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After the largely-successful one we did back in December, which produced 7 genuine, original(-ish) feature-length scripts, I thought we could have another go at one of these extended challenges. I've had an idea for something we could do, and I'm happy to oversee it and be on hand again, although this time I wouldn't take part. That way I don't get more time than the rest of you, which is what happened last time. I sent Don a PM last Friday mentioning that I was thinking of doing another one of these, and he hasn't replied yet. I sent him one yesterday, too, but I know he's a very busy man. Like last time, this is really a thread to raise the possibility of doing a challenge and to guage general interest.
What I'm proposing this time would run for four weeks - the dates I originally had in mind were starting next Monday: May 31st-June 27th. Of course, I don't want to get underway without Don's explicit permission, and I also want to iron out a couple more things before announcing the nature of the challenge, so that Monday start-date may not happen. We'll see.
This challenge wouldn't be exactly the same as the December 7WC, but the ultimate goal would be the same: to come up with a longer script under time pressure. Those of us who took part last time (and Balt) had fun doing it, and I think this one will be fun, too. If anyone's interested, let me know. Of course, if everyone has challenge-fatigue after the OWC, then we can stick this in a drawer! Let me know what you think.
I'd be interested in taking part this time around, Jonny. Not sure if the dates mentioned would be too good for me though with the World Cup coming up.
I might consider thinking about possibly coming up with the potential of participating maybe. You know, if the inspiration strikes me just right. I believe I had just come off my own version of this when the last one came up. I haven't heard anything from him in some time. I might as well share it...
I fully intend to before I actually do anything more on this. He was supportive of the 7WC back in December - even to the extent of stepping in to assure I finished my own entry - and I'm hoping that, in principle, he won't have anything against it. As I said, I've PMed him a couple of times and am waiting on a response. If I haven't had a discussion with him before Monday, I'll push the start date back until I know he's okay with this.
I completely forgot about the World Cup! In that case, I might extend this back to being a 6WC. We'll see. I'm sure you could find time for a bit of writing during the tournament, though - what with all the sickies everyone will be pulling. Also, I was at Wembley on Monday, and if England play like that against a team that can actually finish then I doubt you'll be distracted for long.
In support of keeping your time frame at 4 weeks, a producer won't care if the world cup is on. He just contacted you to see if you can churn something out and he wants to start shooting in 6 weeks. If you tell him that you're not sure because of the world cup, then he'll move on. There's a lot of fish in the ocean.
You are getting that these challenges (this and the OWC) are basically simulations for things that might actually happen to a screenwriter, right? I've had this happen to me several times, and I've churned something out. Granted, most of the time, nothing comes of it, but I end up with script that isn't half bad that I can work with. I ended up making one of my rapid churns a couple years back, and I'm considering another one.
I suggested something along these lines about a year before JonnyBoy took it on.
I agree that it's a good way to practice, but it is only practice is all I am saying. Whether or not this challenge coincides with the World Cup will not make a real difference, apart from maybe a couple less entries - there will not be more for it running alongside the 'greatest sporting tournament in the world'. Of course, if this was reality, it would be no contest between the two, but that's a moot point, as it's blazingly obvious.
So there's a smattering of interest. Cool. As Phil said, I really should talk to Don before I make any moves towards starting anything - I'm just gonna wait for his reply.
In the meantime, I'm going to keep working on what I've got in mind for y'all. No doubt you'll all hate it, if the last OWC was anything to go by. Or maybe you'll love it - who knows?
Keep an eye out for any updates. And keep your minds open!
I'll probably have a crack at it Jonny. I have a week off 19-25 June but will be travelling a few of those days. My trusty notebook will still be valid though.
I'll be watching a few of the World Cup matches - ceratinly the Aussie ones. Our games are scheduled for 430 am, midnight and 430 am, I think. the family is away till July 9 after I get back so can get into it.
One request Jonny: I'm happy to write about whatever idea you have, but I think you should make it a specific theme. The Christmas one was ok but very general. I reckon you should nail a particular gnere and theme like our normal OWC.
Okay, having spoken to Don I can now tell you this will probably happen in July. Keep it in the back of your mind, and try and clear your script-writing schedules over the next month.
