The Definitive Spec Script Sales List (1991–2012): 2005
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 2005 after the jump. And thanks again to Mikal and Evelyn!
1. Title: Orphan’s Dawn Logline: While floating in space for a century, a city-sized starship’s inhabitants seek a planet to settle after their own world was rendered uninhabitable. Time is running out, and a struggle for control breaks out. Writer: Josh Friedman Agent: Andrew Cannava Agency: UTA Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Davis Entertainment Price: High-six figures Genre: Sci-Fi Date Sold: 1/7/2005 Notes: 2005 Black List script
2. Title: The Break Up Logline: In a bid to keep their luxurious condo from their significant other, a couple’s break-up proceeds to get uglier and nastier by the moment. Writer: Jay Lavender, Jeremy Garelick Agency: William Morris Agency Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Studio: Universal Pictures Notes: Price: $2M Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 1/17/2005 Notes: Part of a bidding war
3. Title: Toy Story 3 Logline: Being kept under wraps, but new take may have the characters on the road and out of Andy’s room. Writer: Jared Stern Agent: Mark Provissiero Agency: William Morris Agency Management Firm: Industry Entertainment Studio: Walt Disney Feature Animatio Genre: Family Comedy Adventure Date Sold: 1/18/2005 Notes: Jared Stern wrote the script while a member of Disney’s Feature Animation Writing Program.
4. Title: Forsaken Logline: A group of misfits hide out in a cabin during a snowstorm and begin telling ghost stories to pass the time. To their horror, they discover that the monsters from the stories are real and have the cabin surrounded. Writer: Ari Margolis, Jim Morley III Agent: Victoria Wisdom Agency: Becsey Wisdom Kalajian Manager: Frederick Levy Management Firm: Management 101 Production Co.: Gold Circle Films Price: Low-against mid-six figures Genre: Horror Thriller Date Sold: 1/21/2005
5. Title: Heavy Metal Thunder Logline: Two nice, mall food-court employees go undercover in the Hell’s Angels, hoping to collect the million-dollar bounty placed on the gang’s notorious leader. Writer: Luke Walker, Jeremy Walker Production Co.: Intermedia Films, Crispy Films, Outlaw Productions Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 1/27/2005
6. Title: License to Wed Logline: A young couple must endure a hellish marriage preparation course. Writer: Kim Barker Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Phoenix Pictures, Underground Films Price: Low-against mid-six figures Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 2/10/2005 Notes: First time writer
7. Title: Forget It Logline: Described as being in the vein of “Liar Liar.” Writer: James Greer, Jonathan Bernstein Agency: William Morris Agency Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Production Co.: Davis Entertainment Price: Mid to high six figures Genre: Family Comedy Date Sold: 2/11/2005
8. Title: Who’s Your Mama Logline: A group of bored and frustrated suburban mothers form a garage band and begin to write and perform songs about the often-ignored realities of motherhood. Writer: Eileen Walls Agent: Bill Zotti Agency: Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency Manager: Doug Johnson Management Firm: Management 360 Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Messick Films Price: $750,000 against $1.25M Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 2/11/2005 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
9. Title: The Power of Duff Logline: A local newscaster in Rochester, N.Y., finds himself at the center of a spiritual drama. After the death of his father, the TV news anchor begins praying aloud for things to happen while reading the evening news. When his prayers start coming true, it ignites controversy about whether he’s a prophet, a pundit or a charlatan. Writer: Stephen Belber Agent: Ted Chervin Agency: Broder Kurland Chervin Silbermann Agency Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Marc Platt Productions Price: $900,000 against $1.25M Genre: Drama Date Sold: 3/3/2005 Notes: Part of a bidding war. 2005 Black List script
10. Title: Priest Logline: A warrior priest disobeys church law by teaming up with a young sheriff and a priestess to track down a band of renegade vampires who have kidnapped his niece. Writer: Cory Goodman Production Co.: Screen Gems, Michael De Luca Productions Genre: Western Date Sold: 3/8/2005
