The Definitive Spec Script Sales List (1991–2012): 2006
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 2006 after the jump. And thanks again to Mikal and Evelyn!
1. Title: Nativity Logline: Centers on the two-year period of Mary and Joseph’s life, culminating in their leaving Nazareth and journeying 100 miles to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. Key characters and events such as King Herod, John the Baptist’s parents (Zachariah and Elizabeth), the shepherds who were witness to Jesus’ birth; and the arrival of the three kings from the Orient will be fleshed out. Writer: Mike Rich Agent: Charles Ferraro Agency: UTA Studio: New Line Cinema Genre: Drama Date Sold: 1/25/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
2. Title: Paper Wings Logline: A young rodeo champion struggles between his career and his romance with an up-and-coming country singer. Writer: Les Bohem Agent: Larry Salz Agency: UTA Manager: Keith Addis Management Firm: Industry Entertainment Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Temple Hill Productions Genre: Drama, Romance Date Sold: 1/31/2006
3. Title: New Years Steve Logline: Life-changing resolutions are made over an endless New Year’s Eve. Writer: Josh Herman, Adam Schwartz Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Hyde Park Entertainment Genre: Family Comedy Date Sold: 2/1/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
4. Title: Random Acts of Cruelty Logline: A selfish man’s regrettable act of kindness thrusts him into a parallel life. Writer: Matthew Carroll Agency: Innovative Artists Manager: Marti Blumenthal Management Firm: Ampersand Management Group Studio: Columbia Pictures Production Co.: Escape Artists Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 2/3/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
5. Title: Identity Crisis Logline: A man wakes up in the wreckage of his own bachelor party with amnesia. He only has 24 hours to figure out who he is without screwing up the most important day of his life. Writer: Brent Askari, Chum Langhorne Manager: Andrew Kersey Management Firm: Kersey Management Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: Terra Firma Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 2/16/2006
6. Title: The Push Logline: Centers on the subculture of ordinary men who invent elaborate yet convincing personas and schemes in order to pick up gorgeous, ordinarily unattainable women. Writer: Sonny Postiglione Agency: Paradigm Manager: Seth Jaret Management Firm: Jaret Entertainment Production Co.: Gold Circle Films, Jaret Entertainment Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 2/17/2006
7. Title: Damned Logline: An all-American family survives a plane crash only to descend into a backwoods nightmare of demon-fearing religious zealots. Writer: Jim Agnew, Sean Keller Manager: Danny Sherman Management Firm: Principal Entertainment Production Co.: Fried Films Genre: Horror Date Sold: 2/23/2006 Notes: First time writers
8. Title: Comic Book: The Movie Logline: A spoof of comic book-based films. Writer: John Unholz Manager: Dave Chariton Management Firm: Miners Mills Entertainment Studio: Dimension Films Price: Mid-six against seven figures Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/1/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
9. Title: Lucky’s Last Stand Logline: A one-legged homeless man finds a special, cleated, wooden leg that enables him to become the new star kicker for the San Francisco 49ers. Writer: Adam Larson Broder, Tony R. Abrams, Andrew Rose Agent: Ava Jamshidi Agency: APA Management Firm: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Production Co.: Radar Pictures Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/1/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
10. Title: Shiver Logline: A group of New Year’s Eve partiers get in a car crash and are stranded in a Minnesota snowstorm when they stumble upon a nearby home, whose occupant happens to be a widowed doctor obsessed with torture as a scientific study. Writer: Mikey Wigart Agency: ICM Studio: Dimension Films Genre: Horror, Thriller Date Sold: 3/2/2006
11. Title: They Came From Upstairs Logline: Described as being “Home Alone” meets “Gremlins.” Writer: Mark Burton Agent: William Morris Agency Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Josephson Entertainment Price: $1.75M against $2.25M Genre: Horror, Comedy Date Sold: 3/3/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
12. Title: Second World Logline: A top assassin, who also happens to be a mother, must stop a deadly virus from spreading. In order to stop the potential pandemic, she must team up with the virus’ creator, who also is her target. Writer: Scott King Agent: Sonya Rosenfeld Agency: CAA Production Co.: Brooklyn Films, Emmett/Furla Films Genre: Action, Thriller Date Sold: 3/9/2006
