Spec Script Sale: “A Thousand Words or Less”

Fox Searchlight buys comedy spec script “A Thousand Words or Less” from writer Bert V. Royal. From Variety:

Story revolves around a national essay competition that sends three ambitious teenagers into a sexy game of one-upmanship.

I’ve tracked Royal since the sale of another spec script, a little thing you might have heard of called Easy A. That movie grossed $75M worldwide. I did an extensive analysis here of why that movie was a hit.

Clearly “A Thousand Words or Less” is in the same playing field as Easy A. Teen comedy. One big difference this time around: Royal is going to direct his script. That’s one thing a commercially successful movie you write will do for your career.

Royal is repped by Paradigm and R.E.D. Entertainment.

By my count, this is the 51st spec script to sell in 2011.

The 51st spec script didn’t sell in 2010 until November 11th.

Spec script sales are up 65% this year.