11. Title: Snow Blind Logline: Contemporary thriller in the vein of The Fugitive. Writer: Paul Benz, Steve Tomlin Agent: Nicole Clemens Agency: ICM Manager: Sukee Chew Management Firm: Hopscotch Pictures Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: di Bonaventura Pictures, Hopscotch Pictures Genre: Thriller Date Sold: 3/8/2005
12. Title: Cosmo Man Logline: A female editor for a well known woman’s magazine searches for the magazine’s first ever “Man of the Year.” In her search she finds love in the most unsuspecting place. Writer: Colet Abedi, Jasmine Abedi Production Co.: Shadow Entertainment Group Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 3/11/2005
13. Title: West of 5 Logline: Set in San Diego, four dysfunctional women go on an all-night binge for booze, boys and Benadryl. Writer: Dan Margules Production Co.: Mad Rabbit Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/13/2005 Notes: Optioned
14. Title: Miss Dumanski Logline: A single elementary school teacher with loving Old World parents, adopts a Russian orphan. Her love and strength are tested by this emotionally-challenged, scared little girl. Writer: N/A Production Co.: Mad Rabbit Films Genre: Drama Date Sold: 3/15/2005 Notes: Optioned
15. Title: Senior Week Logline: A hard-working college student learns he won’t be the class valedictorian and decides to spend his last week at school living the life he’’s missed for the past four years. Writer: Erica Rivinoja Agent: Matt Rice Agency: UTA Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: John Goldwyn Productions, Broadway Video Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/15/2005
16. Title: This Bill Smith Logline: A 60-year-old cancer patient gets paired up with a 30-year-old cancer buddy who’s an even bigger pain in the ass than he is. Writer: Jon Sadowski, Ben Brandstrater Agent: David Boxerbaum Agency: Metropolitan Talent Agency Manager: JC Spink, Charlie Gogolak Management Firm: Benderspink Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment Production Co.: Mosaic Media, Benderspink Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/16/2005 Notes: 2005 Black List script
17. Title: Man Scout Logline: Centers on a 32-year-old Boy Scout. Writer: David Dorfman Agent: Adriana Alberghetti Agency: Endeavor Agency Manager: John Jacobs Management Firm: Smart Entertainment Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Smart Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/17/2005
18. Title: Me, You and Dupree Logline: A troubled newlywed couple’s problems are intensified when the groom’s out-of-work best man moves in and begins competing with him. Writer: Michael Lesieur Agent: Jason Burns Agency: UTA Manager: Sean Perrone Management Firm: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/17/2005
19. Title: Stalker — A Love Story Logline: A man realizes a bit too late that he’s let the perfect woman get away, so he tries to win her back in all the wrong ways. Writer: Michael Carnes, Josh Gilbert Agent: Cliff Roberts Agency: William Morris Agency Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: Prospect Pictures Price: $1.75M against $2M Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/17/2005
20. Title: Superstition Logline: A scientifically conducted seance draws a deadly ghost who shifts reality to account for its existence. Writer: Neal Marshall Stevens Agent: Jon Huddle Agency: ICM Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: Radar Pictures, Platinum Dunes Genre: Horror Date Sold: 3/30/2005 Notes: Based on David Ambrose’s novel.
21. Title: Rizzle Pizzle Sizzle Logline: A former Rock, Paper, Scissors champion reunites his ragtag team of misfits to defeat his arch nemesis at the annual RPS tournament. Writer: Adam Farasati, Ethan Furman Management Firm: Magnet Entertainment Production Co.: Apartment 3B, Gold Circle Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/11/2005
22. Title: The Man Who Knew Everything Logline: Centers on the relationship between a woman and a homeless man with a great memory who’s read a huge number of books. Writer: Mike Reiss Agent: Jordan Bayer Agency: Original Artists Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: Happy Madison Productions Price: Seven-figures Genre: Comedy, Drama Date Sold: 4/15/2005 Notes: Preemptive pick-up.
