This is a 1+6 Week Challenge.   First 11 pages due in one week.  The remainder due six weeks after that.

Theme:  A man/woman's life is turned upside down after purchasing a smart phone that is supposed to go to someone else.  
Genre: open

Due Dates:
First 9 – 11 pages (no more than 11) are due March 15th at 10:00 pm edt
Complete work due April 26th, at 10:00pm edt

Submit them here: http://www.simplyscripts.com/unpro_short_exercise_13_03.html

See below for further clarification.


Most Americans know the story of the "Lost Colony"�.  It dates back to the time the Europeans began to settle on the land now known as Virginia.  The village of Roanoke was one of the first English colonies to be established on the soil.  But it didn't turn out quite as successful as the colonists had hoped"¦  

The Governor of this hamlet was a man by the name of John White.  The small population of Roanoke complained about their lack of food and tools.  They also harbored suspicions that the Natives might launch a surprise attack on them.  These complaints eventually spurred John White to travel back to England, in search of weapons and supplies.  He returned three long years later.  

Upon his homecoming, John White found a ghost town.  The area "“ once a thriving village - was stripped of its people.  Houses and other shelters were nowhere in site.  What was left behind were small cannons, an opened chest, a tall fence built around the perimeter, and a single word inscription carved on a fence post: "Croatoan."�

This, of course, has absolutely nothing to do with the challenge.

For those of you unfamiliar with the OWC, TWC, 7WC or any other WC's, the idea behind it is to see if the good people here can write a script based on someone else's criteria.  

If you had a week to write a ten-page horror script that took place in a nursery, could you do it?  What if you had seven weeks to write a rom-com set in the International Space Station?  Could you do that?

Well, could ya?  Could ya?

Anyway, the challenge starts tonight.  Continue reading for the rest of the rules and the specifics for this particular challenge.

BTW, do not click here.  It has nothing to do with this challenge.  So, don't click here.

Anyway, without further adieu "after all, why put off tomorrow what you can do today" the challenge will be a seven week challenge.  

You have seven weeks to come up with a feature length script (between 90 and 120 pages).  The first nine to eleven pages, however, are due next Friday, March 15th, at 10:00pm edt.  Just finish the scene at this page length.  Cutting it off in mid-sentence and leaving us hanging is soooo uncool.

Submit your first ten pages [url= http://www.simplyscripts.com/unpro_short_exercise_13_03.html]here[/url] before 10:00pm est next Friday, March 15th .  Don't submit the first ten if you can't commit to the whole challenge.

The completed script is due on Friday, April 26th, at 10:00pm edt.  Submit your completed script [url= http://www.simplyscripts.com/unpro_short_exercise_13_03.html]here[/url] before 10:00pm on April 26th.

The genre and theme to this competition will be announced in a moment.  But before I do, I just want to go over a few rules and other fascinating facts:

Participation in this is voluntary.  If someone's holding a gun to your head and making you participate, call the police;

Unlike previous challenges, this one will not be anonymous.  Your names will be on your work from the get-go;

There is no betting on this challenge;

No piss-takes.  At all.  Violators of this rule will be summarily executed by duct tape, electricity and Cheetos.  Not necessarily in that order;

I've lost ten pounds on the Atkins diet and I feel great;

The genre for this particular challenge pretty flexible: comedy and/or action and/or thriller.  You decide;

The first ten pages (or so) will be posted at Don's earliest convenience;

If you don't like the genre/theme of the challenge, post it on your damn Facebook page.  Don't whine about it here;

There will be no voting on the best script.  This is not a competition and there are no winners (though, technically, we all win when we have fun);

The theme is:  A man/woman's life is turned upside down after purchasing a smart phone that is supposed to go to someone else.  You can make up your own apps for said phone, but they have to be realistic.  No jet pack apps or death ray apps.  Thank you very much;

Can you believe it?  Ten pounds on Atkins.  I'm also using raspberry ketone pills.  They boost your energy and help you burn calories and stuff.  I first heard about them on Doctor Oz.  I like this guy;

If you have any questions, write them down on a piece of paper.  Roll that paper in a tight ball and throw it out.  You'll be glad you did;

If you don't know what the challenge, genre and theme are, it's because you went straight to the bottom without reading all that I wrote here.  You suck!

