The Definitive Spec Script Deals List (1991–2012): 2010
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 2010 after the jump. And thanks again to Mikal and Evelyn!
1. Title: Ion Logline: A man travels to different dimensions in an effort to find his reincarnated love. Writer: Will Dunn Agency: WME Management: Safran Company, Prod. Co: Scott Free Productions Genre: Science Fiction Romance Date: 1/24/2010
2. Title: The Romance Writer Logline: A man secretly enjoys an extremely successful career as a romance novelist while writing under a female pseudonym. Things get complicated when he falls for a woman who turns out to work for his new publisher. Writer: Matt Stone Agency: ICM Studio: Fox 2000 Prod. Co: Sunswept Entertainment Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 2/2/2010
3. Title: ATM Logline: Three co-workers on a routine stop at an ATM unexpectedly end up in a desperate fight for their lives. Writer: Chris Sparling Agency: UTA Management: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Prod. Co: Safran Company, Gold Circle Films Genre: Action Date: 2/5/2010
4. Title: Abduction Logline: A young man discovers his own baby picture on a missing persons website. Writer: Shawn Christensen Agency: Verve Management: Caliber Media Prod. Co: Lionsgate Price: High six-figures against seven Genre: Thriller Date: 2/22/2010 Notes: Bidding war.
5. Title: 21 Shots Logline: On his 21st birthday, a guy loses his I.D. and needs to track it down over the course of one day. Writer: Sonny Lee Patrick Walsh Agency: ICM Studio: Paramount Pictures Prod. Co: Montecito Picture Company Genre: Comedy Date: 2/22/2010 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
6. Title: Killer Logline: A rogue police investigator discovers a video left by a killer, triggering a cat-and-mouse game, with the investigator several steps behind his prey. Writer: Kenny Golde Agency: APA Management: Infinity Management Prod. Co: Hyde Park Entertainment Price: Low six against mid six figures Genre: Thriller Date: 2/23/2010 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
7. Title: The Escort Logline: An irresponsible flight attendant is forced to escort a 14-year-old passenger to Boston after their plane is grounded. Writer: Justin Adler Agency: UTA Management: Kapital Entertainment Studio: DreamWorks Pictures Genre: Comedy Date: 3/1/2010
8. Title: Smashed Logline: Young newlyweds run over a stranger on a deserted forest road, igniting true colors and causing dark histories to spill out as they battle over whether to report the incident or bury the truth. Writer: Scott Parisien Management: Zero Gravity Management Prod. Co: Corus Entertainment Genre: Suspense Thriller Date: 3/3/2010
9. Title: Ruthless Logline: An ex-con shows up in a small Louisiana town and disrupts the lives of the inhabitants by exposing their secrets. Writer: Cooper Laine Agency: ICM Management: Nine/8 Entertainment Prod. Co: Double Nickel Entertainment Genre: Crime Thriller Date: 3/11/2010
10. Title: Road to Nardo Logline: Two guys take a road trip to Mexico in order to rescue their friend. Writers: Andrew Waller, Mike Gagerman Agency: APA Management: Circle of Confusion Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment Prod. Co: Original Film Genre: Comedy Date: 3/19/2010
11. Title: Blank Slate Logline: In order to investigate a murdered female agent, the CIA implants the agent’s memories into the damaged brain of a female convict. The agent’s lethal abilities also are implanted, and soon the convict goes rogue to discover the truth about the murder. Writer: Doug Cook, David Weisberg Agency: CAA Management: Benderspink Prod. Co: Bold Films Genre: Action Thriller Date: 3/22/2010
12. Title: Down Logline: Centers on a guy trapped in an elevator. Writer: Greg Russo Management: Manage-Ment Prod. Co: Relativity Media Genre: Supernatural Thriller Date: 3/26/2010
13. Title: All You Need is Kill Logline: A raw recruit, pressed into battle against an alien species, gets killed in action. But he is reborn each day to suffer the same fate. Writer: Dante Harper Manager: Management 360 Agency: CAA Studio: Warner Bros. Genre: Action Date: 4/5/2010 Notes: Based on Japanese novel. Purchase price near $3M.