23. Title: Off the Chain Logline: Through a glitch in the system, two prison-bound women from opposing walks of life — a framed, clueless housewife and a career street criminal — accidentally swap prisons, with the housewife being sent to a maximum-security penitentiary and the criminal going to a country-club setting. Writer: Dax Shelby, Robert Stevens Agency: Preferred Artists Manager: Geri Robert Management Firm: Fearless Entertainment Studio: Touchstone Pictures Production Co.: Gunn Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/25/2005
24. Title: Prey Logline: A man sets out on a solo hunting expedition in the middle of winter and severely injures his leg. He is rescued by a mysterious trapper whose intentions are more sinister than he leads the hunter to believe. Writer: Jerrold E. Brown Manager: Dave Brown Production Co.: Sobini Films Genre: Psychological Thriller Date Sold: 4/26/2005
25. Title: Dad Can’t Lose Logline: Centers on a lifelong competition within a family. Writer: Jay Martel, Ian Roberts Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: Principato-Young Entertainment Genre: Family Comedy Date Sold: 4/28/2005
26. Title: No Pain No Gain Logline: A SWAT team’s top cop, who is incapable of feeling emotional or physical pain and is thereby revered for his fearlessness, undergoes surgery that will allow him to feel everything he’s missed in life. Writer: Steve Pepoon Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Smart Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/28/2005
27. Title: The Dionaea House Logline: A married man grows apart from his old friends, but when one of them commits a double-murder suicide, the men feel compelled to come together and investigate. Eventually, they stumble upon an evil force that perpetuates itself through tract housing. Writer: Eric Heisserer Agent: Julie Bloom Agency: Art/Work Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Heyday Films Genre: Horror Date Sold: 5/11/2005
28. Title: Adult World Logline: A Stanford coed, who feels she’s destined to be a poet, winds up working as a clerk in a mom-and-pop adult bookstore. Writer: Andrew Cochran Agent: David Saunders Agency: APA Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: MTV Films, Bona Fide Productions Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 5/17/2005
29. Title: R5 Logline: A human chess match is played out on Los Angeles rooftops, triggered by a mysterious series of shootings that prompt the L.A. expert to focus his suspicions on a South African rival long presumed dead. Writer: Jango Sircus Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Benderspink Genre: Action, Thriller Date Sold: 5/17/2005
30. Title: Trap Door Logline: A hotshot executive has eight hours to tear apart his new Mulholland Drive home and find a safe that contains a clue that will help him save his recently abducted wife. Writer: Sean Dickson Agent: Ava Jamshidi Agency: APA Manager: Ron Del Rio Management Firm: Gilbertson, Kincaid & Associates Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Smart Entertainment Price: Low against mid-six figures Genre: Thriller Date Sold: 5/17/2005
31. Title: Worst Case Logline: Crime thriller Writer: Rafael Yglesias, Tom Schulman Agent: David Lonner, Richard Lovett Agency: William Morris Agency, CAA Management Firm: Brillstein-Grey Management Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Working Title Films Price: High six figures Genre: Crime Thriller Date Sold: 5/19/2005 Notes: Part of a bidding war
32. Title: Amusement Logline: A traumatized woman is questioned by a policeman and a psychiatrist about three stories that involve her and two of her female friends from childhood. Writer: Jake Wade Wall Agent: Sheryl Petersen Agency: Don Buchwald & Associates Manager: Chris Ridenhour Management Firm: Evolution Management Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Macari/Edelstein Genre: Horror Date Sold: 5/20/2005
33. Title: Absolute Angels Logline: A high school outsider is invited to join the cheerleading squad only to find out the girls are a pack of vampires. Writer: Genevieve Jolliffe, Andrew Zinnes Agency: Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency Manager: Paul Nelson Management Firm: Mosaic Media Group Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Mosaic Media Genre: Horror, Comedy Date Sold: 6/16/2005
34. Title: To Live and Drive in L.A. Logline: A suspect recounts the back story of a crime scene, with the police trying to figure out if he is just spinning a yarn that gets bigger and bigger. Writer: Jonathan Davis Agent: Brian Sher Agency: ICM Manager: Chris Fenton Management Firm: H2F Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Dylan Sellers Productions, Thunder Road Films Genre: Action Date Sold: 6/17/2005
35. Title: Barking Orders Logline: N/A Writer: Scott Sommer Agency: Hohman Maybank Lieb Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Production Co.: Lakeshore Entertainment Group Genre: Family Comedy Date Sold: 6/24/2005
36. Title: Lifers Logline: A boy and a girl must solve a mystery involving a futuristic law system under which children born with a certain genetic code are automatically imprisoned. Writer: Luke Borghi, Bart Rachmil Manager: Brooklyn Weaver Management Firm: Energy Production Co.: Avatar Entertainment Group Price: Low-six figures Genre: Sci-Fi, Action Date Sold: 6/27/2005 Notes: This is the writers’ first deal. They previously worked as assistant editors on various studio movies, which is how they met Weaver.
