The Definitive Spec Script Deals List (1991–2012): 2008
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 2008–2012]. 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].
Here’s what I have planned. I am going to roll out the list of spec script sales each day throughout June per this schedule:
June 4-June 8: Before 1991–1994
June 11-June 15: 1995–1999
June 18-June 22: 2000–2004
June 25-June 29: 2005–2009
June 30-June 31: 2010–2011
July 1: 2012
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, we take a look at spec script sales in 2008 after the jump. And thanks again to Mikal and Evelyn!
1. Title: 2012 Logline: Centers on the apocryphal date that the world is supposed to end on. Writers: Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser Agency: CAA Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment Prod. Co: Centropolis Entertainment Price: $3M Genre: Action Disaster Date: 2/21/2008 Notes: Bidding war.
2. Title: Pierre Pierre Logline: A self-indulgent French nihilist transports a stolen painting from Paris to London. Writers: Edwin Cannistraci, Frederick Seton Management: Category 5 Entertainment Studio: Fox Atomic Prod. Co: Escape Artists Price: $1M Genre: Comedy Date: 3/6/2008 Notes: Bidding war.
3. Title: Galahad Logline: After Lady Guinevere murders King Arthur and frames his most loyal knight for the crime, the knight is forced to use the secret passages built into the walls of Camelot to evade her agents while he gathers evidence and allies to depose the false Queen. Writer: Ryan J. Condal Agency: WMA Management: Energy Prod. Co: Film Department Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Action Thriller Date: 3/7/2008
4. Title: Animals Logline: All the world’s animals turn on humans and take back the planet. Writer: Mike Sobel Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: Original Film Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Disaster Date: 3/7/2008
5. Title: The Low Dweller Logline: Set in Indiana in the mid-1980s, a man is released after serving years in prison for murder, and wants only to follow through on his promise to marry his long-suffering girlfriend. That is, until he discovers that his loser brother has been murdered after getting involved in a seedy Midwestern gambling racket. While the man did time for a murder he couldn’t avoid, he decides he can’t skip out on his obligation to avenge his brother’s murder. Writer: Brad Ingelsby Agency: WMA Management: Energy Prod. Co: Relativity Media Price: $650,000 against $1.1M Genre: Drama Thriller Date: 3/20/2008
6. Title: The Long Run Logline: A journalist helps exonerate a highly charismatic death row inmate of a crime he didn’t commit. When the former inmate is recruited to run for elected office, the journalist leaves his post to orchestrate his rise to political prominence but soon faces a crisis of conscience as he discovers that his friend might be guilty of murder after all. Writer: Stephen Belber Agency: ICM Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: Overbrook Entertainment Price: Low seven figures Genre: Drama Date: 3/24/2008 More: Preemptive purchase.
7. Title: C.O.D Logline: A New York City bike messenger becomes a puppet in an assassin’s deadly game, forced to deliver bombs to save his family’s life. A female FBI agent with a vendetta against the villain must work outside the system to catch the messenger and solve the case before it takes on global implications. Writer: Lars Jacobson Agency: Original Artists Studio: DreamWorks Pictures Prod. Co: Josephson Entertainment Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Action Thriller Date: 3/24/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
8. Title: Imaginary Friends Logline: N/A Writers: Cornelius Uliano, Bryan Schulz Studio: DreamWorks Pictures Price: Six-figure Genre: Fantasy Adventure Date: 3/26/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase. First sale for both writers.