14. Title: Romeo’s Revenge Logline: The mob’s №1 enforcer-turned-informant breaks free of witness protection when he finds out his former employers are going after the only person he ever loved, his severely scorned ex-wife. Writer: Dave Lease Management: Circle of Confusion Prod. Co: Gold Circle Films Genre: Crime Drama Date: 4/12/2010
15. Title: Fury (aka The Killing Game) Logline: A haunted drifter finds himself forced into the savage world of a modern gladiatorial arena, where men fight to the death for the entertainment of the online masses and the profit of a sadistic capitalist. The drifter’s defiance to willingly execute his beaten opponents per the “rules” of the game, makes him the target of resident executioner and psychopath, who makes it his personal mission to destroy the man. Writer: Michael Hultquist Robert Martinez Management: Zero Gravity Management Zero Gravity Management Prod. Co: Motion Picture Corp. of America Zero Gravity Genre: Action Thriller Date: 4/14/2010
16. Title: The Architect Logline: A New York City hot-shot up and coming architect, gets the opportunity of a lifetime — to build his dream building in Dubai. Once on the Arabian Peninsula though, he discovers everything was a gigantic set-up which results in a chase to find his kidnapped wife and uncover the bigger conspiracy. Writer: Craig Stiles Agency: Bohrman Agency Studio: RKO Pictures Genre: Suspense Thriller Date: 4/20/2010
17. Title: You Complete Us Logline: After a married couple, who lives to cut loose with another married couple, discovers that their friends are divorcing, their own marriage begins to suffer. After unsuccessful attempts to go out with other couples, they realize, for the health of their own relationship, that they must get their best friends back together. Writers: Jim Kehoe, Brian Kehoe Management: H2F Entertainment Prod. Co: Endgame Entertainment / Offspring Entertainment Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 4/21/2010
18. Title: Tormenta Logline: When their yacht becomes stranded in the Mediterranean after a storm, five survivors clash while struggling against the onset of a deadly nautical psychosis. Writer: John Petro Agency: Paradigm Management: Zero Gravity Management Prod. Co: Radar Pictures Genre: Thriller Date: 4/26/2010
19. Title: Heatseekers Logline: A young ex-military pilot infiltrates a gang of aerial “pirates” working out of Bangkok and takes part in an elaborate tower heist using powered gliders and parachutes. Writer: George Mahaffey Agency: Paradigm Management: Generate Management Studio: Paramount Pictures Prod. Co: Platinum Dunes Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Action Date: 4/27/2010
20. Title: The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman Logline: A young man travels to Budapest after his mother dies of cancer, and he becomes entwined with a mysterious Hungarian girl with romantic and violent repercussions. Writer: Matt Drake Agency: Original Artists Prod. Co: Mandate Pictures Genre: Drama Date: 4/29/2010 Mandate’s Lawrence Grey will oversee.
21. Title: Ricky Stanicki Logline: A couple of pals invent a fake friend they employ when they want to get away from their spouses. Writer: Jeff Bushell Agency: WME Studio: Summit Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date: 5/20/2010
22. Title: Fun Size Logline: Set on Halloween and described as a cross between “Superbad” and “Adventures in Babysitting.” Writer: Max Werner Agent: David Karp, Danny Greenberg Agency: WME Management: Anonymous Content Studio: Paramount Pictures Prod. Co: Fake Empire Price: Low- to mid-six figures Genre: Comedy Date: 5/26/2010
23. Title: Wake Logline: Contained action franchise in the vein of Transporter, a modern day version of Jekyll and Hyde. Writer: Chris Borrelli Agency: UTA Management: H2F Entertainment Prod. Co: Hammer Films Genre: Action Date: 6/4/2010
24. Title: Layover Logline: A single father in hiding loses his teenage daughter during a layover in Las Vegas and is forced to confront the demons of his deadly past. Writer: Zach Dean Agency: UTA Management: Madhouse Entertainment Prod. Co: Endgame Entertainment Genre: Action Thriller Date: 6/4/2010
25. Title: Now You See Me Logline: A crack FBI squad enters a game of cat-and-mouse against a super-team of the world’s greatest illusionists, who pull off a series of daring bank heists during their performances, showering the profits on their audiences while staying one step ahead of the law. Writer: Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt Agency: CAA Management: Gotham Group Prod. Co: Summit Entertainment Genre: Thriller Date: 6/7/2010
26. Title: Hell to Pay Logline: A man returns home from a stint in the Air Force and becomes the fall guy to settle his father’s gambling debt to the head of a Miami mob. He takes the rap for the mobster’s son. While serving the jail sentence, the man’s father is murdered by the mob boss. He seeks to square things when he is released. Writer: Vlas Parlapanides, Charley Parlapanides Agency: WME Management: Underground Management Prod. Co: Mandate Pictures Genre: Thriller Date: 6/24/2010
27. Title: Step Dawg Logline: A man in his 30s returns home to discover that his single mom plans to marry his former high school stoner best friend. Writer: Jeff Tetreault Agency: WME Management: Energy Prod. Co: Morgan Creek Productions Genre: Comedy Date: 6/24/2010