37. Title: Things We Lost in the Fire Logline: A woman is widowed when her husband dies suddenly, leaving her alone with two children. She decides to invite her husband’s troubled best friend to live with them and, as the friend turns his life around, he helps the fractured family confront the emotional void left by the loss. Writer: Allan Loeb Agent: Jon Levin Agency: CAA Studio: Dreamworks SKG Production Co.: Scamp Genre: Drama Date Sold: 7/8/2005 Notes: 2005 Black List script
38. Title: Happy Campers Logline: A geeky accountant dad tries to convince his son that he’s tough and cool, so he agrees to lead a class camping trip. Writer: Peter Gaulke, Gerry Swallow Agent: John Campisi Agency: CAA Manager: Doug Johnson Management Firm: Management 360 Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Tapestry Films, Inc. Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 7/25/2005
39. Title: Flight Risk Logline: A young man is hired by a wealthy father to escort his unusually rebellious 11-year-old son across state lines to a school for troubled kids. Writer: Kyle Long Agent: David Kopple Agency: Gersh Manager: Alex Goldstone Management Firm: UFUSE Entertainment Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Production Co.: Offspring Entertainment Price: $200,000 against $400,000 Genre: Action, Comedy Date Sold: 7/29/2005
40. Title: The Forger Logline: An imprisoned thief buys his way out of prison when he learns his estranged son has only a few months to live. But his efforts to make up for lost time with the teen are endangered when a crime boss forces him to do one last job. Writer: Richard D’Ovidio Agent: Emile Gladstone Agency: Broder Kurland Chervin Silbermann Agency Manager: Mikkel Bondesen Management Firm: UFUSE Entertainment Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: di Bonaventura Pictures Genre: Crime Drama Date Sold: 8/5/2005
41. Title: Book of Leo Logline: A man, totally unhappy by the way his life has turned out, decides to try and do everything he ever wanted to do all in the week before his 30th birthday. Writer: Joe Lovero Agent: Tariq Jalil, Ed Tapia Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Marc Platt Productions, Identity Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 8/9/2005
42. Title: Scared Straight Logline: A governor’s teenage son is sent to prison as part of Scared Straight, a crime-prevention program that imprisons delinquent teens for a short period in the hopes of deterring them from a life of crime. While the teenager is there, a riot breaks out and the prisoners take him hostage. He teams up with other street kids and a con to stop the riot. Writer: Joe Gazzam Agency: Broder Kurland Chervin Silbermann Agency Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Contrafilm Genre: Thriller Date Sold: 8/11/2005 Notes: 2005 Black List script
43. Title: Dream House Logline: A man moves his family into what he thinks to be the ideal residence in the country, but ominous things are going on there. Writer: David Loucka Agent: Jordan Bayer Agency: Original Artists Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Bobker/Kruger Films Price: $600,000 against $1M Genre: Supernatural Thriller Date Sold: 8/12/2005 Notes: Preemptive pick-up. 2005 Black List script.
44. Title: Genius Logline: Set in the world of academia. Writer: Don Handfield Agent: Stuart Manashil Agency: UTA Manager: Trevor Engelson Management Firm: Underground Management Production Co.: Jerry Weintraub Productions Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 8/18/2005
45. Title: The Proposal Logline: A book editor is forced to marry her male assistant in order to stay in the country. When they travel to Alaska to meet his family, the new couple has to fake their way through a surprise wedding thrown by his parents. Writer: Pete Chiarelli Agency: CAA Studio: Walt Disney Company Production Co.: Mandeville Films, Kurtzman/Orci Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 8/22/2005 Notes: Chiarelli, president of Kurtzman and Orci, sold his script under the pseudonym of Jennifer Kirby. 2005 Black list script.