9. Title: Janky Promoters Logline: Two music promoters get the chance to book a top-tier hip-hop artist into a midsized California venue. The pair are ill equipped for such a task and everything goes wrong. Writer: Ice Cube Agency: WMA Management: The Firm Prod. Co: Dimension Films Genre: Comedy Date: 3/27/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
10. Title: Underage Logline: A man in his mid- to late 20s goes home with a young woman he’s met in a bar. Later, he discovers she’s only 17 — a fact that allows her to blackmail him into being her boyfriend for the next six months, so she can exact revenge on her ex-boyfriend. Writer: Scott Neustadter, Michael Weber Agency: CAA Management: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Studio: DreamWorks Pictures Prod. Co: Montecito Picture Company Price: $500,000 against $900,000 Genre: Comedy Date: 3/27/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
11. Title: Hereafter Logline: A drama centered on three people — a blue-collar American, a French journalist and a London school boy — who are touched by death in different ways. Writer: Peter Morgan Agency: UTA Studio: DreamWorks Pictures Prod. Co: Kennedy/Marshall Company Price: Low-seven figures against mid-seven figures Genre: Thriller Date: 3/28/2008
12. Title: Plan B Logline: A single woman turns to artificial insemination to answer her ticking biological clock only to meet the man of her dreams on the same day as her positive pregnancy test results. Writer: Kate Angelo Agency: UTA Prod. Co: CBS Films Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 4/1/2008
13. Title: Man and Wife Logline: A professional killer must pretend to be an ordinary husband to his wife who learns to love him in a totally unexpected way. Writer: Alan McElroy Agency: Hohman Maybank Lieb Management: Circle of Confusion Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Prod. Co: Winter Road Entertainment Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Action Thriller Date: 4/2/2008 Notes: Bidding war.
14. Title: Self-Guided Logline: A man magically goes back to high school as a guidance counselor to give advice to his younger self. Writer: Jared Stern Agency: WMA Management: Industry Entertainment Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Prod. Co: Mandeville Films Price: Mid-six against high-six figures Genre: Fantasy Date: 4/3/2008
15. Title: Hungry Rabbit Jumps Logline: Described as being in the vein of “The Game”. Writer: Robert Tannen Agency: Featured Artists Agency Management: Shuman Company Prod. Co: Endgame Entertainment Genre: Drama Thriller Date: 4/4/2008
16. Title: Treehouse Gang Logline: Four friends, known for their treasure-hunting abilities as kids, meet up at their high school reunion and join forces for one last adventure while tackling 10-year-old grudges. Writer: Timothy Dowling Agency: Endeavor Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: Heyday Films Price: $750,000 against $1.5M Genre: Adventure Comedy Date: 4/4/2008 Notes: Bidding war.
17. Title: The Widow’s Adventure Logline: Two widowed sisters embark on an unlikely trip from Chicago to Los Angeles, setting off an odyssey of revelation and reconciliation. Writer: Jason Pomerance Agency: Gersh Prod. Co: Gold Circle Films Genre: Drama Comedy Date: 4/4/2008 Notes: Based on the novel by Charles Dickinson.
18. Title: Smash Logline: A rebellious teen moves to a suburban Midwest town, soon finding himself racing and smashing up fast cars with a fast crowd. Writer: Aaron Philson Brown Management: Luber/Roklin Prod. Co: New Regency Productions Price: Low-six figure Genre: Teen Action Date: 4/9/2008 Notes: First time sale for writer.
19. Title: Thundercade Logline: A videogame junkie faces a midlife crisis when he discovers a young punk has beaten the world record he has held since his teens. Determined to reclaim his place in gaming history, he and two friends escape their 9-to-5 lives for a shot to win Thundercade, the world’s ultimate gaming championship. Writer: Ernie Cline Management: Farah Management Prod. Co: Lakeshore Entertainment Group Genre: Comedy Date: 4/9/2008
20. Title: Man Under Logline: A dysfunctional family comes together again when photographs taken of them become the centerpiece of a MOMA exhibition, giving them newfound celebrity. Writer: Ann Cherkis Agency: WMA Studio: Miramax Films Prod. Co: Scott Rudin Productions Price: Low- to mid-six figures Genre: Comedy Date: 4/9/2008
21. Title: Court Appointed Attorney Logline: With the help of his client, a shy public defender becomes a Johnnie Cochran type attorney. Writers: Brent Askari, Chum Langhorne Agency: Paradigm Management: Brucks/McDonald Entertainment Prod. Co: Our Stories Films Genre: Comedy Date: 4/10/2008