It also means that we'll avoid the bulk of the World Cup, and gives me more time to nail down the particulars of this challenge. Good to hear people are interested in the idea of doing another one of these - it WILL happen. And you WILL enjoy it. That's an order.
Haha. There has never been a more direct opposite of me than Jeff Bush. The Celtics? Are you fucking kidding me? You faux Irish cunt, Jeff. My old man IS Irish and he would get the same grief.
Glad to see this board is benefitting from the WORLD CUP. I knew Don was a good man - then again, he is Australian, right?
Let's get back on topic. I mean, I like baseball as much as the next guy, but...
Johnny, please don't do a collab writing thing.
I also hope that this time around we can bounce ideas off each other and help each other out if we get stuck. It feels great to finish a feature, so lets help each other reach that goal.
No doubt you'll all hate it, if the last OWC was anything to go by.
Maybe it's just me but I liked the 7WC idea from last time. Actually, I'm still working on mine and hope to have it completely finished by December of this year.
Oddly, some people didn't like the general-ness of it but I enjoyed it. Less constrictive. =)
Well, people complain either way. You get a general topic, and people complain it's too general. You get a specific topic, and people complain it's too restrictive. What can you do? Can't please everyone.
George, you're always so level-headed. Not too far right, not too far left. I've often wondered what it would take to really rattle your cage. Everybody has a boiling point.
George, you're always so level-headed. Not too far right, not too far left. I've often wondered what it would take to really rattle your cage. Everybody has their boiling point.
Just an observation.
Everyone does have their boiling point, but can simply take more heat than others. I can get annoyed, but I rarely get angry. Just a decision I made at one point. I try to find the logic in situations and it is often comforting to find it.
Everyone does have their boiling point, but can simply take more heat than others. I can get annoyed, but I rarely get angry. Just a decision I made at one point. I try to find the logic in situations and it is often comforting to find it.
Might be an interesting topic for JohhnyBoy's challenge. How much does it take to make someone snap?
The film "Falling Down" comes to mind. Great flick.
Andrew, you and I do seem to be polar opposites, but that's OK, isn't it?
BTW, I HATE the Celtics! Always have and always will. My team has always been the the LAKERS! A few years back, when those heinous Celtcis came back 20+ points in the finals against us, I went into a rage and broke a door in my house. About 30 minutes later, the police had arrived. One of them knocked on my door...I answered it (quite wasted, BTW). He had backed off the front porch and had his gun drawn on me as I opened the door. Several other cops were in the driveway, all with drawn guns.
Everything was cool within a few minutes. As it turns out, an ex girlfriend who I was talking with had called the police, based on how wasted and happy I was while talking with her on the phone (she lives over 2,000 miles away, also). Unbelievable!
The film "Falling Down" comes to mind. Great flick.
Agreed. But, it's Joel Schumacher. He's so hit or miss, it's not even funny. For every Falling Down, you got an 8MM. You get a Lost Boys, but then, you have to endure Batman & Robin. He gives you a Tigerland and hope seems to rise until you have to sit through The Number 23.
Oh, come on. From who the writer was (AKW on 8MM), he could've easily come up with something much better than that. Maybe I was just much more disappointed by who wrote it than the movie actually being bad, but still... you know?
As for The Number 23, the noir-style stuff was good but it suffered heavily from Silent Hill syndrome. Just exposition over and over for almost the entire final act. It got tedious quickly. It kind of ruined what had been created by the rest of the movie.
Maybe I over-exaggerated, but still, Schumacher is good enough to choose better scripts than he has, overall in his career.
The only great thing he wrote was Seven...and frankly I think the quality of the film owed one helll of a lot to David Fincher.
Hideaway, Brainscan, Sleepy Hollow, The Wolfman...all pretty by the numbers.
8MM is the second best thing he's ever done.
The Game blows 8MM away, despite the ending. Just me, though.
EDIT: The Wolfman isn't his fault, at all, so you can't throw that in there. They had a draft of AKW's in there with Romanek (One Hour Photo) directing. Then, they dropped Romanek over "creative differences", re-drafted AKW's script and they even re-dubbed Elfman's score. So, that one gets thrown out. And, I like Brainscan. But, I'll give you Hideaway and Sleepy Hollow.