46. Title: Hall Pass Logline: A married couple find themselves going through the motions. The wife gives her husband a “hall pass,” which means permission to engage in extracurriculars. Complications ensue. Writer: Pete Jones Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Conundrum Entertainment Price: High six figure Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 9/19/2005 Notes: 2005 Black List script
47. Title: Goner Logline: A young woman’s journey involves a lot of horror and heroics. Writer: Joss Whedon Agent: Chris Harbert Agency: CAA Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Stuber/Parent Price: Seven figures Genre: Fantasy, Thriller Date Sold: 9/23/2005
48. Title: Most Likely Two Logline: A high school reunion consultant makes peace with her inner geek when she falls for a client who never got over his cheerleader crush. Writer: Kelly Rouse Agent: Brian Dreyfuss Agency: The Kohner Agency Studio: Columbia Pictures Production Co.: Laurence Mark Productions Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 9/26/2005
49. Title: Worst Friends Logline: A yuppie’s life is turned upside-down when his two loser friends from high school show up for a surprise visit the week before his wedding. Writer: Ian Roberts, Jay Martel Agency: Endeavor Agency, ICM Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Principato-Young Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 9/26/2005
50. Title: Heirhead Apparent Logline: The spoiled daughter of a department store tycoon campaigns to save the store after spending time with workers on the sales floor. Writer: David Clawson Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Karz Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 10/3/2005
51. Title: Witches Logline: A young soldier recruits an odd assortment of characters, including a ne’er-do-well witch hunter, to help him rescue his love from an evil warlock. Writer: Joel Wyman Agent: Spencer Baumgarten Agency: CAA Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Production Co.: Hyde Park Entertainment, Frequency Films, Pink Thunder Genre: Adventure, Fantasy Date Sold: 10/26/2005
52. Title: Disturbia Logline: A troubled teen living under house arrest becomes convinced that his neighbor is a serial killer. Writer: Christopher Landon Agent: Tobin Babst Agency: UTA Manager: Kevin Donahue Studio: DreamWorks SKG Production Co.: The Montecito Picture Company Genre: Thriller Date Sold: 10/28/2005 Notes: 2005 Black List script
53. Title: Stop-Loss Logline: A soldier returns home to Texas from Iraq but is then recalled with the “stop-loss” procedure, the controversial statute now used by the U.S. Defense Dept. to extend soldiers’ combat time. The soldier refuses to return to battle. Writer: Kimberly Peirce, Mark Richard Agent: Elizabeth Swofford Agency: CAA, UTA Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: Scott Rudin Productions Genre: Drama Date Sold: 11/9/2005 Notes: Part of a bidding war. 2005 Black List script.
54. Title: Mainline Logline: N/A Writer: Brett Matthews Agency: Hohman Maybank Lieb Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Dylan Sellers Productions Genre: Sci-Fi, Thriller Date Sold: 11/11/2005
55. Title: Killing on Carnival Row Logline: Set in the future in a town called Burgue, the citizens, which include both humans and other creatures, are being targeted by a serial killer. Writer: Travis Beacham Agent: Cliff Roberts Agency: William Morris Agency Manager: Bard Dorros Management Firm: Smart Entertainment Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Kopelson Entertainment Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Thriller Date Sold: 11/18/2005 Notes: Preemptive pick-up. First time writer. 2005 Black List script.
56. Title: He Loves Me Logline: N/A Writer: Joyce Brotman Agent: Kimberly Carver Agency: Innovative Artists Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Flower Films, Inc. Genre: Psychological Thriller Date Sold: 12/9/2005
57. Title: Fed X Logline: A green FBI agent is sent to Miami to retrieve a criminal for prosecution. During the return trip, the fed and the thug each learn there’s more to the other than expected. Writer: Dario Scardapane Agent: Bryan Besser Agency: Endeavor Agency Manager: Daniel Rappaport Management Firm: Management 360 Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Seed Productions Genre: Action Date Sold: 12/14/2005
58. Title: Our Family Troubles Logline: A first-time mother is so plagued by unexplained phenomena that she doubts her own sanity. When she returns to her Tennessee home, she fixates on the legend of the Bell Witch and becomes convinced the evil spirit is intent on harming her son. Writer: Don Winston Agency: UTA Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Type A Films Genre: Drama Date Sold: 12/16/2005
Analysis
* Notable Sales: The Break Up and Me, You and Dupree.
* Top Dollar Sales: The Break Up ($2M), Who’s Your Mama ($1.25M), The Power of Duff ($1.25M), The Man Who Knew Everything (seven figures), Dream House ($1M).
* Interesting storylines: How about the sale of Toy Story 3 by Jared Stern? Backstory: This is when Pixar and Disney had their brief break-up. Michael Eisner pressed the issue by securing this script to do TS3 without Pixar.
* Sales continued a downward move in 2005 with a big drop. Here is 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
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?
Tomorrow: 2006.
Special thanks: Sales details are included with permission from Done Deal Pro (www.donedealpro.com).
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