The Definitive Spec Script Sales List (1991–2012): 1992
The Definitive Spec Script Deals List : 1992
Pretty much ever since I sold a spec script in 1987, I have been fascinated by them. The very idea that a writer could conceive a story concept, research, craft and write an original screenplay, then sell it to a Hollywood buyer is in and of itself a remarkable thing. When you consider that each year an estimated 25,000–40,000 stories filter through the studio acquisition system and only about 100 spec scripts sell annually, that makes it even more notable.
I didn’t start tracking all spec script sales until 1991, but then I tried my best to note the details whenever I learned about them. Over the years I often thought about those files and wouldn’t it be great to have a comprehensive list of all spec script sales in Hollywood? Here are some reasons why:
- To create an historical record of these special accomplishments by screenwriters in the movie business.
- To compare what spec scripts sold and got produced to those that never got made.
- To track buying trends in Hollywood [e.g., genre, high-concept].
- To create a resource for contemporary writers to brainstorm new story ideas.
And then this: With spec script sales being as high as they have been the last 18 months, can we consider this a new Golden Age of the Spec Script, or does it pale in comparison to the supposed gilded age back in the early to mid-90s? Is that collective memory true or perhaps incorrect?
I mulled over the possibility of collating all the information about spec sales I had amassed. Unfortunately the documentation takes the form of actual clippings from the Hollywood Reporter and Variety, as well as hard drives on a number of old computers stashed away somewhere, and a variety of other sources.
In step two hearty souls, Black List interns Mikal McLendon and Evelyn Yves who agreed to help assimilate all the data into a comprehensive spec script sales list from 1991–2007 [to go along with my lists from 2008 to present]. It took Mikal and Eveyln months to pull this information together and I thank them profusely for their help [I hope you will, too, in comments].
Please note, when I say ‘Definitive’ in the title, that means two things. First I am engaging in a bit of Hollywood hyperbole. I know there are some spec script sales that we will have missed. Every sale is covered nowadays through the trades and various tracking boards. That type of coverage was not the case back in the 90s. Which leads to the second point:
I want your help!
If you are a screenwriter who sold a spec script and you don’t see it on the list or you spot some details that are wrong or incomplete, please email me with updates.
If you are a studio exec, agent, manager, producer or movie fan who happens to know of a spec script sale that’s not listed, please email me.
Let’s see if we can round out this research project as best we can.
With that lengthy introduction, here is the list of spec script deals in 1992.
1. Title: Wrestling Ernest Hemmingway Logline: Slice of life about two 75 year old men who befriend each other. Writer: Steven Conrad Agent: Michael Stipanich Agency: Writers & Artists Studio: Warner Bros. Production Co.: Wizan/Black Films Genre: Drama Date Sold: 1/11/1992
2. Title: Theodore (T Rex) Logline: Story is about a T Rex, who works as a detective, and his human partner. Writer: Jonathan Beutel Agent: Chris Godsick, Rob Carlson Agency: William Morris Studio: New Line Production Co.: Panther Filmworks Price: $1.1 mil Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 2/1992
3. Title: The Thing Called Love Logline: Nashville story involves world of country music up and comers and focuses on love triangle involving two young men and a woman. Writer: Carol Heikkinen Agency: William Morris Studio: Paramount Production Co.: Davis Entertainment Price: $70K/$200K Genre: Drama Date Sold: 2/1992
4. Title: Cops & Robbersons Logline: Hard nosed cop sets up a command post in TV cop show junkie’s house in order to stake out a mobster living next door. Writer: Bernie Somers Agency: Broder/Kurland/Webb/Uffner Production Co.: TriStar/Channel Productions Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 2/4/1992
5. Title: Getting Rid of Joey Logline: Story focuses on two young sisters whose lives are turned upside down with the arrival of a new brother. Writer: Cathleen Young Agency: Barrett, Benson, McCartt & Weston Studio: Warner Bros. Production Co.: Arnold Kopelson Productions Price: $150K Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/1992
