“Story Notes From Hell”
I can’t remember who Tweeted the link to Story Notes From Hell — thank you, Tweep, whoever you are — but this looks like a fun little site:
Collection of story notes screenwriters received from Hollywood studio executives. And general anecdotes from the trenches of screenwriting.
A few examples:
I was hired to do a rewrite on a script which had already been rewritten by a few writers. The Producer in charge had one request:
Producer: I want you do to it like Pixar. Tell the story like Pixar.
Me: I don’t understand.
Producer: Go and study all the Pixar films. That’s what I’m looking for.
Me: You mean story-wise —
Producer: You’ll know it when you watch the Pixar movies. Also, there’s a Pixar documentary that I want you to see. Learn how they do it.
— —
I had a spec script make the rounds and a production company was very interested. The story dealt with an 12 year boy who had cancer and went on his possibly last school field trip.
The production company was feeling it and made an initial offer, which my agent and I were thrilled over, since it would be my first script sale. A few days later, as the lawyers were doing their business, I got this call:
Agent: They’re out.
Me: What?
Agent: They had someone specific in mind to play the role.
Me: Who?
Agent: Jaden Smith
Me: …
Agent: Someone pitched it to him and he didn’t like the concept.
Me: I don’t understand —
Agent: That’s what they say, I’ll call them later and confirm. But I wouldn’t get my hopes up.
Me: What do we do?
Agent: This happens all the time. Don’t worry, I’m on it, we’ll shop it around.
Jaden Smith, a twelve year old, apparently didn’t like my story.
I guess the credo of the site can be summed up with one of the posts:
“Screenwriting is like the Shawshank Redemption, just with a lot more shit and no redemption.”
Looks like it’s time for me to bust out my “can you make it 30% funnier” anecdote!
For more Story Notes From Hell, go here.