Chris Sparling (“Buried”)

Following up on today’s video interview with Chris Sparling, here is a guest post he did at Moviesblog.MTV.com. Some excerpts:

With the limited release of “Buried” only days away (and the nationwide release less than three weeks away), I am incredibly proud of what this film has become. To see all the posters, trailers, and positive buzz circulating around a film I wrote is definitely the coolest thing I’ve ever been a part of. But at the same time, I also can’t help but laugh sometimes when I think of what the film could have become.

You see, “Buried” was initially written to be a film that could be shot for next to nothing. And no, I’m not talking Hollywood’s version of next to nothing, I’m talking a struggling filmmaker’s version of next to nothing. So, I was looking at hopefully making the film for about $5,000. My plan was to shoot it in about seven days –- most likely in my buddy’s apartment in LA — on digital, hire an actor from yesteryear that would at least be recognizable today (you have no idea how hard it is for me right now to not list some of the actors I had in mind), and then hope it played well at some small festivals. I always felt there was something unique about my script, but I simply thought it would never have a life bigger than that of a nifty little indie film.

Amazingly, my script ended up in the hands of some people who saw the film as a much bigger project. I’ll never forget sitting across from producer Peter Safran and him saying, “Chris, I want to make your script exactly as you wrote it (as in without any cutaways, flashbacks, etc.), I know the perfect guy to direct it, and I can get it into production in six months.” Needless to say, before he was barely able to finish that sentence, I asked him “Where do I sign?”

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In the more than 10 years that I tried to break into Hollywood with the next “Big Idea,” never would have I imagined that my break would finally come with the smallest idea possible. Like I said before, I can’t help but laugh sometimes.

“I want to make your script exactly as you wrote it.” Screenwriter’s ultimate fantasy. Congratulations to Chris Sparling for having the vision and dedication to write such a compelling spec script.

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