EDIT 2: While I'm at it, I forgot about his un-credited re-write of Koepp's Stir of Echoes which is a really good movie that got lost under The Sixth Sense for no reason.
The Game blows 8MM away, despite the ending. Just me, though.
EDIT: The Wolfman isn't his fault, at all, so you can't throw that in there. They had a draft of AKW's in there with Romanek (One Hour Photo) directing. Then, they dropped Romanek over "creative differences", re-drafted AKW's script and they even re-dubbed Elfman's score. So, that one gets thrown out. And, I like Brainscan. But, I'll give you Hideaway and Sleepy Hollow.
All of his films are alright...just not that great, so I didn't understand why you were so disappointed with 8MM. As far as story goes it's probably the best he's written after Seven.
No, I'm not. I swear he, at least, did a draft of it. Let me look it up, because I know Fincher directed. I swear it was their econd pairing.
"Andrew Kevin Walker was one of the uncredited writers."
But, I was mistaken. I thought it was his script originally. My bad.
Fair enough. He seems to have done a lot of uncredited re-writes on a lot of good stuff, so it's hard to say how much input any of them had.
Says he worked on Fight Club, Event Horizon and a good few others as well. I also read that he disowned 8MM because they made it too studio friendly when his script was a lot darker...be interesting to have seen what the original story was.
I also read that he disowned 8MM because they made it too studio friendly when his script was a lot darker...be interesting to have seen what the original story was.
Seriously. I mean, the movie, as is, was pretty dark and his was darker. Lol. I just think it's one of those ideas that won't quite work no matter who wrote it. However, we did get Stormare + a crossbow. Can't go wrong there.
I found someone who says they have the original script of it, though. Maybe I'll check it out.
Seriously. I mean, the movie, as is, was pretty dark and his was darker. Lol. I just think it's one of those ideas that won't quite work no matter who wrote it. However, we did get Stormare + a crossbow. Can't go wrong there.
I found someone who says they have the original script of it, though. Maybe I'll check it out.
Why do you think that? I thought the central premise was incredibly strong, way above the usual. Lots of natural conflict, mystery and a great setting in the underworld.
But, that's what I'm saying. It's one of those good ideas that really should stay an idea. There's almost no way (remember, this is just me) to properly do that idea.
I'm trying to think of an example to show what I mean, but I can't at the moment.
I think we'll have to agree to disagree on that one. I liked the film, even as it was and I don't see that there's anything inherently wrong with the idea that could preclude it making for a genuinely great piece of work.
The only thing I would say is that that kind of subject matter is probably better off in the hands of independent or up-coming filmmakers. If you're going to go with it, you've got to go the whole hog and get right under the skin of it. Luxuriate in the sheer horror of it.
If I came across a script like that, I'd definitely like to have a go at it.
Got some time off this summer; putting off grad school 'til the fall, wife is gonna work while I'm home with the kids, dog, rabbit and guinea pig. Living the dream. So, yeah, I'll play.
Ps. There will never be anyone better than Johnny Most.
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently - Dove Chocolate Wrapper
The only great thing he wrote was Seven...and frankly I think the quality of the film owed one helll of a lot to David Fincher.
8MM is the second best thing he's ever done.
I did like 8mm. Lot going on in that film. Great cast doing good work. And Gandolfini doing sterling work as always.
Cage was great in that. I'm hearing many positive things about his BL performance too.
One small point: AKW wrote an interesting script that will probably never be made. The somewhat legendary Batman Vs Superman. Or is it tother way round?
Fincher speaks highly of AKW and his work on Fight Club as well as others. For that I am very grateful.
Now. Must watch my FC DVD again. Where is my telly remote?
One small point: AKW wrote an interesting script that will probably never be made. The somewhat legendary Batman Vs Superman. Or is it tother way round?
Yeah, he also did the X-Men script, the original draft in '94. The thing was a fucking train wreck, but it was still interesting to see his take on it.
I did like 8mm. Lot going on in that film. Great cast doing good work. And Gandolfini doing sterling work as always.
Cage was great in that. I'm hearing many positive things about his BL performance too.
One small point: AKW wrote an interesting script that will probably never be made. The somewhat legendary Batman Vs Superman. Or is it tother way round?