28. Title: The Return of Magi Logline: A young African-American thief and two off-kilter women think he’s the third of the three Magi and lug him across the desert to Las Vegas. Writers: P.J. Lambrecht, Traci Lambrecht Prod. Co: Double Nickel Entertainment Genre: Mystery Date: 6/25/2010
29. Title: The Legacy Logline: Centers on the perfect crime involving a mother and her two boys. Writer: Gregg Hurwitz Prod. Co: Double Nickel Entertainment Genre: Drama Date: 6/25/2010
30. Title: Tomorrow Logline: Max Martin is desperate to save his family on the day of their murder but he can’t control the short-term time travel phenomenon he’s trapped in. Writer: Michael Gould Management: Zero Gravity Management Prod. Co: Worldview Entertainment Genre: Science Fiction Action Date: 7/14/2010
31. Title: Goliath Logline: When the fierce warrior Goliath is sent to track down a foretold king of the Israelites, a young shepherd David is thrust into an epic chase and adventure fighting for his own life, the lives of his loved ones and eventually the lives of his people. Writer: John D. Payne, Patrick McKay Agency: UTA Management: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Prod. Co: Relativity Media Genre: Action Date: 7/20/2010
32. Title: Man at Arms Logline: After the breakup of Camelot a disgraced Lancelot searches for redemption. Writer: Jeremy Lott Agency: Paradigm Management: Aperture Entertainment Prod. Co: Echo Lake Entertainment Genre: Action Date: 8/5/2010
33. Title: Chronicle Logline: Three Portland teens become exposed to a mysterious substance in the woods, and, as a result, begin to develop incredible powers. They work together to hone their skills for fun, until personal and family problems begin to turn them against one another. Writer: Max Landis Management: Circle of Confusion Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Prod. Co: Davis Entertainment Genre: Science Fiction Action Date: 8/10/2010
34. Title: 21 and Over Logline: Two college seniors get their best friend drunk on his 21st birthday and then must race to get him to his medical school exam the next morning. Writer: Jon Lucas, Scott Moore Agency: CAA Prod. Co: Relativity Media Genre: Comedy Date: 8/17/2010
35. Title: Monster Witness Relocation Program Logline: A teenage boy discovers that the girl next door and her father are monsters living in disguise among humans as part of the Monster Witness Relocation Program. Writers: Michael Wilson, Ahmet Zappa Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Prod. Co: Overbrook Entertainment Genre: Fantasy Date: 8/23/2010
36. Title: BFF & Baby Logline: Two best friends fight to maintain normalcy in their lives after one of the friends gets pregnant and has a baby. Writers: Krysten Ritter, Kat Coiro Agency: WME Management: Zero Gravity Management Prod. Co: Stardust Pictures Genre: Comedy Date: 9/15/2010
37. Title: Expulsion Logline: After an act of terror destroys Earth, a small band of survivors escape to a planet beyond the solar system. Writer: Gregg Hurwitz Agency: CAA Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Prod. Co: Weston Pictures Genre: Science Fiction Date: 9/23/2010
38. Title: Family Getaway Logline: A man’s Thanksgiving at his parents’ house becomes a lot more dysfunctional when rival assassins crash the dinner, forcing him to take his family on a cross-country adventure in their station wagon. Writers: Jeremiah Friedman, Nick Palmer Management: Mosaic Media Group Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Genre: Family Action Adventure Date: 9/23/2010
39. Title: Unlocked Logline: A female CIA interrogator is tricked into getting a terrorist to provide key information to the wrong side, thrusting her into the middle of a plot to plan a devastating biological attack in London. Writer: Peter O’Brien Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Prod. Co: di Bonaventura Pictures Genre: Thriller Date: 9/23/2010
40. Title: Snow White and the Huntsman Logline: A huntsman is ordered to take Snow White into the woods and kill her, but instead lets her go. He acts as a mentor figure, teaching her how to fight and survive. Writer: Evan Daugherty Agency: UTA Management: FilmEngine Management Studio: Universal Pictures Prod. Co: Roth Films Price: $1.5M against $3.25M Genre: Fairy Tale Action Date: 9/29/2010
41. Title: Ten Logline: N/S Writer: Skip Woods Agency: CAA Prod. Co: QED International Genre: Drama Date: 10/5/2010
42. Title: El Presidente Logline: An overly-committed Secret Service agent is assigned to guard the country’s worst former president, a bumbling sleaze. It’s a mundane and boring job — until there’s a threat made on the ex-president’s life, forcing the duo to go on the run together. Writer: Dan Goor Agency: UTA Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Genre: Action Comedy Date: 10/5/2010 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
43. Title: Take My Wife Logline: A recently divorced man realizes the only way to get out of paying alimony to his ex is to find her a new husband. He sets about transforming a rough-around-the-edges guy into a paramour who can be her ideal mate. After his Cyrano act creates the new love match, the divorced guy falls back in love with his wife and has to compete for her affections. Writers: Greg Coolidge, Kirk Ward Agency: WME Management: H2F Entertainment Prod. Co: Lionsgate Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 10/7/2010 Notes: Preemptive purchase.