22. Title: Freshly Popped Logline: A teenage girl, working at movie theater, tries to decide to whom she wants to lose her virginity. Writer: Megan Parsons Agency: Paradigm Management: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Prod. Co: Overture Films Genre: Teen Comedy Date: 4/10/2008
23. Title: Battle: Los Angeles Logline: A Marine platoon battles an alien invasion which starts in Santa Monica and heads east toward Los Angeles on the city streets. Writer: Chris Bertolini Agency: Endeavor Management: Greenlit Management Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: Original Film Genre: Science Fiction Date: 4/11/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
24. Title: Bobism Logline: A shy college student discovers that life in 1,000 years will be based on his blog. Writer: Ben Wexler Agency: Endeavor Management: 3 Arts Entertainment Studio: MGM Prod. Co: Contrafilm Genre: Comedy Date: 4/11/2008
25. Title: Parents Weekend Logline: A college freshman, secretly attending art school, must convince his parents he’s still enrolled in the college of their dreams. Writer: Barry Schwartz Agency: WMA Management: Fuse Entertainment Prod. Co: Kopelson Entertainment Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Comedy Date: 4/14/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
26. Title: Beaujolais Logline: Centers on a treasure-hunting adventurer. Writers: Mike Arnold, Chris Poole Agency: CAA Management: Principato-Young Entertainment Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Prod. Co: Conundrum Entertainment Genre: Action Adventure Comedy Date: 4/16/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
27. Title: Iron Jack Logline: Set in the 1930s, a renowned novelist goes on a quest for a legendary treasure. Writer: Johnny Rosenthal Agency: Paradigm Management: Foursight Entertainment Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: Broken Road Productions Price: $1.25M against $2M Genre: Action Adventure Date: 4/18/2008 Notes: Bidding war.
28. Title: Zookeeper Logline: A zoo full of animals break the code of silence to help a down-on-his-luck zookeeper get the woman of his dreams by introducing the secret mating habits of their species. Writers: Jay Scherick, David Ronn Agency: ICM Studio: MGM Prod. Co: Broken Road Productions Price: $2M against $3M Genre: Comedy Date: 4/22/2008
29. Title: Winter’s Discontent Logline: Herb Winter’s wife dies after 50 years of marriage, prompting the long-faithful but sexually frustrated widower to move into a retirement community with his best buddy so the two can start living the swinging single life. Writer: Paul Fruchbom Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: Atlas Entertainment Price: Low-six figures Genre: Comedy Date: 4/22/2008
30. Title: The Heretic Logline: A fallen priest-turned-hitman is sent by a rogue archbishop to assassinate Martin Luther, only to discover that not everyone is telling the truth. Writer: Javier Rodriguez Management: Mad Hatter Entertainment Prod. Co: Phoenix Pictures Genre: Adventure Thriller Date: 4/23/2008
31. Title: Hot for Teacher Logline: Three high school boys vow to have sex before they graduate, and one of the teens plots to seduce a hot teacher. Writer: Jay Dyer Agency: CAA Studio: Paramount Pictures Prod. Co: Bad Robot Genre: Drama Comedy Date: 4/25/2008
32. Title: Drill Team Logline: Set in the competitive world of high school drill teams, two rival sisters lead their competing high schools to the national championships. Writer: Gregory Anderson Agency: Endeavor Management: Underground Management Prod. Co: Rogue Pictures Price: Low-six figures Genre: Teen Drama Date: 4/25/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
33. Title: Brigadier Gerard Logline: Set during the 1800s, Etienne Gerard is a Hussar in the French Army during the Napoleonic Wars. His most notable attribute is his vanity — he is utterly convinced that he is the bravest soldier, greatest swordsman, accomplished horseman and gallant lover in all France. The man is not entirely wrong since he displays notable bravery on many occasions, but his self-satisfaction undercuts this quite often. Obsessed with honor and glory, he is always ready with a stirring speech or a gallant remark to a lady. Writer: John Altschuler, Dave Krinksy Agency: Endeavor Management: 3 Arts Entertainment Prod. Co: Media Rights Capital Genre: Comedy Date: 4/28/2008 Notes: Based on a series of short stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, which were originally published in “The Strand” magazine between December 1894 and September 1903.