Fincher speaks highly of AKW and his work on Fight Club as well as others. For that I am very grateful.
Now. Must watch my FC DVD again. Where is my telly remote?
tyleR
Yeah. I think my post came across as a bit more disparaging to AKW than I intended. It just surprised me that he was held in such regard that a film would be a disappointment based on his past work.
In fairness that's as much down to my own ignorance as anything else.
I only knew the stuff that was "written by" him...he's clearly had a role in a lot of great films. The Game, Event Horizon, Fight Club...even Stir of Echoes was well above the normal level for a supernatural thriller.
Of course, it's impossible to know how much input he had into them, but they wouldn't have hired him if he wasn't of some considerable use.
It's a funny business really. From the outside in you can't really tell who's responsible for anything. Maybe you can't from the inside out either.
Yeah, Event Horizon. Back when W.S. didn't just make crap. Plus, it has Sam Neill just being awesome, you know?
And, Stir of Echoes. Man, that got lost along with Frailty, both of which came out around the same time. You have Kevin Bacon being all, "I'm not drunk." in a horrible Chicagoan accent.
I don't know. Sometimes I wonder how good movies can get lost in the shuffle when so many bigger (and typically not as well made) movies are in the fore-front. But, that's ok. I guess. =)
Event Horizon - WEAK! Terrible acting, cheap sets...DULL! I was so disappointed when I saw this at the theater when it was originally released. It did quite poorly as well. Very surprised people still talk about it now and remember it fondly.
Rick, what did you think of Laurence Fishburne's performance? I literally think they must have brought him on right before they started shooting and just let him read off a teleprompter.
What did you think of the lovely sets they created? That ridiculous looking spinning hallway thingy?
Don't get me wrong...I remember so well how excited my friends and I were after seeing the trailers..how I sat there, trying to like it, hoping I was wrong in my initial response. Nope, it didn't change, and after we left, we all agreed it was bad and downright laughable.
Another case of the different strokes phenomenon, huh?
It's definitely enjoyable but I try to avoid words like "brilliant" and "perfect" because I know that no such thing exists.
However, it was a good movie and I like it, regardless of the "terrible acting" and "cheap sets" as someone so eloquently put it.
There's no such thing as perfect...but there's been plenty of brilliant films as far as I'm concerned. I love films, and now that I make them myself and I realise just how hard it is to get right, I appreciate them even more.
Jeff,
What can I say? I just really "got" it. Loved the premise, loved the atmosphere, loved the build of tension and I really loved the whole sci-fi crossed with hell thing. It really blew me away when I saw it.
I try to avoid trailers and reviews so I can see everything with fresh eyes...and it all just really worked for me.
I fit brilliant in with perfect just because of how rare anything brilliant is that they're almost the same thing to me when it comes to movies.
And, Jeff, come on. I love the spinning room thing. Lol. Ok, so it didn't really look great, but it was awesome. It's one of those image that sticks with me. =)
Well, maybe the Celtics could fall to the Magic this time around. I'm just gutted that LeBron will once again be watching from the sidelines when the real action takes place. What an athlete that lad is.
Oh, and regards the World Cup, Jeff, I hope you will be watching when England tan US arse on June 12th...
As Pia said, back to business - are you thinking you will be entering, Bush? Definitely considering it myself, which is why I hope for it to avoid the World Cup, but it's about the masses and not me, so whatever everyone decides is cool.
Hopefully JB will create a theme that is compelling and open enough for some meaty scripts.
This conversation probably petered off topic because there's little else to talk about on here. Most people have said "me too" already and now we're just waiting. JonnyBoy succeeded in generating some buzz and excitement. Now what?
This conversation probably petered off topic because there's little else to talk about on here. Most people have said "me too" already and now we're just waiting. JonnyBoy succeeded in generating some buzz and excitement. Now what?
Now we wait. Sorry. But it'll be worth waiting for! I promise.
Does anyone have an idea for another communal exercise we can occupy ourselves with for the next month? I know the last SC didn't last very long...maybe we could SC a member's script? Or do some sort of quick-fire, collaborative writing exercise? Anyone have any ideas?
