The answer is…Bob: The Musical
When I spoke to classes at Trinity University last week, a frequent question was, “What are you going to write next?”
It was a well-timed question, because I wasn’t entirely sure. There were two projects on the radar screen, both of them rewrites. I had a week to decide whether to do either.
The first was a difficult-but-potentially-great bio-pic about a major figure of the 1970’s. Everyone and their brother had tried to make the movie, but it had never gotten to the starting line. But there seemed to be new traction, along with a new (and high-profile) director who seemed up for the challenge.
The other was a high-concept comedy about a guy who hates musicals, who wakes up one day to find himself trapped inside one. It too had a well-chosen director, along with a studio that was very eager to make it.
I described both projects to various classes and listened for their reaction. For the bio-pic, I got respectful nods.
For “Bob: The Musical,” I got a laugh-and-or-chuckle, almost every time.
I think that’s because it’s really easy to see why the movie would be funny. In five seconds, you can visualize the trailer, the TV spots, and the one-sheet. You can hear what the star would say on Leno: “It’s a movie for people who love musicals, and especially for people who hate them.”
But the fact that Bob is obviously a movie doesn’t mean it’s obviously the movie I should write next. Here was my decision making process:
1. Which movie is more likely to get made?
Remember, as the screenwriter, I don’t get to decide which of the movies I write actually gets made. For that, I’m beholden to a hundred other factors, most of them out of my control. So if I’m going to dedicate months of my time to a project, it makes sense to pick one that will get made. So for that, I’d say Bob. It’s easy to make, easy to market. The bio-pic, on the other hand, has been in development for more than a decade. My script could be just one more sitting on the shelf.
2. Which movie will be better for my career-slash-reputation?
Tougher call. If I wrote a kick-ass version of the bio-pic, and if the director did a great job, and if the film got a terrific critical response, then I think that would be the winner. Notice: that’s a lot of “ifs.” But by the same token, if the film didn’t work (a “noble failure” in industry parlance), I’m not sure it would hurt me that much.
Even if I wrote the superlative version of Bob: The Musical, I wouldn’t clear any space on the mantel for awards. It’s just not that kind of movie. And in disaster, I’m not sure the movie would do me much harm either.
3. Which is the more challenging?
The bio-pic, no question. I’d be working out of my comfort zone, most notably in the time period. I was born in 1970, so trying to write about the adults of that era is difficult. In many ways, I’d feel more comfortable writing about cavemen, because at least that way I’d know that no former hippie was going to come up to me and say, “Man, you totally missed what it felt like to be there.”
By the way: challenging is good. All things being equal, I’d rather work on the challenging project than the one I could write easily. But challenging work takes longer, and forces me to ask the question…
4. Which do I have time to do?
This was really the deciding factor. Because of prior commitments, I have a limited window in which to do this next project. So whichever rewrite I choose, when I’m done with it, I need to be able to walk away. That was looking unlikely with the bio-pic, given the director’s schedule and work history. Also, knowing myself, I would probably choose to stay much more involved with something I’d struggled harder to write.
So, after meeting with the director, producer and studio folks, I signed on yesterday to rewrite Bob: The Musical. The original screenplay was written by Mike Bender, who is now adapting a Spanish film series over at New Line. Considering that his brother is one of the producers on Bob, I suspect he’s okay with getting rewritten.
I’m eager to get to work. Obviously, with Charlie and Corpse Bride, I’ve written musicals before, but this is the first time I’ll be able to incorporate songs into something approximating the real world. It’s also a chance to riff on musical cliches and conventions. Marc Shaiman (South Park, Hairspray) has signed on to write the songs, who seems ideally suited for the task. So here’s hoping.
One irony is that the director is Mark Waters, who’s made a good career for himself despite having turned down Go when it was offered to him. An unwritten rule of Hollywood is that eventually you work with everyone, so it’s nice to see that coming true.
Articles
March 8th, 2006 at 1:24 pm
I think you made the right choice. I read about Bob some time ago and thought it sounded good. And I’m sure Marc Shaiman will do a good job. Do you think - when sufficient time has passed - you could tells who this mysterious biopic was about?