34. Title: Arena Logline: A group of modern-day soldiers are mysteriously transported from the thick of battle to a terrain-shifting landscape where they must fight the best warriors of all different eras and histories in a gladiatorial fight to the death — or be killed by the all powerful operators of the “Arena.” Writers: Toby Wagstaff, Darren Howell Management: Original Content Prod. Co: Summit Entertainment Genre: Supernatural Action Thriller Date: 4/28/2008
35. Title: Dumped Logline: Two lifelong friends experience a difficult “breakup” after one suddenly embraces adulthood while the other refuses to let go of his careless bachelor lifestyle. Writer: Scott Rothman Agency: CAA Management: Benderspink Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: De Luca Productions Price: Low-six figures Genre: Drama Comedy Date: 4/29/2008
36. Title: Executive VP David M. Murch’s Adventures in Zamethera Logline: A cold-hearted investment banker gets a chance to revisit the forgotten, magical land of his childhood imagination and must turn to his estranged 10-year-old son for help to save the land. Writers: Michael M.B., Galvin Peter Speakman Agency: Paradigm Studio: MGM Prod. Co: Jim Wedaa Price: $850,000 against $1.35M Genre: Comedy Fantasy Date: 5/1/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
37. Title: Dan Mintner: Badass for Hire Logline: A man, who’s earned every military award, discovers that his billionaire mentor and father figure has been kidnapped. Writer: Chad Kultgen Agency: CAA Management: MXN Studio: New Line Cinema Prod. Co: Contrafilm Price: $500,000 against $1M Genre: Comedy Date: 5/2/2008
38. Title: The Ditch Logline: Set in the future, a super maximum-security prison has been constructed on Jupiter’s moon where Earth’s worst criminals are incarcerated. When a prison guard’s family is taken hostage, he is coerced into helping the facility’s most notorious terrorist, a man who was scheduled to be executed that day, escape. Writer: Sascha Penn Agency: CAA Management: Madhouse Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: Madhouse Entertainment Genre: Action Date: 5/5/2008
39. Title: The Knights Templar Logline: The Knights Templar, fresh from the Crusades, are forced to fend off an invading vampire army set on destroying the Holy Grail. Writers: Adam Torchia, Justin Stanley Agency: Bohrman Agency Management: Sleeping Giant Entertainment Studio: Universal Pictures Prod. Co: Platt Productions Genre: Horror Action Date: 5/6/2008
40. Title: Little Big War Logline: A family must band together to fight action figures that come to life and go on the attack. Writers: Jay Longino, Michael Browning Agency: ICM Management: Roar Entertainment Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Prod. Co: New Regency Productions Genre: Family Action Comedy Date: 5/7/2008
41. Title: Shared Fare Logline: A girl splits a cab fare with a total stranger and they end up in love. Writer: Stacey Harman Agency: UTA Management: Benderspink Studio: DreamWorks Prod. Co: Varsity Pictures Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 5/12/2008 Notes: Based on the true-life experience of Langley Perer, Benderspink’s director of development.
42. Title: Permission Logline: A husband and wife give each other permission to cheat on their separate weekend vacations. When one does and the other doesn’t, everything changes when they come home. Writer: Karen McCullah Lutz Agency: Paradigm Management: Jaret Entertainment Prod. Co: CBS Films Genre: Comedy Date: 5/20/2008
43. Title: Untitled Matthew Michael Carnahan Project Logline: Follows the fates of a trio of childhood friends from Chicago’s South Side. Writer: Matthew Michael Carnahan Agency: Endeavor Prod. Co: Mandate Pictures Price: Mid-six against high-six figures Genre: Crime Drama Date: 5/20/2008
44. Title: Broken City Logline: Set in NYC, a former cop-turned-P.I., attempts to turn his life around but finds himself thrust in the middle of the seedy backroom politics of a corrupt mayoral election. Writer: Brian Tucker Prod. Co: Mandate Pictures Genre: Drama Date: 5/20/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase, first-timer.