Good luck!


Phil

Quoted Text If someone’s holding a gun to your head and making you participate, call the police;

How do I call the police, if the gunman wont let me?

Mark

Quoted from irish eyes How do I call the police, if the gunman wont let me? Mark

The gunman might BE the police, lol

Quoted from stevie The gunman might BE the police, lol

In Mark's case, that's likely...

Quoted from dogglebe The theme is:  A man/woman’s life is turned upside down after purchasing a smart phone that is supposed to go to someone else.  You can make up your own apps for said phone, but they have to be realistic.  No jet pack apps or death ray apps.  Thank you very much;

I'll be the first one to ask the stupid question.

I assume no time travel apps either?

Mark beat you to the stupid question, Nawazm.

But, in regards to your stupid question... there is no time travel apps.


Phil

Quoted from dogglebe as the moderator of this thread, I thought I'd unblock you to see if you had anything significant to say.  I see I made the right decision in blocking you. You've expressed your opinion and you won't be participating in the challenge.  There's no need to comment here anymore. Phil

Phil,
Are you seriously going to moderate this thread in this way?

Jeff said nothing worth deleating ...but you did..

He simply expressed his opinion.

Unless something differient was posted just a minute ago I didnt see..

Shawn.....><

He did, Shawn.  He posted three messages.  I deleted all of them.

Now he's just busting balls and wasting time.

Jeff, I'm sorry that the genre wasn't torture porn.  I wasn't thinking what you would approve of.


Phil

Why not let them stand?

There is a difference in moderating and censorship...

That said, I completly respect you taking this thread and owning it.

But Jeff had a point...

And you deleated it.

It can be open for an arguement ...

it is Friday night, eh?

Shawn....><

Why should Jeff--who has no intention of participating in the challenge--be allowed to run around like a spoiled child?  Attacking me for personal reasons?  Maybe he should dedicate more time into writing scripts that interest people than being disruptive.


Phil

How about everyone takes a step back...

Everyone here has a common goal in mind and that is to have

his or her's work noticed.

It's not worth a red cent at this point in any of our careers to go around

Attacking each or trying to "one up" each other in order to gain the attention of

someone "larger" than our community.

We may have huge differences in our over all take on what we perceive as basic script construct, format, ect...

By bitching at each other here, all we are serving up to those looking for the next great writer is, amateur site...nothing here to see...

Anyone else get this?

Shawn.....><

I'm out on this challenge. Best of luck to those in it

Wow, I'm psyched. A 7WC AND a (sort-of) OWC.

I will say, I'm not loving the premise (yet), but hey, I'll take what I can get. Let's do this!

Seems you all had fun whilst I slept off the night before.

Ok, back to business.

Any genre - good

Topic/theme - a man or woman life is turned upside down when they get hold of the wrong phone etc etc i Reminds me of Greg's OWC script a while back.

Now it says, PURCHASING. I hope this part is not too strict as the method in which the person receives the phone could be quite important.

Ayway, I quite like that, open enough.

Let's get a thinking.

The 'purchasing' part has me worried too.  I thought it would be easy to work out how someone ended up with another persons phone but having to buy someone's phone?  I can only picture a dodgy pub and a Pikey selling it under the table lol.  I can't see how a phone is made for someone else, aren't all phones the same?

You had a character called Pikey as well - how strange!

Joking aside, my initial thought does not involve buying a phone, but another 'top secret' way, like he finds it! Or she of course.

No time unfortunately to devote to this.

However, further to what Allfy said: (jeepers, that sounded formal i.e. the 'under the table stuff' - if you look at Ebay, people are often selling phones given as gifts/'pre-loved as new' etc. Or, you could buy one retail that someone returned to 'easy to return' shops, and not know it's been used until you happened upon something when you start using it... or someone desperately wants it back & they're on your tail!!

