The Next Big Thing
Tony EdwardSamurai
After finding fame with a stolen screenplay of a recently deceased unsigned screenwriter a movie studio’s script reader turns to murdering his backlog of budding screenwriters for their movie ideas.
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Great ideas Valentin and dpg… We’re definitely on the same page.
I think the common thread with the aforementioned films with an anti-hero at the helm is that it’s a steady decline in moral ground as the story progresses, until the end, where they either repent and in turn save themselves — Salieri (the whole movie is a confession…) in Amadues, and even Henry Hill in Goodfellas/ Jordan Belfort The Wolf of Wall Street (albeit both giving up the criminal life begrudgingly — Hill with his “Noodles and Ketchup.”, Belfort with his “Sell me this pen… Sell me this pen… Sell me this pen…) or choose not to repent and get way with murder/ the immoral act, but lose themselves — Ripley, Bateman, and Griffin Mill…
Not sure which way my guy would go, but I foresee the possibility of a culminating scene at an awards night… For good or for ill…
Thanks for the feedback.
Great ideas Valentin and dpg… We’re definitely on the same page.
I think the common thread with the aforementioned films with an anti-hero at the helm is that it’s a steady decline in moral ground as the story progresses, until the end, where they either repent and in turn save themselves — Salieri (the whole movie is a confession…) in Amadues, and even Henry Hill in Goodfellas/ Jordan Belfort The Wolf of Wall Street (albeit both giving up the criminal life begrudgingly — Hill with his “Noodles and Ketchup.”, Belfort with his “Sell me this pen… Sell me this pen… Sell me this pen…) or choose not to repent and get way with murder/ the immoral act, but lose themselves — Ripley, Bateman, and Griffin Mill…
Not sure which way my guy would go, but I foresee the possibility of a culminating scene at an awards night… For good or for ill…
Thanks for the feedback.
The movie that comes to my mind with this concept is “Amadeus”. Like Salieri, the writer is a jealous, frustrated mediocre condemned to have an eye for a good script — but not the talent to write one himself.
Complications and suspicions ensue.
The movie that comes to my mind with this concept is “Amadeus”. Like Salieri, the writer is a jealous, frustrated mediocre condemned to have an eye for a good script — but not the talent to write one himself.
Complications and suspicions ensue.
Another title suggestion “A script to kill for” or “Killer script”.
The movie “the player” is really underrated.
Something like that where the main protagonist is an anti h?ros would really work in that setting.
Somebody who starts innocent. Slowly pressure and a taste of success corrupt him until finally he is unrecognisable from the initial guy. He is now as obnoxious and self centered and treat his employees as badly as he was by his former boss.
You could even have him writing a script about himself. A failed scriptwriter who get successful by killing unknown scriptwriters. Everybody love the idea and find him brilliant. However a police officer starts to investigate so he needs something to save himself.
Like in American Psycho, he can’t even confess, because somebody else is now taking credit for the idea.
Another title suggestion “A script to kill for” or “Killer script”.
The movie “the player” is really underrated.
Something like that where the main protagonist is an anti h?ros would really work in that setting.
Somebody who starts innocent. Slowly pressure and a taste of success corrupt him until finally he is unrecognisable from the initial guy. He is now as obnoxious and self centered and treat his employees as badly as he was by his former boss.
You could even have him writing a script about himself. A failed scriptwriter who get successful by killing unknown scriptwriters. Everybody love the idea and find him brilliant. However a police officer starts to investigate so he needs something to save himself.
Like in American Psycho, he can’t even confess, because somebody else is now taking credit for the idea.
Thanks dpg, the nail has been hit squarely on the head!
Thanks dpg, the nail has been hit squarely on the head!
Agreed, “Killer Concept” is a solid title.
Agreed, “Killer Concept” is a solid title.
After selling the screenplay of a deceased, unrepresented writer as his own, a desperately ambitious but inept writer turns to murdering other unrepresented writers for their scripts.
Suggested working title: The Killer Concept
After selling the screenplay of a deceased, unrepresented writer as his own, a desperately ambitious but inept writer turns to murdering other unrepresented writers for their scripts.
Suggested working title: The Killer Concept
I agree Richiev, I struggled with that part. I’ve had a few variations, but all send the word count to 35 plus… Any ideas warmly welcomed…
I agree Richiev, I struggled with that part. I’ve had a few variations, but all send the word count to 35 plus… Any ideas warmly welcomed…
I believe what’s muddying the logline up is this phrase.
“…turns to murdering his backlog of budding screenwriters”
if you wrote that a different way it might help.