45. Title: Untitled Wendy Diane Miller Project Logline: A college student takes on a summer internship and finds himself trapped in a dangerous affair with the boss’s wife. Writer: Wendy Diane Miller Management: Luber/Roklin Prod. Co: Relativity Media, De Luca Productions Genre: Thriller Romance Date: 5/21/2008 Notes: First sale for writer.
46. Title: Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty Logline: A drunk, middle-aged reporter and a teenager bond while finding themselves somehow pitted against a group of fanatical protesters. Writer: Adam Sachs Management: Energy Prod. Co: Lionsgate, Broken Road Productions Genre: Comedy Date: 5/24/2008
47. Title: Wedding Banned Logline: A long-divorced couple kidnap their daughter on her wedding day to keep her from making the mistake of her life. The divorced parents rekindle their relationship as they elude cops and the angry groom. Writers: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler Agency: WMA Management: Anonymous Content Studio: Touchstone Pictures Prod. Co: Mandeville Films Price: $850,000 against $1.6 million Genre: Comedy Date: 5/28/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
48. Title: Frat Chance Logline: A nerd’s full-boat scholarship hinges on his joining a fraternity Writers: Sam Elhag, Rex Perez Prod. Co: National Lampoon Genre: Comedy Date: 5/30/2008
49. Title: The Harvard Zombie Massacre Logline: After Harvard is overrun by the undead, America’s most brilliant minds must fend off America’s most brilliant zombies. Writers: Dan Hernandez, Benji Samit Agency: Preferred Artists Prod. Co: Parallel Zide Genre: Comedy Horror Date: 6/3/2008
50. Title: Roundtable Logline: Merlin assembles a bunch of modern-day knights to battle a resurrected ancient evil, only to discover that today’s knights are all washed-up athletes, cowardly scientists or Academy Award-winning actors. Writer: Brian K. Vaughan Agency: CAA Studio: DreamWorks Prod. Co: Parkes-MacDonald Productions Price: $650,000 against $1M Genre: Supernatural Comedy Date: 6/5/2008
51. Title: Raindrops All Around Me Logline: A socially inept high school teacher learns to “dumb it down” in order to fit in with the people around him. Writers: Reed Agnew, Eli Jorne Agency: ICM Management: Underground Management Studio: Universal Pictures Prod. Co: Red Hour Films Price: Mid-six against high-six figures Genre: Comedy Date: 6/12/2008
52. Title: Science Fair Logline: At a school science fair, all the kid’s projects — from papier-mâché volcanoes to fungus — come to life. Writer: John Sullivan Agency: ICM Management: Energy Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Prod. Co: Broken Road Productions Price: $275,000 against $575,000 Genre: Family Adventure Date: 6/16/2008 Notes: Bidding war.
53. Title: High School Logline: After getting high with the school stoner and facing a drug test, a high school valedictorian makes what seems like the only logical decision: getting the entire school stoned so he can beat the test by making everyone fail. Writers: John Stahlberg Jr., Stephen Susco Agency: CAA Management: Evolution Management Prod. Co: Parallel Zide Genre: Comedy Date: 6/16/2008
54. Title: It’s Me, Not You Logline: A woman, who gets paid to break people up, is forced to become a matchmaker when new competition muscles her out of the break-up business. Now, in order to save her company and keep her high-priced wardrobe, she’ll have to rely on her old nemesis: love. Writer: Patrick A. O’Connor Management: Will Entertainment Prod. Co: Triumphant Pictures, Legacy Filmworks, Dee Group Price: Low-six figures Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 6/18/2008
55. Title: The Family Bond Logline: A girl goes on an adventure to rescue her mother with the father she never knew she had, a Bond-like spy. Writer: Jeff Lowell Agency: UTA Management: Management 360 Studio: Universal Pictures Prod. Co: Platt Productions, Marc Millar/Gough Ink Genre: Adventure Date: 6/20/2008
56. Title: Le Car Logline: A “found film” made in the 1980s reveals that a group of CIA agents tried to foil a plot by an evil car aiming to detonate an H-bomb at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. Writers: Wayne McClammy, Will Burke Agency: Paradigm Management: Rain Management Group Studio: MGM Prod. Co: Temple Hill Productions Genre: Comedy Date: 6/20/2008
57. Title: Close Far Away Logline: Five parallel stories, set in Europe, Africa and the U.S, follow individuals who are put in vulnerable situations and whose actions carry both personal and global consequences. Writer: Jens Assur Agency: CAA Prod. Co: Mandate Pictures, Film Rites Genre: Thriller Date: 6/26/2008