Or it could be packaged up perfectly, & then retailer tries to pass it off as new, then there's pre-testing of phones before they're even up for sale i.e. some internal conspiracy where someone was meant to get a particular phone and dumped it.

I'm sure if you let your imagination go, there's a lot of stuff 'purchase' could mean. I'm not up for the duration of this challenge, but I think Phil did very nicely with this rather broad theme.  Just a few thoughts. Be interesting to see what you guys come up with.

Don't let the phone bog you down - it's your inciting incident but from there you can take it wherever you want.

My initial thought was of some kind of time hole a la http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodnight_Sweetheart_%28TV_series%29 which would give you plenty of mystery and ability to weave in a story like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frequency_%28film%29 nothing wrong with adapting existing films!

Lots of potential here for the SSers to develop something both commercially appealing and creatively interesting.

I'm out (waaaaaaaay too much to do right now) - but I did want to weigh in and say I like the concept in general.  There's plenty of freedom to choose one's genre:

It could be action (someone gets a spy's phone)
Rom-com (there's a contact on the phone that they fall in love with)
Business -thrller (there are corporation secrets on the phone that someone wants back)
Horror (it's a serial killer's phone, and there's evidence on it that the killer wants to erase...)

Etc, etc.  Just throwing ideas out there. Anyone wants these, feel free of course!  And it's the sort of high concept thing that Hollywood likes, so that makes any good scripts potentially sellable...

Course, if suddenly an idea catches on fire for me, I'll think about it. But unless that happens, I'll just look forward to seeing what comes out of this.

Quoted from alffy The 'purchasing' part has me worried too.  I thought it would be easy to work out how someone ended up with another persons phone but having to buy someone's phone?  I can only picture a dodgy pub and a Pikey selling it under the table lol.  I can't see how a phone is made for someone else, aren't all phones the same?

You can be a little flexible in acquiring the phone.  But it shouldn't be a case of finding it on a table in the food court.  There could've been a mix-up at the phone store or something.

And phones can be upgraded with more memory and better batteries and stuff.  Why not run with it?

Quoted from crookedowl Wow, I'm psyched. A 7WC AND a (sort-of) OWC. I will say, I'm not loving the premise (yet), but hey, I'll take what I can get. Let's do this!

Keep in mind that no theme/genre will appeal to everyone.  But what if a director asked you to write (and you were to get paid and get credit for it and have access to a craft service table), would you be able to do it?


Phil

I really like the premise - plenty of possibilities and possible genres that it could be adapted to. I haven't written anything new so far this year, but this has my creative juices flowing and I'll tentatively throw my hat in the ring in the hope I can get something finished within the 7 weeks!

I'm way out for this.

But for the record, I was really looking forward to an OWC, as I think many members were.

This heme has been done to death in amateur scripts and bad movies.  It does not appeal to me in any way, but that of course is simply my opinion.

Best of luck to the 3 or 4 who take this challenge on.  The rest of us and vast majority of us will just have to wait for a good old fashioned OWC.

I'll leave this thread alone now.

Firstly, well done Phil for the very entertaining announcement of this ?WC – especially enjoyed the Rick Astley link and how you tempted me with the whole “don’t click here” approach.

Unfortunately, I’m going to have to bail out on this one but I do wish all that take part good luck with it.

It’s quite open and should lead to some interesting features.

In the last 10 page challenge, Don decided that if someone wanted to do  a short, up to 10 pages, on the same theme they could. Out of that came Kevin's decent short,  of Mice and Monsters, if i remember correctly.

It's not my challenge but I don't see why someone couldn't do this - there are no winners! ,or is that losers, whatever.

As the first ten pages are possibly the most important in a script, I think this is a worthy challenge, even if I decide not to take this further.

I have an idea...

Actually, Don asked for a 7WC.  I just came up with the genre and theme.


Phil

Gosh...I'm teetering...busy as a bee...but like a moth to flame...I'm drawn to assignment type writing. Ugh...decisions.

Intriguing hook with your choice or premises, Phil.
But my current workload forces me to pull back from this.
I thought I could scrape together something for an OWC, but...