44. Title: The Organ Grinder’s Monkey Logline: A wannabe artist’s talents are outshone by the paintings of a talking chimpanzee. Writers: Jake Chapman, Dinos Chapman Prod. Co: Warp Films Genre: Dark Comedy Date: 10/12/2010
45. Title: Dark Moon Logline: Manned moon missions did not stop with Apollo 17. Based on found footage, a black ops post-Apollo mission was sent to the moon to explore previously classified discoveries and its trip led to unintended and disturbing consequences. Writer: Olatunde Osunsanmi Agency: CAA Management: Caliber Media Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Prod. Co: Weed Road Pictures Price: High-six figure Genre: Science Fiction Drama Date: 10/18/2010
46. Title: Columbus Logline: Revolves around Christopher Columbus and his discovery of America. Writer: T.S. Nowlin Agency: WME Management: Energy Prod. Co: Relativity Media Genre: Action Adventure Drama Date: 10/18/2010
47. Title: Carnival! Logline: After their Brazilian guide is killed, a man becomes determined to follow through and finish the trip with his high school buddies. Writer: David Styne Agency: ICM Prod. Co: Stone Village Pictures Genre: Comedy Date: 10/28/2010
48. Title: The Three Laurens Logline: After years of not finding the right girl, a young man consults a psychic who predicts that he will soon meet the girl of his dreams and that her name will be Lauren. Problems arise when he meets three girls named Lauren and must figure out which one is the right one. Writers: Kent Sublette, Gil Cates Jr. Prod. Co: Laurence Mark Productions Genre: Romantic Comedy Date: 11/5/2010
49. Title: Imagine Logline: A sixty-something Bruce Springsteen-type rocker discovers a long-unopened letter addressed to him from John Lennon; after reading it, he’s shocked to learn that he actually fathered a son. Writer: Dan Fogelman Agency: WME Management: Industry Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Prod. Co: Carousel Productions Price: Seven figures Genre: Comedy Date: 11/8/2010
50. Title: Tiki Logline: Set in the world of Polynesian mythology, Hawaii’s rich reserve of unique gods are embodied by wooden masks and engravings, as well as ghost stories. Writers: Ahmet Zappa, Michael Wilson Agent: Jon Levin Agency: CAA Management: Anonymous Content Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Prod. Co: Monsterfoot Productions Genre: Family Adventure Date: 11/9/2010
51. Title: Timeless Logline: A recently wed man loses his wife and discovers after the fact she has left him a fortune. Haunted by an unresolved issue between himself and his wife, the man invests the money to build a time travel device, just to see her one last time. Writer: Bill Kelly Agency: WME Prod. Co: Relativity Media Genre: Science Fiction Drama Date: 11/11/2010 Notes: Preemptive deal.
52. Title: Game Theory Logline: A college professor and game theorist gets sucked into a large-scale global incident. Writer: Michael Alan Lerner Agent: Nicole Clemens Agency: ICM Management: Anonymous Content Prod. Co: Summit Entertainment Genre: Action Thriller Date: 11/24/2010
53. Title: The Rabbit Logline: Described as being in the vein of “Midnight Run” and revolves around the world of extrication specialists. Writer: Micah Barnett Agent: Mike Esola Agency: WME Management: FilmEngine Management Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Prod. Co: Lin Pictures Price: Mid six figures Genre: Action Comedy Date: 12/6/2010
54. Title: What Happened to Monday? Logline: Identical septuplet brothers struggle to stay alive in an overpopulated world where a “one child” policy dictates that siblings are against the law. Writer: Max Botkin Agent: Stuart Manashil, Matt Rosen Agency: CAA Management: EML Entertainment Prod. Co: Vendome Pictures Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Date: 12/15/2010
55. Title: Boy Scouts vs. Zombies Logline: A local boy scout troop must save the local girl scout troop from a zombie outbreak on an overnight camping trip. Writers: Carrie Evans, Emi Mochizuki Agency: Hohman Maybank Lieb Management: Brucks Entertainment Studio: Paramount Pictures Prod. Co: Broken Road Productions Genre: Comedy Horror Date: 12/16/2010
Analysis
* Notable Sales: Snow White and the Huntsman, Imagine
* Top Dollar Sales: Snow White and the Huntsman [$3.25M], All You Need Is Kill [near $3M].
* Interesting Storylines: Chronicle took the quick route from sale to screen, and became a hit movie in the process with inevitable sequels on the way.
* Sales declined in ’10 marking 8 consecutive years in which the total number of spec deals was substantially less than 100. Trendline here:
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: 60
2007: 64
2008: 87
2009: 67
2010: 55
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: 2011.
Special thanks: Sales details are included with permission from Done Deal Pro (www.donedealpro.com).
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