Very happy my Lake Show pulled out the win last night...and Boston lost Wednesday night. Sweet! BTW, someone...a Mod, most likely, was messing with my posts yesterday and interchanging Lakers and Celtics, to make it look like I was a Celts fan, which I am definitely not. Just wanted to clear that up.
No, I will not be watching any World Cup action. I just don't have any interest at all in soccer. Not into hockey either. Much more of a MMA guy.
Does anyone have an idea for another communal exercise we can occupy ourselves with for the next month?
"Screenwriter Tag" ...10 people, 10 pages.
Somebody writes one page, then emails it to the next person who writes a page, then emails it to the next person. No theme or genre. Just try to keep the story flowing. It'd be funny to see where it ends up.
Somebody writes one page, then emails it to the next person who writes a page, then emails it to the next person. No theme or genre. Just try to keep the story flowing. It'd be funny to see where it ends up.
Cool. I'll write the first page within the next hour and email it to Stepbrown, and then Stepbrown to Dreamscale. It helps if you have Celtix because I know you can copy and paste a pdf to Celtix. But if not then the next writer will just have to rewrite the pages sent to him. Does that make sense?
So what happened to this idea? Are we doing it or what?
Yeah, after you write the first few pages.
I started a Zombie thread over the weekend but came to the conclusion it was just another Zombieland. Nothing new. Thankfully Mr. Cornetto deleted it at my request.
I doubt I'll be participating. I have to get some acts together.
Never any less, I'll be here to help people and give some genuine response.
Always a pleasure, 'cept when it's not, but that never counts. Strike thee to Hell!
As Dad used to say, that cheque I wrote is gonna bounce to the moon and back!
Walkith right and stay with us here on Simply. We may all be on the unruly side, ('cept Bert but he's no fun ) But we supply an interesting and mighty diversion to stupid retarded work. And sometimes we work like Hell itself!!! Only when the Devil is watching.
Appears that the world cup is winding down, the hot chick from Paraguay will still run around in body paint and America is back to doing what we do best- ignoring soccer, but still finding time to appreciate "Twilight for Guys."
That being said, perhaps now is a good time to blow the dust off this idea...perhaps something in comedic vein could be in order, so that, if someone, like, asks me for a comedy script I'm not all like " ahm, er...can I get back to you on that?"
I could seriously get into a teen comedy, coming of age kind of mood.
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently - Dove Chocolate Wrapper
A problem with doing a 7WC is that it will be cutting it close to the October OWC, which has always been a popular challenge. It's closer than you think.
A TRUE anarchist would do the Halloween OWC in August. Or September. But October? Pah, how traditional...
We actually had a shit-storm of biblical proportions a few years back, with the Halloween OWC, when the genre wasn't horror; it was comedy, with the theme being pumpkin carving. Don still has bruises from this one.
It kind of makes sense, though, Phil. I mean, would you have an Easter-related OWC in November? It's just how people are, that they like things that're familar to them. October = Halloween. December = Christmas. You know, like last year where it's all stream-lined.
Yeah but these chuckleheads got nasty because the October OWC wasn't horror. It was a Halloween-theme, but that wasn't good enough for them. It was pretty ridiculous. If someone wants to write a horror script, he should write one.
You don't need a OWC challenge for it. And you don't need a 7WC to write a feature.
I do. I need the motivation. Last year, I got 50 pages into a feature, furthest I've ever been because of the 7WC. I think it was because I said I was going to do it and had a timeline. I didn't finish but I would've. The script had a couple of technical difficulties.
But, I'm sure other people are like me and work better with a timeframe than doing it on their own.
Yeah but these chuckleheads got nasty because the October OWC wasn't horror. It was a Halloween-theme, but that wasn't good enough for them. It was pretty ridiculous. If someone wants to write a horror script, he should write one.
You don't need a OWC challenge for it. And you don't need a 7WC to write a feature.
I agree with this completely. If you want to write a script, please write one. You don't need these little challenges to write something that you want to write. That's where I thought the last 7 week challenge was a bit weird because it had the "category" of write what you want.
What I personally get out of these challenges is not writing what I want, but a mystery theme and genre that might inspire me to write something different. I like the combination of theme and genre since it is enough to keep the topic narrow, but not handing us an outline.