The lure of submitting to the Sunny in Philly producers is way too strong for me.
Gotta go after that white elephant.
Writing about that jolly bunch of deluded sociopaths? Oh, I'm in!

Thanks for running the event for the site, Phil.
I'll try to carve out some time to read the first ten of each player.
Hey, it's work related! I can justify it.
Already scooped up one OWC short to develop into a feature.

Have fun folks!

Regards,
E.D.

I'm confused. Is it a 1 week challenge to write the first 10 pages or a 7WC to write a feature? According to Don it's a 1+6WC...

Quoted from Grandma Bear I'm confused. Is it a 1 week challenge to write the first 10 pages or a 7WC to write a feature? According to Don it's a 1+6WC...

I thought it was the hybrid/simple addition option too.
So, I figured there'd likely be a bunch of "first tens".
But perhaps not all those gel, so there could be less completed features.

E.D.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer As the first ten pages are possibly the most important in a script, I think this is a worthy challenge, even if I decide not to take this further.

I agree, Bill. They’re very important and this could be in fact a worthy challenge even if you didn’t take it any further.

But Phil also said in the announcement:

Quoted from dogglebe Don't submit the first ten if you can't commit to the whole challenge.

A lot of us I’m sure are already working on features so the normal OWC is a nice break. I certainly can’t commit to a 7WC – too much on at the moment.

It seems like some people have a problem with the "purchasing" part, but I literally solved that in two seconds.

My only problem - I don't know if I'll be able to fit this challenge in because of school work.

I'm gonna get to work on some papers and essays and then see if I can devote more thought to this later.

Good luck to everybody else.

Interesting.  Not sure if I'll enter but I'll read some of the entries either way.  Hope for a good turnout.

Sounds interesting, I guess I'm in!

Sounds cool, I already have an idea but afraid won't have time to write it. Too bad for me - I developed the idea as soon as I read this, that's big for me, usually I need to brainstorm and such. Good luck to all participant. I'll read a few.

All right, I think I have something pretty good. Looking forward to reading the other entries!

As if by magic, script mag have an article on the first ten pages

http://www.scriptmag.com/featu.....50&rid=233131191

Just don't have the character find the phone on a bus or something, okay?


Phil

That wouldn't be fun.

A time travelling script could've been fun. Shame...

Kind of agree with Jeff here. I'm not getting anything solid at the moment but I'll most likely enter. Or at least try to.

Cool idea, Phil!

I have a lot of other deadline work over the next couple months but I'm hoping I'll be able to get something together for this. We'll find out in a week, I guess...

Quoted from nawazm11 A time travelling script could've been fun. Shame... Kind of agree with Jeff here. I'm not getting anything solid at the moment but I'll most likely enter. Or at least try to.

I don't understand.  Is it too boring of an idea?

I'm already coming up with ideas of gangsters, explosions, lots of guns, t&a  

Quoted from reaper550 I don't understand.  Is it too boring of an idea?

I'll try not to whine but, and this is just my opinion, the idea doesn't do much. It's not boring but basically a little bland. Judging from the comments though, I seem to be alone here.

I've got one idea that I'm juggling around with but it doesn't involve any gangsters or explosions! The theme isn't my thing but I'm still going to enter just for practice in case this was a producer asking me to write a script.

It's what you make of it, really.  I left it fairly open so everyone has elbow room.  If people can't come up with something, they're not trying.  When I came up with this, ideas raced through my head if I was going to participate.  Hell, I was dreamcasting my idea.

I remember people complaining about the old challenges because the genre/theme were too hard and that the scripts would end up being nothing that filmmakers would want.  I go the other way and people still have problems... and this competition could produce scripts that are very commercial and filmable

Oh well.  Can't please everyone.


Phil

I can totally see where you're getting at, Phil.

Finally got an idea, a very special and unique one, I think this could work. Definitely entering now.

All right! Working on the outline now!

Hope you guys like dark comedy......

There ya go!


Phil

As these aren't going to be anonymous we might as well be open with our ideas and see how we can help each other.

I have two and neither is giving me the feeling I can get it done in a week.

Excuse the crap loglines, this is all very rushed.

