Why most scripts never become movies
On September 5th you had said that “most scripts don’t become movies, and a hundred things could go wrong in the process.� What exactly was meant by this, and of the scripts that you have written and you deemed worthy of the silver screen, how many actually made it there?
–Sweta
via IMDb
We’ll start with the second part first. By my count, I’ve written 18 feature-length scripts. I have seven produced credits, which means I have a 39% production rate.
That’s actually not bad. It gives the illusion of being prolific when in fact it’s just a combination of luck and careful picking. As I’ve said before, my favorite genre is “movies that get made.”
I’ve also done significant-but-uncredited rewrite work on seven other screenplays, five of which have been made.
Your question includes the qualifier, “[that] you deemed worthy of the silver screen.” I can honestly say that at the time I wrote them, I considered every one of my scripts worthy of the screen.
Now? Not so much.
But for the sake of example, let me list my never-made scripts and briefly explain why they won’t be playing soon at a theatre near you.
Here and Now
My first script. Nicely written but largely plotless.
How to Eat Fried Worms
Was actually made this year, but with a script by a different writer.
A Wrinkle in Time
Was made for television, with a draft that pre-dated mine.
Untitled Zombie Western
Will probably get made at some point, in some form.
Fenwick’s Suit
The studio didn’t like my script, and let the underlying rights lapse.
Demonology
The studio thought it was too expensive for what it was.
Thief of Always
The director and the author hated my draft. Hated.
Secret Project I Can’t Talk About
Will hopefully get made soon.
Barbarella
The two studios bickered and dickered until the underlying rights fell out.
Fury
Probably will get made at some point, in some form.
Tarzan
In a perpetual holding pattern at the studio.
Studios develop a lot of projects that never end up getting made. Every few years, an outsider with a lot of money will come to Hollywood and vow, “We’re not going to waste money. We’re only going to develop the projects we’re going to make!”
And a few years later, they’ll have a dozen projects in various stages of development, and maybe one or two movies. Because it’s not just the script that determines whether a movie gets made. You need the right director, the right stars, the right way to market the movie. You can be a week from shooting when a hurricane destroys your location, or a strike shuts down production. Or the exchange rate takes a dive.
As the screenwriter, there are hundreds of variables I can’t control. So I consider it a minor miracle any time a movie gets made.
Articles
January 22nd, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Illusion what, you definatly ARE prolific….wheather you are talented is debatable, but prolific yes.
January 22nd, 2006 at 2:50 pm
There are so many things that are out of the writers hands - you are right. I’m predicting that we’ll see more writer/producers over the next few years as a method of trying to keep just that little bit more control. Thoughts???
January 22nd, 2006 at 3:27 pm
John — 39% scripts made… I guess you’re being modest, but isn’t that actually an insanely high rate for a screenwriter?
January 22nd, 2006 at 5:19 pm
I’m thinking that anyone who can feel (mostly) fulfilled with having completed, and sold a script, regardless of whether it makes it to screen, is in the right line of work.
Personally, if I completed a script that was snapped up and only made it through to 10% of filming and then was canned, I’d still be pretty damned happy. Still, I imagine that’s a feeling that doesn’t last once you’ve been in the business for any real length of time.
As always, thanks for sharing!
January 23rd, 2006 at 3:31 am
I’d LOVE to hear some more about Barbarella; sounds like it could be quite interesting.
January 23rd, 2006 at 6:48 am
Wow, so when you say “the author” on Thief of Always, you mean Clive? I love Clive Barker’s work, his films, his books, his paintings… But I also love your work. I’d be really interested in how your visions of the story differed.
“Hated.” That is so cool! I mean, from an outsider’s point of view. I’m sure thats not the same way you felt about it, but I find that fascinating.
I’ll understand if you can’t talk about it though… Or can’t be bothered taliking about it. But, wow!
January 23rd, 2006 at 6:52 am
P.S.
This is the first time I’ve been able to post, as I’ve always replied to the verification question with something like “how ripe is the orange?”
I thought it was a personality test.
January 23rd, 2006 at 6:53 am
Could you give some examples of things you might have done differently in the past that would have led to some of the unmade movies actually being made? For example, approaching a different studio with a certain script
January 23rd, 2006 at 7:50 am
Re: “Theif of Always.” Bollocks! I loved that book. Any chance it’ll go in turnaround?
February 13th, 2006 at 2:43 pm
Hi John, I am a college student in Berkeley and I decided as a freshman that I wanted to do linguistics but for some reason I decided to do a play last semester and I think I have really started to like acting. But there are two problems. I’m Indian(there aren’t too many rolesout there for Indians) and I live in the Bay area. Any tips on how I should go about this venture? Oh yeah and I definitely didn’t know you were doing a film called Prince of Persia which involves an Indian chick. -thanks.
April 25th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Is this your zombie western? http://www.cinematical.com/2006/04/24/denton-and-kattan-battle-the-undead/