58. Title: War of Gods Logline: Set in war-torn ancient Greece, a young warrior prince Theseus leads his men in a battle against evil that will see the gods fighting with soldiers against demons and titans. Writers: Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides Agency: WMA Management: Underground Management Prod. Co: Relativity Media, Canton Company, Hollywood Gang Productions Genre: Epic War Drama Date: 6/27/2008
59. Title: Substitution Logline: An emotional high school senior becomes embroiled in a murder plot that is being masterminded by his substitute teacher. Writer: Ian Shorr Agency: CAA Management: Benderspink Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: Alcon Entertainment, Charlie Company Genre: Thriller Date: 7/10/2008
60. Title: Inside Passage Logline: A young couple’s honeymoon aboard a luxury yacht is turned upside down when they come across a murder at sea. Writer: Jonathan W.C. Mills Management: Caliber Media Prod. Co: Gold Circle Films, Raygun Productions, Untitled Entertainment Genre: Thriller Date: 7/14/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
61. Title: Tehran Logline: An American professor is contracted by the federal government to observe tensions in pre-coup Tehran in 1977. He realizes that Iran is rife with political danger and his viewpoint is backed up when he falls in love with an Iranian girl whose brother is a member of the secret police. Writer: Richard Regen Agency: Gersh Management: Circle of Confusion Studio: Universal Pictures Prod. Co: Imagine Entertainment Genre: Drama Date: 7/14/2008
62. Title: Going the Distance Logline: A couple tries to maintain a long-distance relationship while one lives in Chicago and the other resides in Los Angeles. Writer: Geoff LaTulippe Studio: New Line Cinema Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 7/21/2008
63. Title: The Roommate Logline: Sara and Rebecca are assigned to be roommates in their freshman dorm. Things start off great but turn deadly as Rebecca begins to target people in Sara’s life. Writer: Sonny Mallhi Prod. Co: Screen Gems, Vertigo Entertainment Genre: Thriller Date: 7/21/2008
64. Title: Bite Me Logline: N/A Writers: Tim Garrick, Scott Russell Management: Gotham Group Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: Thunder Road Films Mad Chance Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Comedy Date: 8/1/2008 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
65. Title: The Dying of the Light Logline: A CIA agent is forced to retire because he’s begun to suffer the effects of Alzheimer’s and finds he’s racing the clock when he takes on a final mission. Writer: Paul Schrader Agency: Gersh Prod. Co: Wechsler Productions, Nick Chockstone Pictures Genre: Thriller Date: 8/7/2008
66. Title: Lobo Logline: A man receives a photo and letters from his mother’s will, then heads to an isolated town in the Amazon to discover his roots. There, he discovers a near-extinct species of werewolves and his true identity, and he helps the werewolves wage a battle for survival. Writers: Dikran Ornekian, Ryan Colluci Prod. Co: Stone Village Pictures Genre: Action Thriller Date: 8/12/2008
67. Title: Born to Rock Logline: A group of struggling, aging rock musicians, because of a mixup in their demo tape, end up catching a record exec’s attention for a children’s song written on a lark, then find unlikely success as a Wiggles-type children’s band. Writers: Jess Walter, Mark Steilen Agency: ICM Management: Mosaic Media Group Prod. Co: CBS Films And Then Productions Genre: Comedy Date: 8/14/2008
68. Title: Easy A Logline: A good-natured high school student uses the school rumor mill to financial and personal advantage by pretending to be the school slut. Writer: Bert V. Royal Agency: Paradigm Prod. Co: Screen Gems Genre: Comedy Date: 8/14/2008
69. Title: Bad Teacher Logline: A foul-mouthed, gold-digging seventh-grade teacher is dumped by her sugardaddy boyfriend and turns her attention toward a colleague, which pits her against a rival who happens to be the school’s model teacher. Writers: Lee Eisenberg, Gene Stupnitsky Agency: WMA Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: Mosaic Media Genre: Comedy Date: 8/27/2008
70. Title: Doomsday Protocol Logline: A group of aliens and humans with various abilities are brought together to save Earth. Writer: Shane Salerno Agency: Endeavor Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Price: Seven figures Genre: Science Fiction Date: 9/12/2008
71. Title: Hunter-Killer Logline: An American sub commander and a Navy SEAL team must rescue the Russian president and defeat a renegade admiral who’s attempting a coup. Writer: Arne Schmidt Prod. Co: Relativity Media, Original Film Genre: Action Thriller Date: 10/1/2008 Notes: Based on the novel “Firing Point,” by Don Keith and George Wallace.