The Fourteenth Gland

An ambitious scientist is hunted by both the police and Russian mafia around London for a murder he didn't commit, and for an artefact he doesn't possess - something which is meant to bestow eternal life, called the fourteenth gland.

Genre - chase thriller

Problems - I feel I have  a unique hook for this, but it's a complicated script which I'm finding a bit overwhelming to put together - something that could just need longer to do.

Phone Buddy

When a socially awkward musician has a near death experience when he saves his new high tech phone, actually a secret service device destined to infiltrate an unknown drugs ring, he discovers the phone has come to life. Against his wishes, it's now his new best friend and it wants to party, whilst the secret service think he's the gangster.

Genre - slapstick comedy

Problems - I feel this is easier to do, but maybe a little light weight.

Ok, they're a bit different

As Steve pointed out, there is a request that if you enter you carry on, which I find a little off putting.

Happy to consider other writers ideas and share feedback.

Time will tell.

Well,

For the fourteenth gland, why not stick with one good guy and one bad guy. Also, make it into a murder. Keep it simple. lol.

For Phone buddy, you're trying to cram too much info. Follow what Babz said: noun + verb + irony = logline. One of the best things I've learned from her.

Hope this helps,
Gabe

Quoted from Reef Dreamer As these aren't going to be anonymous we might as well be open with our ideas and see how we can help each other.

That's what the point of the 7WC has always been. To help each other out. Share what you're writing about, ask for help when you are struggling, hold each others hands and help finish the script.

I like that name Phone Buddy, Bill. Very cool name. Definitely has commercial potential, IMHO. Not sure I'm too keen on the premise, though. I think you'd be better off substituting the phone for an actual character. Might be a little too wacky otherwise.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer The Fourteenth Gland

I like this one. It has the potential to be a generic thriller, but I think the sci-fi angle makes it original. Not sure I'm loving the title, though...

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Phone Buddy

I like this one, especially the title. I'm not sure about it being slapstick, but that's just personal taste.

Thanks folks

I think that IF I enter, and this is looking unlikely now, it would be for phone buddy. I just feel too lost with the other.

For others considering an entry, feel free to raise questions for feedback as this not anonymous, or a competition.

The title of mine...now that I'm 'in' this thing is DEAD CELL. I'll get log together Monday. I've written six pages. It's in the vomit stage though

Strange, Bill. My original idea was about a sociopath who receives a phone that starts talking to him and tells him to commit murders . Maybe it's a sign you should go with Phone Buddy, although I do like both ideas.

For mine, I'm thinking I'll name it "Memories of a Forgotten Love". 7 pages in, after I finish the first 10 I'll try and think of a log.

Thanks Phil for the 1+6WC though I will have to opt out because I just dont have the time to commit !!!!

I have a few projects all running in parallel ATM so struggling for time.

I hope you get enough takers.

Regards Alex

Dena - I *like* that title. (Dead Cel)   

I thought I was prolific....  But I think you're taking the "Stephen King" award!  I'm impressed...

Okay, here's mine. Be brutal....

It's Not You, It's Ryan

(or any other first name that will work. I haven't really settled on one).

A man who works at lost and found in an airport comes across a cellphone that belongs to his wife's lover. He digs deeper, only to find the man his wife is cheating with is a total weirdo, maybe even a stalker.

Thriller/dark comedy.

Quoted from crookedowl It's Not You, It's Ryan (or any other first name that will work. I haven't really settled on one). A man who works at lost and found in an airport comes across a cellphone that belongs to his wife's lover. He digs deeper, only to find the man his wife is cheating with is a total weirdo, maybe even a stalker.

I'm not feeling your logline, nor the others' either.

Okay, I'd get rid of that for starters-- you don't need it.  Then re-work the second half of it.

Ghostie

Yeah... it's definitely not my final log, but I wanted to get the basic story across. Just wanted to know if the story itself was good. But then again, maybe I was too vague.

Thanks for the input.

Was thinking of entering with:

Naughty Claws

A stuck up business woman mistakenly buys a stolen phone from a dodgy pawn shop and is suddenly thrust into the life of an unconventional Angel, where mischief and mayhem take their toll in her pursuit to achieve a set of wings.


