The Near Death Experience by Michael Joseph Kospiah (spesh2k) - Drama - After barely surviving a brutal attack, a widowed suicide hotline operator "sees the light" and decides to inflict the same experience upon his callers to "help" them appreciate their lives.

"Fatal Attraction" meets "Blood Simple" meets "Unfaithful". 98 pages - pdf, format 8)

This is an older script that was optioned a few times... back in 2011, the movie hit production hell two weeks before scheduled principal photography and has struggled to get past the pre-production stages ever since.

It was written with a little bit more prose than I normally use, but I feel it's not TOO overdone.

And pardon the title page, I kind of stumbled upon this script and it was the only version I could find (PDF).

-- Michael

Just finished reading the script and I have to say that I thought it was pretty solid.

The writing was crisp and easy to follow. Not a struggle to get through which was complemented by the page count.

SPOILERS:

I didn't like how easily detective Mercer was taken out by Ed. Also, toward the end when Paul shoots Ed. How did Ed survive? I understand he was shot in the jaw but wasn't that from the front?

I liked the scene where Mercer questions Stacey and Paul walks in. The tension was split three ways, each of them wanting different things (I enjoy scenes like this).

I can see why this was optioned. Doesn't seem too difficult to film and could be done on a lower budget. Definitely a great piece for good up and coming directors and actors.

I do wish Mercer was used more cause he was the most likable character for me.

Hey man good luck with this. Hopefully someone will get this past pre-production.

Hey Chase,

Thanks for reading (I'm finishing your script tonight -- will PM my thoughts).

Quoted Text I didn't like how easily detective Mercer was taken out by Ed. Also, toward the end when Paul shoots Ed. How did Ed survive? I understand he was shot in the jaw but wasn't that from the front?

I think a gunshot to the jaw can be something somebody can walk away from (e.g. 50 Cent, Steve Buscemi in Fargo, etc).

As for Mercer being taken out by Ed so easily -- I get it. Mercer was probably the most likable character in the story (Ed being the lead and Stacy and Paul being super-flawed). In earlier drafts, there wasn't even a struggle. Ed actually had Mercer's pistol in earlier drafts and just shot him. But I wanted to stay consistent with Ed and his weapon of choice (a hammer - the same tool he used to "help" people turns into a tool of destruction... this time, intentionally and consciously).

Quoted Text I liked the scene where Mercer questions Stacey and Paul walks in. The tension was split three ways, each of them wanting different things (I enjoy scenes like this).

Thanks, definitely one of the story's stronger scenes I always thought.

Quoted Text I can see why this was optioned. Doesn't seem too difficult to film and could be done on a lower budget. Definitely a great piece for good up and coming directors and actors.

Yeah, it's a shame it fell apart. This was actually supposed to film in 2011 and it would've been my first produced feature before "The Suicide Theory". It's pretty heartbreaking to FINALLY have a feature produced and then, find out 2 weeks before scheduled principal photography, that it's not gonna happen (after months and months of pre production).

And while it was under option and in pre production, I had A LOT of directors and producers contact me about the script -- and I had to turn them down. Since shit fell apart, I haven't really received much attention for it (the fact the script wasn't out there didn't help). I did receive some calls from "managers" who wanted to help push it. Other than that, nothing.

Quoted Text Hey man good luck with this. Hopefully someone will get this past pre-production.

Thanks, dude, I really hope so.

-- Michael