And the 7WC? Let me remind you all of where this one started (again). Originally, I had suggested a one month challenge, and then demonstrated it could be done. The topic and genre would be decided not by anyone here, but by the Inktip newsletter that comes out right before we start. If we started one this week, here's what I would have popped out of that newsletter as the topic: "We are looking for completed feature-length high-concept smart action or sci-fi scripts. We are not open to low-brow material or mindless popcorn blockbusters. Instead, they should engage the audience with a well-crafted, visceral yet intelligent story. Examples of films in this mold are "Inception" or "The Bourne Identity." We are not open to scripts in other genres (no crime dramas, etc.)." Some people liked it, but no one was really open to it at that time. But again, it's about the challenge of writing an assignment, not writing something random. Remember that an initial goal in this industry is to be writing full time which most likely entails writing what someone else wants you to before you can write whatever you want. Just sayin'.
So while looking at these things and complaining about them, remember the spirit in which they're given. The idea is not to motivate you to write anything. If it does, that's great, but the motivation should come from within you. If you're not motivated to write, then these challenges may not ultimately help you. The point is to be challenged. If your first short was an OWC, then you need to write more. The OWC is honestly a terrible start because it doesn't allow your mind to run. You're writing with limits out of the gate. Be unlimited first and then strap it down later.
I would wager the ones who complain the least are the ones who write the most. If you can't handle the challenge, then accept that perhaps the theme and genre aren't for you. Comedy at Halloween? Perfect challenge. Horror at Halloween. Why haven't you already written this one?
I posted an idea that I'm working on in the working on forum. Suggest just posting a logline, a short story synopsis and making a personal deadline to get it done. (Mine is Sept 1st.)
Please feel free to check it out.
No assigned genre or topic, just set the personal goal (whatever that might be) and I will do what ever I can to help support, encourage and whatever along the way.
Like the Nike ad says, Git R'done.
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently - Dove Chocolate Wrapper
If you're not gonna do it, then don't bitch about their not being one. Part of these challenges is that you may have to write something that you normally wouldn't.
Accounting for myself, I've spent almost all week doing nothing but writing. A nasty cold and some mean back problems have left me house-ridden. Yesterday, I rewrote nearly fifteen pages of a 95 page script. On an exceptional day, I'll write around ten. I'm currently polishing up my latest feature and am ten pages into a rewrite of my third ever script which I'm starting completely from scratch. I'm more than on a roll at this point and insanely motivated. I'll gladly hop on anything you guys get going here.
Then just write something! You don't need to be part of any organized project to come up with something.
Phil
But it's better, or at least more enjoyable, when it's a project thing that many people work on a similar idea and all get different outcomes. And, admittedly, I didn't like the idea you came up with either but not because it's a bad idea. I just can't do comedy. =)
People wanted a challenge and I gave them one. They complained that they didn't want it. If a filmmaker asked you to write this script, would you turn him/her down?
And I didn't say comedy as the genre; I said thriller.
I'm with ya, Pia. Same deal here. No motivation for anything lately.
Like James, I also hurt my back last week, and it's been driving me crazy with pain, uncomfortableness, and lack of sleep. I'm in a shitty mood lately and everything seems to suck.
People wanted a challenge and I gave them one. They complained that they didn't want it. If a filmmaker asked you to write this script, would you turn him/her down?
And I didn't say comedy as the genre; I said thriller.
Phil
Was it thriller? Where'd I get comedy from?
And, honestly, I'd turn them down. I can't work off other people's ideas.
There is alot of potential in plumbers and conspiracy theorys.
That USB drive that Ursula flushed just before she got riddled with bullets...who's gonna find it? The plumber. Same with the good drugs, clown fish and who knows what else- All goes through the pipes.
Who spends alot of time in basements, digging around stuff? Plumbers. Who knows what they would find digging up some old pipes in the Hillsborough estate? Something that was never intended to see the light of day, perhaps. Something someone would kill to keep it that way.
Loglines and short synopsis. Come on. You can do it!
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently - Dove Chocolate Wrapper
I like the idea of writing a script about clown fish though.
Finding Nemo 2?
FEATURE:
Memwipe - Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller (114 pages) - In a world where memories can be erased by request, a Memory Erasing Specialist desperately searches for the culprit when his wife becomes a target for erasure -- with his former colleagues hot on his trail.