72. Title: I’m With Cancer Logline: A 25-year-old finds out that he has cancer. Writer: Will Reiser Agency: UTA Management: Thruline Entertainment Prod. Co: Mandate Pictures Genre: Comedy Date: 10/10/2008 Notes: An autobiographical story.
73. Title: A.C.O.D (Adult Children of Divorce) Logline: A grown man is still caught in the crossfire of his parent’s 15-year-old divorce. Writers: Ben Karlin, Stu Zicherman Agency: UTA, WMA Management: 3 Arts Entertainment Studio: Miramax Films Genre: Comedy Date: 10/20/2008
74. Title: Kill Your Darlings Logline: A 1944 murder brings together the Beats…Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs. Writers: John Krokidas, Austin Bunn Agency: ICM Prod. Co: Killer Films, Inc. D/F Genre: Biopic-Thriller Date: 10/20/2008
75. Title: Oh Brother Logline: A self-made woman, who is ashamed of growing up as an orphan, hires actors to play relatives at her wedding to impress her fiancee’s high-society family. Writer: Cathy McCarthy Prod. Co: Gold Circle Films, Safran Company Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 10/23/2008
76. Title: Deryni Rising Logline: Set in a medieval kingdom of humans alongside the Deryni, there lives a race of people with psychic and magical abilities. After the death of his father the king, a young prince must defend his throne from a Deryni usurper. Writer: Alex Sabeti Agency: UTA Management: Mosaic Media Group Studio: Columbia Pictures Prod. Co: Mosaic Media Price: Six-figure Genre: Fantasy Date: 10/24/2008 Notes: Spec, based on Katherine Kurtz’s novel.
77. Title: Sunny and 68 Logline: A superstar on the poker circuit flames out on national television due to his alcoholism and recklessness. Wiped out and owing $500,000 to bookies, he heads home to upstate New York for the first time in 20 years, looking to take back cash he’d been sending his mother. Instead, he finds his mother dying of cancer and raising a 5-year-old girl who is actually his daughter. His mother has been positioning his former high school girlfriend to become the girl’s eventual caretaker. Writers: Gavin O’Connor, Anthony Tambakis Agency: CAA Studio: Universal Pictures Prod. Co: Solaris Entertainment, Wild West Picture Show Productions Genre: Drama Date: 10/29/2008
78. Title: Brutal Logline: A morality tale set in the world of outlaw bikers in suburban America. Writer: Jonathan W.C. Mills Management: The Collective Prod. Co: Emmett/Furla Films Genre: Action Thriller Date: 10/31/2008
79. Title: Bobbie Sue Logline: A hard-charging female ambulance chaser has the mindset makes her the ideal candidate to be the face of a prestigious law firm when an important and powerful client is sued in a sexual discrimination case. Writers: Russell Leigh Sharman, Owen Egerton, Chris Mass Agency: UTA Management: Untitled Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: De Line Pictures Genre: Comedy Date: 10/31/2008
80. Title: Control-Alt-Delete Logline: Described as “Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” meets “The Matrix”. Writers: Tim Kelleher, Danny Zuker Agency: WMA CAA Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: Unique Features Genre: Action Date: 11/18/2008
81. Title: The World’s Most Annoying Man Logline: A man is forced to travel cross-country with his annoying brother in order to get to his own wedding. Writers: Kevin Kopelow, Heath Seifert Agency: Endeavor Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Prod. Co: Oops Doughnuts Productions Genre: Comedy Date: 11/18/2008