?? If I can figure the whole story out in time.

Quoted from RJ Was thinking of entering with: Naughty Claws A stuck up business woman mistakenly buys a stolen phone from a dodgy pawn shop and is suddenly thrust into the life of an unconventional Angel, where mischief and mayhem take their toll in her pursuit to achieve a set of wings. ?? If I can figure the whole story out in time.

Yeah, at this stage loglines are a work in progress, this sounds more like a comedy-- but what I like about your approach -- having the woman purchase a cell at what appears to be a rogue pawn shop.  As I was mauling over ideas, something like that --never crossed my mind.  I almost wished I had thought of it.

Ghostie

Quoted from crookedowl A man who works at lost and found in an airport comes across a cellphone that belongs to his wife's lover. He digs deeper, only to find the man his wife is cheating with is a total weirdo, maybe even a stalker.

I think the idea could work but would be lots of work to make this (seemingly) simple story interesting.

Quoted from RJ A stuck up business woman mistakenly buys a stolen phone from a dodgy pawn shop and is suddenly thrust into the life of an unconventional Angel, where mischief and mayhem take their toll in her pursuit to achieve a set of wings.

Definitely original but like Ghostie mentioned, it sounds like a comedy - which might not be your intent.

Finished the first 11 pages, excited! Know where my story is going. But this may be one of the hardest features I've had to write. The story is non-linear and spans across three decades as we follow a man through four key moments of his life. Haven't got a log yet but I think I'm going to break some of the rules to convey the story.

Dena - Dead Cell - good title. I trust this has a dark element to it.

Mo -"Memories of a Forgotten Love". Not sure what this makes me think of, almost a love story during war times. Sounds drama rather than sci fi, or horror etc. Interested to see the log

crooked - It's Not You, It's Ryan

(or any other first name that will work. I haven't really settled on one).

A man who works at lost and found in an airport comes across a cellphone that belongs to his wife's lover. He digs deeper, only to find the man his wife is cheating with is a total weirdo, maybe even a stalker.

wasn't sold on the title. I liked the set up with a lost and found. Not sure how he knows the phones his wife's lover, but thats for you to work out. Could the person work at the airport, with a dark past - link it into his job as well. Maybe both he and his wife work at the airport and the lover is after the wife for some reason - e.g. importing weapons??

just thoughts.

Bflywings - Naughty Claws

A stuck up business woman mistakenly buys a stolen phone from a dodgy pawn shop and is suddenly thrust into the life of an unconventional Angel, where mischief and mayhem take their toll in her pursuit to achieve a set of wings.

not hows she mistakenly buys a phone from a pawn shop, but i like the idea that it comes from there. i agree, it sounds like comedy, even the title with the naughty element.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Mo -"Memories of a Forgotten Love". Not sure what this makes me think of, almost a love story during war times. Sounds drama rather than sci fi, or horror etc. Interested to see the log

Yeah, it's a drama like you first guessed. No war luckily because then I'd have to do a load of research! But it's a kind of love story.

Bill...Thanks on title...Thriller...and yes prolly a lil dark ...most of my work is rather 'dark' I dunno why I do write happy sappy rom/coms too on occasion

But look forward to a comedy in the bunch!

I'm seriously considering coming out of hiding for this. Even if I don't make the timelines, coming up with a believable and logical sequence of events for someone to purchase a phone that could cause trouble was quite easy (personal experience is the best teacher here). Blew it up into a thriller plot over the course of a few minutes.

Like I said, not sure how well I'd meet the time frames, but the idea could be worth finishing.

Quoted from M.Alexander No title yet.  Any suggestions? Genre: Comedy/Action Logline:  After Satan's cell phone ends up in the hands of a couple stoners, all hell breaks loose as the forces of darkness come against them to get it back.

DARK FREQUENCY

Quoted from M.Alexander No title yet.  Any suggestions? Genre: Comedy/Action Logline:  After Satan's cell phone ends up in the hands of a couple stoners, all hell breaks loose as the forces of darkness come against them to get it back.