Killing Nemo...the horror version from Disney, you never expected to see. Rated R for graphic fish violence, graphic fish sex and nudity, and fish drug and alcohol use.
I was going to write something about amnesia, but I forgot what it was.
Otherwise, it's a same...but different. But with plumbers.
What are some other existing examples that should be considered? I remember the Bourne series using that scenario, as well as Long Kiss Goodnight. Total Recall.
Failure is only the opportunity to begin again more intelligently - Dove Chocolate Wrapper
There are others, but I'm not coming up with titles...
Did Blink involve amnesia? The one with Madeline Stowe? Can't remember.
I said, "technical sense" on Memento because he makes his claim throughout that "It's not amnesia". But, still, he can't really remember anything, so I fit it in.
But, I kind of doubt anyone here is clever enough to out-write that screenplay, so just try and live up to *shudders* Shane Black and The Long Kiss Goodnight and we'll be ok. Lol.
so, how you guys feeling about thriller and amnesia? Is it a go? Let's get going! How about 7 weeks then? 8 is too much for. I would put it on the backburner and not get started until it got too late. Thoughts?
My plate is filled right now. I hope to be finished with the first draft of one script and then I'm going to return to a comedy I started some time ago.
I want to try to finish several of my incompleted scripts before I start anything new.
I haven't heard back from Don, so I'm thinking my original idea for this challenge is dead in the water. Pity in a way, because it was something a bit different. Que sera sera.
Good luck with whatever you guys decide to go with - I actually had an idea for a thriller script about amnesia a while back, and added it to my increasingly long list of 'ideas I want to tackle'. Well, not quite amnesia, but a specific type of forgetfulness. One I don't think has been done yet...probably has, though, somewhere.
Speaking of that list, I think the time has actually come for me to get down to it and start working through it. I want to have written a feature-length by about November, and then I'm going to come back to One Last Christmas, completely re-work it and have it up again in time for the holidays. Which means I won't be taking part this time...wouldn't have taken part originally, anyway.
Johnny, I hope that you don't think we're running away with your idea! That is not a case at all! I think we're simply trying to do something here to get us writing a feature while there's nothing going on here...it's really DEAD here. You can absolutely take over if you want.
Memwipe - Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller (114 pages) - In a world where memories can be erased by request, a Memory Erasing Specialist desperately searches for the culprit when his wife becomes a target for erasure -- with his former colleagues hot on his trail.
There was a movie out, a few years ago, about five or six guys who wake up trapped in a warehouse without their memory. I can't remember the name of it, though.
Review: Unknown by Erik Davis Nov 2nd 2006 // 10:00AM
Filed under: Drama, New Releases, Mystery & Suspense, Theatrical Reviews
If you could somehow remove all of the powerful, heart-wrenching moments from Memento, The Usual Suspects, Saw and Reservoir Dogs, and replace them with a slew of flashbacks, a lazy script and an assortment of unnecessary twist endings, you'd wind up with Unknown -- a psychological thriller that loses its edge soon after exposing a flashy and intriguing premise.
On the surface, it's a fantastic set-up: Five guys wake up in a warehouse, bloody and beaten with no idea who they are or how they got there; the only thing that's certain is whoever placed them in this situation does not want them to leave anytime soon. Two of the men are tied up, one of which is suffering from a gun shot wound. While the first of the men, Jean Jacket (James Caviezel), regains consciousness, a phone is ringing somewhere off-screen. As he stumbles into a side office to pick up the receiver, for a brief second we expect the person on the other end to ask, "So James, which scary movie do you feel like ripping off?" Instead, it's a strange voice -- a voice that seems to know who its speaking to, even though Jean Jacket is clueless ... except for that loaded handgun sitting in front of him.
Like in Reservoir Dogs, the main characters don't have names. But not because they're hiding their identity on purpose -- fact is, they simply don't know who they are. Aside from Jean Jacket, Bound Man (Joe Pantoliano) wakes up tied to a pillar. Across from Bound Man, Broken Nose (Greg Kinnear) finds himself sprawled out on the floor with a bloodied face. Above him, Handcuffed Man (Jeremy Sisto) can barely keep his eyes open due to a gun shot wound that's not getting any better and the fact that he's uncomfortably hanging down, handcuffed to a metal bar. And finally, though we have no idea where he came from, Rancher Shirt (Barry Pepper) soon strolls down to join the clan.