82. Title: The Days Before Logline: Aliens invade Earth by traveling backwards through time and wiping out humanity — yesterday by yesterday — while one man stays a yesterday ahead of them, trying to convince the world that the end is coming again. Writer: Chad St. John Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: Hollywood Gang Productions Genre: Science Fiction Action Date: 11/19/2008
83. Title: Best Man-a-Thon Logline: A groom’s childhood best friend and college best friend hate each other. After each makes him their best man, both expect the same job at his wedding. The pair reject his offer to share the role and decide to compete for the spot in wedding-related contests. Writer: Richard Rapozo Agency: CAA Studio: Universal Pictures Prod. Co: Stuber Productions Genre: Comedy Date: 11/21/2008
84. Title: BFF Logline: Two childhood best friends reunite years later in Manhattan, where one has found success while the other remains unfulfilled in their small hometown. Writers: Vanessa Parise, Robin Dunne Management: Magnet Management H2F Entertainment Prod. Co: Wind Dancer Films H2F Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date: 11/21/2008
85. Title: Liam McBain: International Tennis Star and Proper English Geezer Logline: Follows the rise, fall and ultimate redemption of a fictional British tennis star of the ’80s. Writer: Chip Hall Agency: Endeavor Management: Underground Management Studio: Warner Bros. Prod. Co: Callahan Filmworks Genre: Comedy Date: 11/21/2008
86. Title: 31 Days of Larry Logline: Finding it more difficult to kill himself than he thought it would be, a depressed man offers a cash-strapped woman his life insurance money if she’ll marry him and make sure the suicide succeeds. Writer: Corinne Kingsbury Agency: WMA Management: Fuse Entertainment Prod. Co: Lionsgate Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 11/25/2008 Notes: Pre-emptive purchase.
87. Title: Salisbury Logline: Details are under wraps, but film will be set around a young cast and a supernatural element. Writers: Al Gough, Mils Millar Agency: WMA Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Prod. Co: Millar/Gough Ink Price: Seven figures Genre: Supernatural Drama Date: 12/5/2008
Analysis
* Notable Sales: 2012, Hereafter, Battle: Los Angeles, Easy A, Bad Teacher, I’m With Cancer.
* Top Dollar Sales: 2012 [$3M], Zookeeper [$3M], Iron Jack [$2M], Wedding Banned [$1.6M], Treehouse Gang [$1.5M], Executive VP David M. Murch’s Adventures in Zamethera [$1.35M], The Low Dweller [$1.1M], Dan Mintner: Badass for Hire [$1M], Pierre Pierre [$1M], Roundtable [$1M].
* Interesting Storylines: Lots of top dollar sales and a jump in total deals. Remember: The WGA had been on strikes from Nov. 5, 2007 to February 12, 2008, so there were a lot of sales to fill a void in March, April, and May.
* As per the jump in sales, here’s the trendline:
1991: 28
1992: 40
1993: 89
1994: 101
1995: 173
1996: 155
1997: 141
1998: 110
1999: 83
2000: 92
2001: 101
2002: 114
2003: 89
2004: 75
2005: 58
2006: 59
2007: 64
2008: 87
Now it’s your turn to do some analysis. Who’s willing to get the stats on these questions:
* Breakdown of sales by studios.
* Breakdown of sales by genre.
* Which of these scripts were produced as movies and what percentage of the total does that represent?
Finally your opinions: Which one of these loglines strikes you as the strongest and why?
Next: 2009.
Special thanks: Sales details are included with permission from Done Deal Pro (www.donedealpro.com).
UPDATE: We can add this sale to the list:
88. Title: The Amazing Adventures of the Monogamous Duck Logline: With his second novel long overdue, a writer leaves rehab and moves in with the family of his editor. Writer: Neeraj Katyal Studio: The Weinstein Company Prod. Co: Color Force Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Comedy/Drama Date: 4/11/2008