Hell Phone.


Phil

Quoted from George Willson I'm seriously considering coming out of hiding for this. Even if I don't make the timelines, coming up with a believable and logical sequence of events for someone to purchase a phone that could cause trouble was quite easy (personal experience is the best teacher here). Blew it up into a thriller plot over the course of a few minutes. Like I said, not sure how well I'd meet the time frames, but the idea could be worth finishing.

Give it a shot George.


Phil

The Devil's Phonebook?

Quoted from M.Alexander No title yet.  Any suggestions? Genre: Comedy/Action Logline:  After Satan's cell phone ends up in the hands of a couple stoners, all hell breaks loose as the forces of darkness come against them to get it back.

Satan on Line 2

Call from Hell

The Devil's Contacts

Dark Line

Sinister Contact

I'm sure there are a few others, but those are ones I just quickly pulled out of the air (i.e., my brain).

Quoted from M.Alexander No title yet.  Any suggestions? Genre: Comedy/Action Logline:  After Satan's cell phone ends up in the hands of a couple stoners, all hell breaks loose as the forces of darkness come against them to get it back.

I'd say HELLPHONE.
But those darn French beat you to it with a teen comedy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellphone

How about?  Hell Cell?

E.D.

Quoted from M.Alexander No title yet.  Any suggestions? Genre: Comedy/Action Logline:  After Satan's cell phone ends up in the hands of a couple stoners, all hell breaks loose as the forces of darkness come against them to get it back.

What about a variation of...

A/The        High/Higher/Highest         Call/Calling

I like 'The highest call'.


As for the challenge itself, I have a very basic idea, I'm just not sure I could write a feature in 7 weeks. Or 6 and a half as it is now.

I don't have a title, but the logline will be something like...

A training martial artist accidentally buys an assasins phone and must figure out how to save the final target.

It would probably be martial arts, action, comedy.

I am in the middle of writing something else right now, but I had a couple of ideas that were milling around in my head that if I did write might revolve around something like:

Blown Connection

An American missionary in Israel is conned into buying a suspect phone by a terrorist, and his first use of it causes a massive explosion that not only kills the U.S. vice-president, but several key terrorist leaders.  Now he is on the run from terrorists, the Massad, and shady covert U.S. operatives, and only one person can save him--(still in development!!)

Off the Grid

When a geocaching fanatic receives a sat phone intended for drug smuggler, he discovers coded messages in the phone's memory that could lead to one of the greatest treasures known to man--but only if he can escape assassins sent by a Mexican drug lord to retrieve the phone.

By the way, geocaching is a treasure hunting game where you use a GPS to hide and seek containers with other participants in the activity.  

Both are still rough works, and I can't decide which way to go.  The biggest challenge is just finding the time to write it all.

Gary

You're killing me, with the" no slapstick" rule, Phil

Mark

Quoted from M.Alexander No title yet.  Any suggestions? Logline:  After Satan's cell phone ends up in the hands of a couple stoners, all hell breaks loose as the forces of darkness come against them to get it back.

I like this one, as long as you keep it from being too similar to many other stoner movies. The "Satan" angle helps.

I got nothing for the title. I'm horrible at titles.

Quoted from ArtyDoubleYou A training martial artist accidentally buys an assasins phone and must figure out how to save the final target.

I like this one. I don't really have much to say about it... Martial arts and assassins?!

Quoted from Gary in Houston Blown Connection

This looks like it could work, but I worry you'll run into a lot of potential plot holes if you aren't careful. First: who would even want to sell him the cellphone in the first place? What's the motivation?

Not to mention you would have to do some research on the locations/etc. unless you're familiar with this kinda stuff already.

Quoted from Gary in Houston Off the Grid

This one is decent, but aside from the geocaching angle (I didn't even know what that was before you told me), it's not that different than a lot of other ideas here.

My two cents.

Will

Quoted from irish eyes You're killing me, with the" no slapstick" rule, Phil

I didn't say 'no slapstick.'


Phil

I always take pisstake for slapstick.

