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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board  /   General Chat  /  Has anyone ever written a sell out script?
Posted by: kev, September 14th, 2012, 3:06pm
I can safely say that I've always been in love with the characters and stories I've written in each of my screenplays. Screenwriting is a tough business to get into for the long run, that's for sure. Then again, you see some movies come out that are just the worst, but are getting made more frequently then the good ones. This all sparked as I stumbled across the poster for this ...

http://impawards.com/2012/posters/so_undercover.jpg

Wait, what? I've never written a script that wouldn't be a movie I would go see in theaters, but things like this come out and you start to wonder... should I be pitching "Safari Gurlz" to Miley's agent? About a girl who's life gets less girly as she enters the safari in hopes to save an endangered species while winning over her lifelong crush? I'm not sure, and I probably never will. But I am curious, has anyone ever written a script that was completely for the sell, without actual interest in it as a movie? Or even if you have written a script where you made a complete plot turn or change just to make it more mainstream or marketable? I'm interested!
Posted by: bert, September 14th, 2012, 3:28pm; Reply: 1
A few years back some guy offered me 50 bucks to rewrite a short (by another author) that he wanted to produce -- about a stalker killing a couple of girls -- and that was pretty much it.  I hated the script but he said I could do whatever I wanted with it.

Long story short, I snatched up the check like a hungry hooker -- and made the chicks witches -- and pumped in a little Lovecraft just for fun.

The check cleared but I never heard from him again haha.  And no, I will never post it.  And if anybody ever stumbles across a low-budget horror short called, "Feed the Beast", please let me know.  I'd love to see it.
Posted by: Helio, September 14th, 2012, 5:14pm; Reply: 2
OH BOY! I forgot the amount of scripts that I wrote and were optioned in order to be produced! But I never saw a little one screened. It is a real shame for a guy that did all the best to make the screenwriting a fun and enjoyable task. As like the lyrics of the song says"I'll survive"
Posted by: Mr. Blonde, September 14th, 2012, 5:18pm; Reply: 3
I wish I could just settle for mediocrity. But, in my mind, I haven't gotten to that point yet. Maybe if I ever sell Christmas Story, I can focus on more money-oriented stories instead of passion ones...
Posted by: Alex_212, September 15th, 2012, 1:29am; Reply: 4
Hey Kev,

I would never write a screenplay just for money, I'm not that desperate ATM. Hee Hee.

I will only write stories that I connect with and feel the emotion of and if that happened to be mainstream and can bring in the greenbacks, then that's a bonus.

I have been working on a feature in collaboration with another SS writer and I love the feature that I am writing, and the Co-writer also has connected with the story and feels just as excited as i am. That will also be reflected in the final product because if you don't write from the heart you may as well not write.

If the dollars come along, then great, it's a bonus, though if you need the cash to pay rent, move on and do screenwriting as a hobby.

Sorry though this is the harsh reality of the industry, bit like winning the lottery, you can keep buying tickets though only a handful get to win.

Just write what you love.

Alex
Posted by: Electric Dreamer, September 16th, 2012, 10:22am; Reply: 5
I would say the closest I come to writing a "sell out" is challenging my self.

My short that sold was an experiment in conflict.
Take a universally familiar scenario, the interrogation.
And flip the position of power from one end to the other by the end.
I kept it all in one room, hoping it would entice producers to hop on board.

That kind of planning is as close as I get.
I do spend time improving the marketability of ideas that EXCITE me.
But whatever it is has to light my proverbial fire on some level.

Regards,
E.D.
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