Horror Script screenwriters hit it big time with creative strategy

For those who may not be familiar with the term, the spec script is a screenplay written under no kind of assignment other than the writer's will or need to write. Working freelance. Just like you would pen a newspaper article of your own and tried to sell it to a newspaper. Due to market dimensions and other constraints, it is not usually practiced in Europe - the auteur paradigm and the public financing system often requires that every script shall be attached to a director or a producer right from the start. On the other side of the Atlantic, not only it happens but also some of those spec scripts end up turning into some of the most successful movies of the year. Take Michael Arndt's debut with Little Miss Sunshine (won Oscar for Best Original Screenplay), Alan Ball's American Beauty (won several Oscars), Shyalaman's The Sixth Sense (nominated for several Oscars), cult erotic-thriller Basic Instict (script sold for $3 million) or Charlie Kaufman's Being John Malkovich. And did you know Quentin Tarantino didn't start his career with Reservoir Dogs but by selling two spec scripts, Natural Born Killers (to Oliver Stone) and True Romance (Tony Scott) ?

Every year, spec scripts are sold and the industry is always waiting and searching for the next writer coming up with the most amazing story of his own initiative. This time, we may be witnessing the birth of a new spec selling strategy: the spec script trailer.

Brandon Bestenheider & Allen Bey became a first-time seller team of screenwriters when recently Universal Pictures optioned their Grim Night screenplay. This is a horror film about a night that happens once a year in the whole world, when people lock themselves at home and hide from the terrifying Grims, some hooded black creatures. There you go, the strong concept, the precise genre, the probably archetypal structure, stuff that makes it different but recognizable enough for the big studios to see it as a business chance. It has been done, it worked; it has something new, people will want to watch it.

But do you wonder how did this two guys pitch this to the agents ? Do you imagine how they articulated the synopsis, how they structured the presentation, if they embarrassedly choked at some point ? Brandon and Allen did something much more effective. They got themselves a movie camera, some costumes and some friends and shoot a spec script trailer of what they wrote and wanted to sell. Check it out bellow.

Remember James Curran, from some posts back, who created those amazing The Adventures of Tintin opening credits and now is going to work for Steven Spielberg ? Well, that's it. Be creative. And thrive.

Guess who is the new Lara Croft

In 2001 and 2003, Angelina Jolie, freakin' badass then, assumed the role of the adventurer treasure hunter, millionaire gun skilled, heavy sexy, Lara Croft, directly from videogame Tomb Raider.

Well, things have changed. Impersonating Dr. Remy "Thirteen" Hadley in House MD gave this girl the greatest acting boost from TV series to Hollywood we've seen in recent times, starring on major budget productions such as the Tron saga and Cowboys and Alliens. They certainly saw her as a literal woman of arms, combining fierce beauty with sensual toughness. Now, they decided to take their bet one step further and gave her the first giant role of her life. Ladies and gentleman, Olivia Wilde is Lara Croft (Mark Fergus will be directing; no schedule yet).

Be great and go work for Spielberg; New Michael Arndt project and other news

The most inspiring news of the week, and we could stretch the timeline, is that of hitherto unknown designer James Curran from now on being part of Steven Spielberg's team. Inspired by the release of the director's most recent feature, The Adventures of Tintin, he decided to create a fan-made opening credit sequence, based on the whole characters and adventures by the Belgian strips. I had the pleasure to watch it a few days before the assignment went public (perhaps even before Spielberg watched it himself) and I remember thinking that had this guythe right opportunity in Hollywood, he would certainly be up to the task. Two days later, the news came out: James Curran will be working on the sequel, already written, which will be produced by Steven and directed by Peter Jackson.

After scoring a terrific 104-episodes feedback, Disney Channel animated TV series Phineas and Ferb is climbing up to the big screen. The great news is that Oscar-winner Michael Arndt ("Little Miss Sunshine" and "Toy Story 3") will be re-writing the draft handled by the creators. Praised for its sharp sense of humor (a clever show for kids), tells the story of three siblings and their undercovered agent pet, dwelting on their particularly creative summertime adventures.

Keeping track on the world of animation films, The Muppets promotion continues to troll... the whole world of movies. This time, they mock "Going in the Distance", "Happy Feet", "Paranormal Activity", "Twilight", among others.

After producing, writing, directing and staring box-office success ($154 million) The Town, Ben Affleck was allotted another Boston backdroped film, the story of Whitey Bulgar, one of the most wanted man by the FBI until last year (when he was 81 years old). But this time, he will only co-produce, co-write and direct. First, this is good because there is a difference between the helmer Affleck and the actor Affleck. Second, this is good because the other halves will be filled by his longtime friend and partner, Matt Damon, who will also star as main character. The two first collaborated in 1995-1997, writing Good Will Hunting for which they won Best Original Screenplay and blossomed as some of Hollywood's most promising talents.

Finally, Robert De Niro may be making that comeback to decent roles we've been waiting for so long. Sean Penn will be directing The Comedian, with the great character psychological depth and balance between external and inner struggle driving the film. Sounds pretty different from Little Fockers.

After the phone call that never was, Sorkin may be scripting Steve Jobs biopic

Two of the most recent posts I put in here, one about a Steve Jobs biopic coming onto the screen, the other about the phone call Aaron Sorkin never made, didn't quite anticipated the connection. Coincidences are a funny thing but this one has a lot more to had. You see, not only is here this sudden emotional limb to be forged for marketing purposes, but we're actually talking about one of the greatest contemporary screenwriters who, even more curiously, has just stepped into the Kodak Theater for receiving an Oscar for writing about the technology revolutionary genius, Mark Zuckerberg. This is still only a rumor but Sorkin will probably be interested in a project with huge apriori hype, first class material about such a, and might feel to be dialing those numbers after all. As for now, I am eager to watch Moneyball, directed by Bennet Miller, with Brad Pitt, co-written by him and Shindler's List Steve Zailian.