Other than that, I think it is an interesting idea.
I believe what’s muddying the logline up is this phrase.
“…turns to murdering his backlog of budding screenwriters”
if you wrote that a different way it might help.
Other than that, I think it is an interesting idea.
‘Not sure if you’re thinking macabre or humour’
Both.
‘Is this screenwriter hero or the villain’
Villainous hero… Think Patrick Bateman (American Psycho), Griffin Mill (The Player), Dexter Morgan (Dexter), Tom Ripley (The Talented Mr Ripley)…
‘What are the stakes for the hero’
At first – his new successful life (a frustrated nobody before he steals the first screenplay… Something definitely not apparent in the logline… yet), then, his freedom… He doesn’t want to get caught…
‘What is the hero’s goal?’
Maintain his success and status as ‘the next big thing’ in Hollywood, and not get caught.
‘Where does it all end?’
I’d have to write the screenplay to find out… Probably not well… But again to reference films like ‘The Player’ or ‘Ripley’ both these films have protagonists that get away with murder… Neither have a moral justification for their crimes either (I guess technically, it’s kind of an accident in The Player…)… And then again you have someone like Rodion Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment who eventually finds solace only after turning himself in…
‘Hope it’s not autobiographical’
Well… they do say “Write what you know!”… 😉 … But seriously, the idea came from reading some forums about intellectual property in regards to screenwriters posting their screenplay and ideas on websites, as well as other chatter about how to get your film read etc etc etc… Just a stupid ploy really, but it made me laugh.
Thanks for the feedback AHStitt.
‘Not sure if you’re thinking macabre or humour’
Both.
‘Is this screenwriter hero or the villain’
Villainous hero… Think Patrick Bateman (American Psycho), Griffin Mill (The Player), Dexter Morgan (Dexter), Tom Ripley (The Talented Mr Ripley)…
‘What are the stakes for the hero’
At first – his new successful life (a frustrated nobody before he steals the first screenplay… Something definitely not apparent in the logline… yet), then, his freedom… He doesn’t want to get caught…
‘What is the hero’s goal?’
Maintain his success and status as ‘the next big thing’ in Hollywood, and not get caught.
‘Where does it all end?’
I’d have to write the screenplay to find out… Probably not well… But again to reference films like ‘The Player’ or ‘Ripley’ both these films have protagonists that get away with murder… Neither have a moral justification for their crimes either (I guess technically, it’s kind of an accident in The Player…)… And then again you have someone like Rodion Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment who eventually finds solace only after turning himself in…
‘Hope it’s not autobiographical’
Well… they do say “Write what you know!”… 😉 … But seriously, the idea came from reading some forums about intellectual property in regards to screenwriters posting their screenplay and ideas on websites, as well as other chatter about how to get your film read etc etc etc… Just a stupid ploy really, but it made me laugh.
Thanks for the feedback AHStitt.
BTW – for some reason could not see your post posts. Dark comedy. Good. But same questions. Who’s the hero, what’s the goal, what are the stakes.
BTW – for some reason could not see your post posts. Dark comedy. Good. But same questions. Who’s the hero, what’s the goal, what are the stakes.
I’m not sure if you are thinking Macabre or humour but this appeals to me as an opening. But it’s not at all clear where it is going – where does it all end (presume not happily ever after). Is this screenwriter the hero or the villain? What are the stakes for the hero. What is the hero’s goal? None of that is clear to me
Hope it’s not autobiographical. LOL
I’m not sure if you are thinking Macabre or humour but this appeals to me as an opening. But it’s not at all clear where it is going – where does it all end (presume not happily ever after). Is this screenwriter the hero or the villain? What are the stakes for the hero. What is the hero’s goal? None of that is clear to me
Hope it’s not autobiographical. LOL
My iPad doesn’t believe ‘logline’ is a word… Seems to prefer ‘longline’ 😉
My iPad doesn’t believe ‘logline’ is a word… Seems to prefer ‘longline’ 😉
This is just longline stage ATM … The start is a tad muddled — essentially, a reader takes the credit for a film that was submitted to him by a recently dead writer… The film’s a hit, but when pressed to back up his success he starts tracking down other screenwriters that have submitted to him to kill them for their scripts…
In the vein of The Player, but a darker comedy.
This is just longline stage ATM … The start is a tad muddled — essentially, a reader takes the credit for a film that was submitted to him by a recently dead writer… The film’s a hit, but when pressed to back up his success he starts tracking down other screenwriters that have submitted to him to kill them for their scripts…
In the vein of The Player, but a darker comedy.