Mark

Quoted Text This looks like it could work, but I worry you'll run into a lot of potential plot holes if you aren't careful. First: who would even want to sell him the cellphone in the first place? What's the motivation? Not to mention you would have to do some research on the locations/etc. unless you're familiar with this kinda stuff already.

Will, thanks for the feedback--I agree it would take a lot of research for something like that, which is why I might consider moving it instead to the U.S. and making the terrorists U.S. based.  The motivation for selling it would be to shift blame to another person or organization.  But that needs to be thought through.  I may be unable to pull this off before the challenge ends, however.

I agree the other one probably needs a change of direction.  I like the geocaching angle, because it's easy to incorporate the phone angle.  Maybe the guy starts finding bodies--victims of a serial killer.  That might be a little different.

Gary

Hawkeye

Blown connection - that looks complicated to pull off, but a decent basis of a political thriller

Off the grid - like the geocache angle, but the greatest treasure didn't seem to fit

M Alex - all I would say is that the title should really have the stoner element as this will drive the humour - it needs to sound like a comedy.

Quoted from Gary in Houston I agree the other one probably needs a change of direction.  I like the geocaching angle, because it's easy to incorporate the phone angle.  Maybe the guy starts finding bodies--victims of a serial killer.  That might be a little different.

The like the "average guy finding bodies" part. That's not something you see a lot in serial killer scripts.

M Alex

Hey ho, a few ideas...not good ones, but still

A devilish Call

When Satan's Engaged

Chill out Satan, or Cool it Satan

Or the obvious...

We stole the devils phone

When we stole the devils phone

Ok, none are good

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Ok, none are good

No, Bill, those aren't good, but I'm sure M appreciates all the help he can get.

Help please

I'm seriously running out of time and chances.

I'm going with my idea, Phone Buddy. What I could do with is example films where...

# A character or thing, animal, comes to life - by magic etc

# It turns into a buddy movie

# The characters clash like hell - chalk and cheese

# but it can't go on - ie not men who become mates, eg Planes trains automobiles

I feel as if there should hundreds of these but I can't think of the now - long day.

Thoughts

Can people team up if they want or is that a no-no?

Quoted from Dreamscale No, Bill, those aren't good, but I'm sure M appreciates all the help he can get.

Yeah, agreed - I'm tired.

I think you can team up. I mean we're helping each other with ideas.

Quoted from Reef Dreamer Help please I'm seriously running out of time and chances. I'm going with my idea, Phone Buddy. What I could do with is example films where... # A character or thing, animal, comes to life - by magic etc # It turns into a buddy movie # The characters clash like hell - chalk and cheese # but it can't go on - ie not men who become mates, eg Planes trains automobiles I feel as if there should hundreds of these but I can't think of the now - long day. Thoughts

Do these all have to be in one movie?

Quoted from Mr.Ripley I think you can team up. I mean we're helping each other with ideas.

I mean like collaborate, co-write.

I still get random calls from L.A. on my cell phone from some guy trying to talk to me in Arabic. I've told them several times that I have no idea what they are saying and that they have the wrong guy. Course, they could be concerned about the fate of their missing compatriot and be tracking me to find his whereabouts. That would explain alot. True story.

Here's mine...

A Written Descent

Logline: A writer is stuck on what to put on the page until he finds inspiration after purchasing a cell phone that has pictures of grisly murders and an unknown killer.

Quoted from JamesTheJudged A Written Descent

I think this could be cool. I like the idea of a writer becoming more and more deranged as he uses grisly pictures of a killer's victims for profit.

Thing is, writers generally aren't that interesting on screen unless you are one. I'm not saying not to use a writer... you can pull it off, but you have to make sure you're making him interesting enough for non-writers.

And, I'm unsure how he could get inspiration from pictures. You can find that kinda stuff online... besides, how would you base a script/book on some pictures of gore?

The general idea is good, it's just the motivation isn't really there yet.

Will

Quoted from JamesTheJudged Here's mine... A Written Descent Logline: A writer is stuck on what to put on the page until he finds inspiration after purchasing a cell phone that has pictures of grisly murders and an unknown killer.

Ooooh, I rather like that idea...