be in Josh A. Cagan's shoes, right about now? Last week, Revolution Studios snapped up Cagan's spec script Will and now this week MGM has shelled out $300 large against $650,000 big ones for Cagan's spec comedy Gotta Dance. With H2F Entertainment producers Walter Hamada, Chris Fenton and Jonathan Hung taking the reigns on the project, Josh Cagan looks to have the much-needed heat to take him to the next level.
- LOGLINE: "... an overweight construction worker who finds out that he is the long-lost son of the greatest ballet dancer in history. He is torn between his blue-collar macho world and the life of a ballet dancer when he's called upon to save his late mother's dance company."
'Time Travel for Dummies' (Spec Sale) [/B]
- Time Travel for Dummies by Stephen Falk and Francis Stokes has been picked up by Summit Entertainment.
- Vice President of Summit production, Adrienne Biddle will oversee the project along with Summit production top dog, Erik Feig.
- LOGLINE: "... three hapless pals who make use of a time machine to get out of life's chores, with unexpected consequences."
"Sydney White & the Seven Dorks' (Spec Sale)
Script News
- A script by Chad Creasey, written during the USC's Peter Stark Producing Program
- Previously optioned by a fellow studnet, Dara Resnik, who used it for her graduate thesis, the screenplay has now been optioned by Warner Bros.
- Clifford Werber will produce, and was introduced to the script by Resnik, who met the producer on A Cinderella Story.
- LOGLINE: "Anupdated version of the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" fairy tale, set among students in their freshman year of college in the Greek system."
'F+' (Spec Sale)
A spec script by Joe Ballarini, whose most recent writing includes The Blob remake, Spooks, The Legendary McClouds and The Spy Next Door
- The script was bought by Jennifer Klein (3B Productions) and MGM; and Klein will produce
- LOGLINE: "An urban classroom comedy about the unlikely friendship between the nastiest teacher in high school and a student who makes his life a living hell."
Stanley and Bitterling are 'Witchfinders'
Don't let the witches get to the new world.
Scribes Justin Stanley and Shane Bitterling have just had their spec script, Witchfinders picked up by Regency Enterprises, with Arnold and Anne Kopelson set to produce through their shingle Kopelson Entertainment.
Witchfinders centers on...
"... a group of 17th century witch hunters who are charged with destroying a coven of witches before they flee Europe for a new home in Salem, Mass."
'Ghost of 21' [Spec Sale]
- Twentieth Century Fox has paid low against mid-six figures to Blake McCormick, until now a waiter at an LA restaurant, for his comedy script.
- Davis Entertainment will produce the project, which is being compared to Old School.
- STORY: "A 30-year-old pillar of the community is on the verge of being married. His world is turned upside down when his old college buddies reappear to hold him to a promise he made not to get hitched."
'Step in the Name of Love' [Spec Sale]
- Carl Seaton and Kenny Young have sold their script to MGM, their first studio sale.
- The studio plans to develop the film as a starring vehicle for Usher.
- Stephanie Allain and Michael Jenkins will produce; Nichelle Proto (Urban Entertainment) will co-produce.
- According to the release in Variety, the film will be "an urban Saturday Night Fever, set in the world of steppin', a Chicago-bred derivative of swing dancing."
'The Wife's Away' [Spec Sale]
- DreamWorks has purchased the spec script from writer Mike Reiss (The Simpsons) in a mid-six figure deal. This is the third consecutive feature film deal for Reiss, who sold Fat Man to Columbia Pictures and The Adventures of Sinbad the Insurance Salesman to Paramount. Adam Sandler and Rob Schneider are attached to those projects, respectively.
- The Wife's Away is about "a bored husband who gets more than he bargained for when his wife leaves him home alone for the weekend."
New Line Picks Up 'Soccer Mom' [Spec Sale]
Anyone want to kick the ball around?
According to the trades, New Line has just picked up the rights to the Cindy McCreery penned comedy Soccer Mom. In a mid-six figure deal, this latest purchase is the second spec sale for McCreery since her graduation from the respected Disney Fellowship, which she completed just two short months ago. McCreery also sold Powderpuff Girls to the Mouse... How's that for a quick turn around?
With Karz Entertainment and Underground Films producing, Soccer Mom centers on... "... a mother of two who gets a second chance to go back to college and play on its soccer team, all while balancing her family life."
Cagan's 'Gotta Dance' (Spec Sale)
How many writers would like to be in Josh A. Cagan's shoes, right about now? Last week, Revolution Studios snapped up Cagan's spec script Will and now this week MGM has shelled out $300 large against $650,000 big ones for Cagan's spec comedy Gotta Dance. With H2F Entertainment producers Walter Hamada, Chris Fenton and Jonathan Hung taking the reigns on the project, Josh Cagan looks to have the much-needed heat to take him to the next level.
- LOGLINE: "... an overweight construction worker who finds out that he is the long-lost son of the greatest ballet dancer in history. He is torn between his blue-collar macho world and the life of a ballet dancer when he's called upon to save his late mother's dance company."
'Time Travel for Dummies' (Spec Sale) [/B]
- Time Travel for Dummies by Stephen Falk and Francis Stokes has been picked up by Summit Entertainment.
- Vice President of Summit production, Adrienne Biddle will oversee the project along with Summit production top dog, Erik Feig.
- LOGLINE: "... three hapless pals who make use of a time machine to get out of life's chores, with unexpected consequences."
"Sydney White & the Seven Dorks' (Spec Sale)
Script News
- A script by Chad Creasey, written during the USC's Peter Stark Producing Program
- Previously optioned by a fellow studnet, Dara Resnik, who used it for her graduate thesis, the screenplay has now been optioned by Warner Bros.
- Clifford Werber will produce, and was introduced to the script by Resnik, who met the producer on A Cinderella Story.
- LOGLINE: "Anupdated version of the "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" fairy tale, set among students in their freshman year of college in the Greek system."
'F+' (Spec Sale)
A spec script by Joe Ballarini, whose most recent writing includes The Blob remake, Spooks, The Legendary McClouds and The Spy Next Door
- The script was bought by Jennifer Klein (3B Productions) and MGM; and Klein will produce
- LOGLINE: "An urban classroom comedy about the unlikely friendship between the nastiest teacher in high school and a student who makes his life a living hell."