Deep Breath
Sorry for the lame-o posts for the pasts two weeks. It’s been busy. I’ve… (deep breath) gone to L.A and came back, finished ‘Below the Ice’, optioned Blue Blood (for the 2nd time), optioned Two Guys, started discussions on rewriting Venture (whose option is about to expire), bought and learned Final Draft, screwed around with my broken computer(s), and started a few new spec projects.
Mostly, though, I’ve been working on a rewrite set to go into production in December.
About two weeks ago I got a call from my manager about some of the people that we met with whilst in L.A. They like my stuff, like my dialogue and hey, even better, they need a writer!
Here’s the deal: they shot a movie, cut a trailer from that shoot, and sold it the movie based on that trailer for a U.S. theatrical release. They even secured international distribution. But then… as the entire movie came together, problems arose. The finished product just wasn’t that good for a number of reasons that don’t really matter.
So they decided to scrap the whole thing and start again, keeping in mind that, since they sold it based on the trailer, whatever they came up with also had to be based on the look and feel of the trailer (and it is an excellent trailer).
They offered me some money, which is cool, but really what they offered was a “Written By” credit on a U.S. theatrical release. Pretty much the holy grail of an unproduced writer. Of course, if I can’t pull it off, then none of that really matters. They’d find someone else that can pull it off.
So, working with the producer, we came up with a new treatment. From that treatment, I’ve written the 30 page first act so that the producer can get the casting director to find a cast. Meanwhile, we’ll refine the 1st act, come up with the 2nd act, and get that done, etc. etc.
Yes, I am being cagey about the title and story. I can’t talk about it yet.
Cameras roll in December.
M A R K