6. Title: Incognito Logline: Set against backdrop of exotic European locales, an art forger winds up framed for a murder he didn’t commit. Writer: Jordan Katz Agent: Jeremy Zimmer Agency: UTA Genre: Drama Date Sold: 3/1992
7. Title: The Little Wife Logline: Self-absorbed businessman sends for a mail order bride from Russia and ends up with a streetwise 10 year-old girl. Writer: Craig Tepper Agent: Jeff Nagle, Jon Sheinberg Agency: Triad Studio: Disney Production Co.: Cinergi/Hollywood Pictures Price: $200K/$400K Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 3/1992
8. Title: Mama Said Logline: “City Slickers”-type comedy about a woman going through mid-life crisis. Writer: Trish Soodik Agent: David Lonner Agency: ICM Studio: Walt Disney Pics. Production Co.: Steel Pictures Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/1992
9. Title: Countermeasures Logline: A young female naval psychiatrist aboard an aircraft carrier to analyze an amnesia victim, uncovers a murder mystery. Writer: Amy Brooke Baker, Peter Osterlund Agent: Jim Berkus, John Lesher Agency: UTA Production Co.: Sterling/Lord Literistics Price: $500K/$750K Genre: Drama Date Sold: 4/1992
10. Title: The Great Unwashed Logline: New York based opera singer exploits the homelessness of a young actor in order to turn him into a star. Writer: David Stamford Agency: Mirisch Agency Studio: Paramount Genre: Drama Date Sold: 4/1992 Add’l Info: Writer’s first spec sale
11. Title: Kidstuff Logline: Dad is shrunk to doll size and has to fight off war toys that he forced his son to buy to make him “macho.” Writer: Sean McCarver Agent: David Saunders Agency: APA Studio: Universal Production Co.: Renfield Prods. Price: Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/1992
12. Title: The Three Musketeers Logline: Updated version of the classic tale about three swashbucklers who band together against the evil Cardinal Richilieu and the tempting Milady DeWinter to save France. Writer: David Loughery Agent: Jeremy Zimmer Agency: UTA Studio: Walt Disney Pics. Price: $650K/$850K Genre: Adventure Date Sold: 4/1992
13. Title: Small Soldiers Logline: A young boy’s escapades with an army of toy soldiers that come to life. Writer: Gavin Scott Agent: Beth Swofford Agency: William Morris Studio: Universal Production Co.: Amblin Price: Approx. $400K Genre: Fantasy Adventure Date Sold: 4/1992
14. Title: Nouveau Guineans Logline: Middle aged couple takes their daughter and son in law on an adventure to New Guinea, where they bond as a family. Writer: Steve Zacharias, Jeff Buhai Agent: Jim Berkus, Jeremy Zimmer Agency: UTA Production Co.: Interscope Price: $350K/$750K Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/1992
15. Title: In the Line of Fire Logline: Secret service agent’s attempt to track down potential presidential assassin. Writer: Jeff Maguire Agent: Jeremy Zimmer Agency: UTA Production Co.: Castle Rock Ent. Price: $1M Genre: Political Thriller Date Sold: 4/13/1992
16. Title: The Shawshank Redemption Logline: Based on Stephen King’s novella, story is about relationship between two prisoners serving life terms. Writer: Frank Darabont Production Co.: Castle Rock Genre: Drama Date Sold: 4/24/1992
17. Title: Nuclear Family Logline: Comedy about what happens when a family inadvertently camps out on a nuclear waste site and develops extraordinary powers. Writer: Blake Snyder, James Haggin Agent: Hilary Wayne (for Zimmerman) Studio: Universal Production Co.: Amblin Price: $750K/$1M Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 5/20/1992
18. Title: The Best Man Logline: Mental patient escapes from institution to be best man at his childhood friend’s wedding. When he arrives, the wedding is thrown into a tailspin. Writer: Majorie Gross, Ron Zimmerman Agent: Hilary Wayne (for Zimmerman) Agency: Triad Artists (for Gross) Production Co.: Island world Price: $350K/$500K Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 6/1992
19. Title: First Comes Love Logline: Sultan makes deposits in sperm bank in case he is assassinated. Writer: Steven Kunes Agency: Susan Smith & Associates Production Co.: Wesport Film Partners Price: $1.2M Genre: Romance Adventure Date Sold: 6/1992
20. Title: Fool’s Gold Logline: Buddy pic set in the old west about a rogue New York cop and an African American deputy Marshall who team up to stop a master criminal from stealing America’s gold reserves. Writer: Tom Reilly, Hogan Sheffer Agent: Jeff Robinov Agency: Writers & Artists Studio: Touchstone Pictures Production Co.: Interscope Genre: Action Western Date Sold: 6/1992 Add’l Info: Writers’ first spec sale.