March 8th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
Nice! I think you made the right choice too. Bob is hilarious already!
March 8th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
That is such a GREAT idea for a movie. I can’t wait. Awesome.
March 8th, 2006 at 6:50 pm
here’s a little musical we did to give you some inspiration:
Dog Given Rights http://www.alldaybreakfast.ca/dog.html
it’s done pretty well for us, winning at Triggerstreet.com and a screening at Sundance ‘04.
enjoy!
March 8th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
As long as Yahoo Serious, Carrot Top, and Rob Schneider aren’t cast as “Bob,” then you’ll be in great shape!
And cast Bill Murray and you just might win some awards.
March 8th, 2006 at 11:17 pm
John, good luck with the new script and thanks for running us through the decision-making process. Sure helps to have an experienced script writer give us the inside scoop.
March 9th, 2006 at 12:23 am
The people on Friedman’s blog get to guess what the hell he’s talking about all the time, so why not here?
I’d hazard a guess that said biopic of 70s icon is the long-gestating Harvey Milk story, with Bryan Singer attached.
March 9th, 2006 at 4:22 am
yup i’m with Max - i’m guessing The Mayor on Castro Street, originally worked on by Oliver Stone, took a break after JFK, and left it gestating. Singer’s in line to direct, and i’m guessing they’re working off the back of Brokeback Mountain’s success given Milk’s personal life.
Interesting call though John, would like to see you tackle such a subject (if indeed that’s right), but Bob sounds like a bit of fun. i agree with you it’d probably be easier to let go of Bob than a deep bio-pic of such an interesting character.
still waiting for Untitled Zombie Movie, though, buddy
March 9th, 2006 at 8:39 am
Argh! I’m so sad, John. So sad. I’ve been working on a musical with this concept for a while now. Well, okay, it’s been on the back burner for a good portion of that while, but now I’m devastated that another writer is gonna get it up and running before I do. Well, since I realize I have no chance of competing with you to get my script done first, I’d be happy to send you some ideas. Let me know.
March 9th, 2006 at 10:21 am
Marc Shaiman on any musical is good news. He’s fantastic. I’m curious about the process. Would you write the lyrics then pass them over to Marc, or would you sit down together to write?
March 9th, 2006 at 11:55 am
Man,
It’s so surreal to hear your decision after talking about it at Trinity. I’ll take this decision as another context to your pitching seminar - the simpler, easier-to-tell story wins out in the end.
But I have to disagree with Scriptweaver, Yahoo Serious is ready for his comeback!!
March 10th, 2006 at 7:21 am
There have been a couple of musicals on this theme, but more musical-episodes-of-ongoing-TV-series’ that feature this idea.
I think Once More With Feeling was one of the best episodes of Buffy ever made.
Hopefully zeitgeist doesn’t have you repeating things that people might think are borrowed. Of course, that’s my perpetual nightmare when I write as it happens so often to me… Maybe I’m just projecting.
March 10th, 2006 at 9:30 am
Godsbane –
I adore Once More with Feeling, particularly the “They got the stain out!” lyric. I think the idea of the whole world becoming a muscial isn’t really all that new. It’s the execution that will make or break it.
Let’s hope, “make it.”
March 10th, 2006 at 9:39 am
He decides to do a musical, after I ask a question about writing musicals. Coincidence? I think not!
Seriously, I heard about this AGES ago, and then it vanished. I was afraid it had died. I seem to remember Jack Black being attached as Bob, but my brain has a habit of lying to me, so I can’t be sure.
March 30th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
Bob: The Musical — that’s too bloody brilliant for words.
and, as a rule, i usually hate musicals. Then Whedon had those singing and dancing demons all about. Now I don’t know what’s right or wrong anymore.
i could see Martin Freeman or John Krasinski doing a decent job on Bob.
but that’s just my NSHO.
hmj
April 10th, 2006 at 8:21 pm
Very odd - there’s a stage musical (titled Joe!) with the exact same concept that’s been in development for about six years now.