As you can imagine, the first half-hour of the film finds all five men weary and unable to trust one another for fear the person standing next to him could be responsible for their being in this situation. Are the two men tied up for a reason? Perhaps they're the villains. Or, what if everyone's a hostage and the bad guys are on their way back to the warehouse? Of course, not knowing their own identities, each man instantly looks at himself as one of the good guys. Yet, it soon becomes apparent that that is not the case, and so the big question gets raised: Who is good and who is bad?
But do we care? With his debut feature as a writer, Matthew Waynee certainly attempts to create a compelling story, but gets lost somewhere trying to do too many things. It almost felt as if he came up with a fantastic premise, but then found himself trapped deciding how the thing would actually play out. Thus, he cooks up a familiar motive that involves two rich businessmen and a few seedy mobster-type guys who want some of that money. Okay, so the background is simple, the set up is complex -- is there a way for these two to meet without the end result feeling contrived and forced? Unfortunately, no. Waynee got nervous, and so he used the bulk of his script to climb his way out of the plot hole (pun intended) he created. Since he's a fairly young scribe and somewhat new to this, Waynee introduces one of the laziest elements of the craft -- flashbacks. And lots of them. The good thing about the way Waynee uses these flashbacks is that he at least gives them a pattern and a home ... the bathroom mirror. For some odd reason, each man conveniently begins to remember certain details of his life and this predicament (in chronological order, mind you) each time he peers at his reflection in the bathroom mirror.
But does it work? At first, yes. But then they become a crutch, and the script craves them like a drug. To fill up time (and dumb down the story), we often jump outside the warehouse where the cops and the wife of one of the captured businessmen (Bridget Moynahan) prepare the requested ransom demand and stake out the drop off location. Not only does this drag us out of the warehouse (where the interesting story is taking place), but it serves little purpose except to feed the audience a little run-and-gun action between law enforcement and the kidnappers. But we want something deeper than a car chase, we want character. And that's the biggest missing piece of this puzzle. Since the script desperately wants to figure itself out and move the story along, it fails to take us inside the minds of men who not only don't remember their lives, but are afraid they might be the opposite of good. There's so much emotion left untouched, and the cast certainly doesn't help. James Caviezel (who we're to assume is the main character) gives a stale, wooden and practically emotionless performance. Sisto could've acted out his lines in his sleep, Kinnear is too jumpy to connect with and Pantoliano, sadly, is stuck in the comic relief role. The only shining star here is Pepper, who delivers his dialogue with passion and hunger. Here's a guy who's so vulnerable, yet he remains strong and trusts only his instincts. Pepper was the only actor who understood how important character was to a story like this, and while the script didn't give him much room to work with, he dug deep and tried his best.
But is it worth it? Director Simon Brand ( in his directorial debut) creates a mood that feels very much like one of those Friday night HBO action/thrillers. The film is pretty on the outside, but once you peer in, there's nothing but a familiar emptiness. Though the warehouse should have released a claustrophobic aroma, thereby raising the tension and pushing us closer to the edge of our seat, it does not. It's too plastic and fake. Toward the end, it felt as if everyone involved knew something was off, and so we're confronted with multiple twist endings, the last of which happens so fast we're left scratching our heads for an explanation. An explanation we're too bored to try and figure out.
I'm in. I'll be busy rewriting for the next week or two, but I'm pretty sure I can get something done before the deadline. Thriller was the next genre I was going to attempt anyway so this works out quite well for me.
The only shining star here is Pepper, who delivers his dialogue with passion and hunger. Here's a guy who's so vulnerable, yet he remains strong and trusts only his instincts. Pepper was the only actor who understood how important character was to a story like this, and while the script didn't give him much room to work with, he dug deep and tried his best.
Leave it to Barry Pepper to be the best of the group.
And, I'd like to say I'm in, but I'm in the middle of a script which is killing me and also in the middle of revising another. We'll see, though, whenever this thing starts.
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The ?-Week Challenge - Summer 2010
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And sometimes we work like Hell itself!!! Only when the Devil is watching. 