21. Title: Krask Adventure/Comedy Project Logline: Secret agent Nick Steele accidentally teams up with 11 year old boy and finds that he once had an affair with the lad’s mom. Agent is then convinced that the boy is his son. Writer: Jeff Krask Agent: Richard Green, Howard Sanders Agency: Pleshette & Green Studio: Disney Production Co.: Hollywood Pictures Price: $500K Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 6/1992
22. Title: The Family Bloom Logline: 30-ish woman moves in with brother to care for his three kids after his wife’s death in a car accident. Brother announces he’s getting re-married, and sister finds herself having to seek a life for herself. Writer: Eric Tuchman Agent: Devra Lieb Agency: Ira Schecter Company Studio: 20th Century Fox Production Co.: Geniel Pictures Genre: Drama Date Sold: 7/1992
23. Title: Wicked Ways Logline: Spoiled rich, 12 year old boy, is forced to live with his eccentric, poverty stricken uncle, who works as a lion tamer for a traveling circus. Writer: Tedi Sarafian Agent: Jeff Field, Lee Cohen, Jim Crabbe Agency: William Morris Studio: Warner Bros. Production Co.: Amblin/Witt/Thomas Price: $400K Genre: Drama Date Sold: 7/1992
24. Title: Mom is a Treasure Hunter Logline: Mundane housewife with two young sons unexpectantly gets involved in an Indiana Jones-type adventure. Writer: Colin Greene, David Carpenter, Tim Kirk Agent: Jeremy Zimmer Agency: UTA Studio: 20th Century Fox Price: $200K/$500K Genre: Adventure Comedy Date Sold: 7/1992
25. Title: Dead Beckoning Logline: Female public defender in Washington gets caught up in a conspiracy to assassinate a prominent senator. Writer: Christine Roum Agent: Monica Riordan Agency: Jim Preminger Agency Studio: Warner Bros. Production Co.: Arnold Kopelson Productions Price: $ 1M Genre: Political Thriller Date Sold: 7/24/1992
26. Title: Passion of Mind Logline: Dual personality of high powered publishing editor falls asleep and awakens to find herself a young widow living with two small children in Provence, outside of Paris. Writer: Ronald Bass Agent: Jay Maloney Agency: CAA Production Co.: Electric Shadow Productions Genre: Fantasy Date Sold: 8/1992
27. Title: Boys on the Side Logline: Travails of three desperate women who trek across the country and become involved in each other’s lives. Writer: Don Roos Agent: Agency: Patricia Karlen Agency Production Co.: New Regency Price: $500K Genre: Comedy Drama Date Sold: 10/1992
28. Title: The Solomon Organization Logline: A man enlists the aid of a mysterious group to help him regain the custody of his daughter, whom he lost in a divorce settlement. Writer: Andrew Niederman aka V.C. Andrews Agency: Paradigm Studio: Warner Bros. Production Co.: Arnold Kopelson Productions Genre: Drama Date Sold: 10/1992
29. Title: Pants Logline: Business woman passed over for promotion, takes on the identity of a man. Writer: Charlie Bohl Agent: Joel Millner Agency: Broder/Kurland/Webb/Uffner Studio: Warner Bros. Price: $200K Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 10/1992
30. Title: Outlaws Logline: Gang of women pillage and rob their way across the West, escaping the clutches of the sheriff and his posse. Writer: Boaz Yakin, Cassidy Heydt Agency: UTA Studio: Columbia Pictures Production Co.: DiNovi Pictures Price: $500K Genre: Western Date Sold: 10/1992
31. Title: Uncommon Criminal Logline: Story takes place in the 1940s on inescapable Alcatraz. The main character, who has mastered previous prison escapes, accomplishes the impossible and flees the city. Writer: Michael O’Mahony Agent: Hilary Wayne Studio: Warner Bros. Genre: Action Date Sold: 10/9/1992
32. Title: Hamlet Logline: A cute, smart piglet who works sniffing out drugs for a crooked cop winds up being adopted by a couple who run a fancy restaurant. Writer: Mike Werb Agent: Pat Dollard, Bayard Maybank, Todd Harris Agency: Triad Studio: 20th Century Fox Price: $250K/$500K Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 10/14/1992
