tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4330571463336136815.post3811907872683043661..comments2023-08-19T08:14:29.912-07:00Comments on Bartlett's Screenwriting Tips: IT'S TOUGH OUT THEREBruce R Bartletthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09151844421205476887noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4330571463336136815.post-89337324332206253612009-01-16T14:58:00.000-08:002009-01-16T14:58:00.000-08:00It was heartening to see 'Slumdog' take the Golden...It was heartening to see 'Slumdog' take the Golden Globe for best picture this past Sunday, but what does that really mean to me, a Canadian screenwriter?<BR/><BR/>A low budget feature (which in Canada is a film budgeted at 1-4 million dollars) can pay off big time, as in the case of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' 'Good Will Hunting' 'Blair Witch Project,' but, as pointed out in your insightful post, often these little films fail big at the B.O. and that's not good for anybody.<BR/><BR/>We can certainly point to a lack of promotion, no bankable stars, and less than perfect production values (although any movie with seriously poor sound/lighting simply will not be distributed) but it's naive to blame a Box Office crap out entirely on the distributors (who have, after all, had the guts to pick up the little film in the first place) or lack of cast (witness 'Slumdog' which features NOBODY any of us outside India have heard of.)<BR/><BR/>Happily, no one can truly predict which odd little film is going to capture the interest of audiences everywhere. <BR/><BR/>Sure, 'The Dark Knight' has a lot going for it including cast, big budget, big promotion, and a built in fan base from previous Batman films,TV, and comics. So it was pretty much bound to be a hit. But lots of big budget movies fail, too. And that really hurts the big boys.<BR/><BR/>I write extremely low budget scripts (produceable for 1/2 a million) and high concept big budget scripts (50+million) in every genre but, so far, western films. I often write, as they say, with one hand on a calculator, but not always! If I'm struck with a fantastic idea that's gonna cost to produce, I write it anyway.<BR/><BR/>I will say this: Of the twenty odd scripts my screenwriter partner and I have written (and a log/syn is available to anyone, on request) the two that keep getting optioned (but not produced) are one of our lowest budget rom/coms and a big budget high concept psychological thriller. <BR/><BR/>Why those two? Well, both scripts are well-written but then so are the other eighteen scripts...<BR/><BR/>Rom/coms are always popular and this one is quirky and fun. Our thriller is full of twists and turns and features gorgeous women and a moody, genius protagonist. The scripts are unique.<BR/><BR/>Beyond that, I can't say. Yes, it's the Entertainment Business but, as much as one shouldn't forget the 'Business' part of it, one can't forget the 'Entertainment' part because no one knows what audiences are going to respond to next. It's a crap shoot for the writer, too.Madeline Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16485601071092171174noreply@blogger.com