33. Title: Trouble in Paradise Logline: Couple has a nightmare vacation in Hawaii. Writer: Kathy Kloves Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 11/1992
34. Title: Milk Money Logline: Three 12 year old boys pool their milk money to go to the big city and buy a hooker so they can see a real live naked woman. The hooker goes home with one of the boys who wants to set her up with his dad. Writer: John Mattson Agent: Rima Greer Agency: Writers & Artists Studio: Paramount Price: $1.1M Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 11/1992
35. Title: The Number Four Logline: Young bus driver takes over the rough line from senior driver who’s retiring. Writer: Preston Whitmore Jr. Agent: Jon Sheinberg Agency: William Morris Production Co.: TriStar Price: $300K/$1M Genre: Action Date Sold: 11/1992
36. Title: Surviving the Game Logline: Homeless man in Portland ends up being stalked for sport in the Northwest wilderness by well armed, highly trained hunters. Writer: Eric Bent Agent: Tom Strickler Agency: ICM Studio: New Line Production Co.: Permut Presentations Price: $200K/$400K Genre: Action Date Sold: 11/17/1992
37. Title: Dad’s Week Off Logline: Wacky story about an accountant, who, because his job is on the line, is forced to stay home alone while his wife and two kids go off to a wedding. During that time, he destroys his house, endangers his dog and ruins his marriage. Writer: Elliot Stern, Denise Halma Agent: Jon Sheinberg Agency: William Morris Studio: New Line Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 12/1992
38. Title: The Santa Clause Logline: Divorced father tries to bond with his young son. After a Christmas Eve accident proves fatal for Santa Claus, a father assumes the jolly old soul’s identity. Writer: Steve Rudnik, Leo Benvenuti Agency: CAA Studio: Disney Production Co.: Hollywood Pictures/Outlaw Productions Price: $550K/$1.2M Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 12/1992
39. Title: Thirty Wishes Logline: Story of a young man whose each and every birthday wish to date comes true when he turns thirty. Writer: Elisa Bell Agent: Justen Dardis Agency: Susan Smith & Associates Studio: Universal Production Co.: Snowback Productions Price: $400K/$500K (inc. co. producer services) Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 12/2/1992
40. Title: Him (Only You) Logline: 6 year-old girl is told the name of her soul mate. Twenty years later she meets “him.” Writer: Diane Drake Agent: Justen Dardis Agency: Susan Smith & Associates Production Co.: TriStar/Fried/Woods Films Price: $1M Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 12/10/1992
Analysis
- Like 1991, the total number of scripts sold seems low, so I have to figure that there are some other spec sales this year that are floating around. However it is an pretty hefty uptick from 28 [1991] to 40 [1992].
- There are a lot of these scripts that went on to become successful movies perhaps most notably The Santa Clause. I know the backstory on that because that prod co Outlaw Productions optioned a script I co-write “The Adventures of Rad Man.” As I recall, TSC went around town and was passed on everywhere. Outlaw optioned it. Worked closely with the writers who rewrote the script. They went back out. $1M sale. Then a franchise.
- Another project with which I crossed paths was “Hamlet.” I worked on a rewrite on that with the director and we had a green light. Then Babe came out, Fox got cold feet about doing another pig movie and pulled the plug.
- How about Castle Rock buying In the Line of Fire and The Shawshank Redemption within a few weeks of each other? I heard a great story about Shawshank when I was working on Alaska for Castle Rock. Someone remind me in comments and I’ll go through that.
Finally your opinions: Which one of these loglines strikes you as the strongest and why?
For the rest of The Definitive Spec Script Deals List, go here.
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