13. Title: We Are Family Logline: An advertising executive is so embarrassed by his family that he hires actors to play his parents and siblings in order to impress his fiancee. Writer: Dan Shere Agent: Jennifer Konawal Agency: Gersh Manager: Noah Rosen Management Firm: Circle of Confusion Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Ralph Winter Productions, Circle of Confusion Productions Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/15/2006
14. Title: Disappearance of Trout Logline: A popular 13-year-old boy, heir to a town’s amusement park, vanishes for two decades. He then reappears, unaged, to help repair the lives of those once close to him and the heart of the town. Writer: Chris Ferrence, Dan Parada Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: David Kirschner Productions Genre: Fantasy Date Sold: 3/20/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
15. Title: Last Man Home Logline: Set in 2003, just before the United States launches its full-scale war, a covert US military unit is hunting for an AWOL American soldier in Iraq. The soldier is looking for his brother, who went missing when fighting in the first Gulf War. Writer: Jamie Moss Management Firm: Kustom Entertainment Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Imagine Entertainment Genre: War Drama Date Sold: 3/21/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
16. Title: Cellmates Logline: Two college buddies strike a deal with a tough inmate for protection after spending a weekend in the county jail. The two end up with more than they bargained for when the convict’s released. Writer: Mark Perez Agent: Jason Burns Agency: UTA Manager: Brian Lutz Management Firm: Brian Lutz Management Production Co.: Regency Enterprises, Mandeville Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 3/27/2006
17. Title: Microwave Park Logline: Four narcotics detectives walk a very thin line between their jobs and the gangster world, placing them in the crossfire between gangs and the FBI until a police psychologist gets involved. She must decide between covering up the crimes or bringing out the truth. Writer: Eugene Hess Production Co.: Emmett/Furla Films, Primetime Pictures Genre: Cop Drama Date Sold: 3/28/2006
18. Title: The Mistaken Logline: An American man traveling with his family becomes a terrorism suspect. Writer: Stephen Hauser Agency: ICM Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Davis Entertainment Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Thriller Date Sold: 3/29/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
19. Title: Save the Date Logline: A woman has planned every detail of her wedding, from the date, menu, kind of flowers, music and location, but doesn’t have a groom. When she meets the perfect guy, she must figure out how to get him to the altar without him finding out that this was her plan all along. Writer: Jared Bush Agent: Andy Elkin Agency: CAA Manager: Beth Stine Management Firm: Relevant Entertainment Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Benderspink Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 4/4/2006
20. Title: Brad Cutter Ruined My Life … Again Logline: A high-school nerd grows up to get a good job and a beautiful girlfriend, but begins to lose his sanity and just about everything else when his company hires a man who was the most popular guy in his high school and had made his life a living hell. Writer: Joe Nussbaum Agent: Adriana Alberghetti Agency: Endeavor Agency Manager: Allen Fischer Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: De Line Pictures Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/6/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
21. Title: Our Lady of the Ballpark Logline: A slumping, egotistical New York Yankees pitcher tries to resurrect his career in the corrupt Mexican Baseball League. Writer: Ron Shelton, Jon Norville Agent: Danny Greenberg, Lee Cohen Agency: William Morris Agency, Paradigm Production Co.: Morgan Creek Productions Genre: Sports Comedy Date Sold: 4/6/2006
22. Title: The Troubleshooter Logline: A guy tries to figure out his life, while running for his life. Writer: John Hamburg Agent: Philip Raskind Agency: Endeavor Agency Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Working Title Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/7/2006
23. Title: Burt Dickenson: The Most Powerful Magician on Planet Earth Logline: Set in the world of rival Las Vegas magicians, one member of a famous two-man team dies in a risky stunt. The surviving team member must then find a way to rediscover his love for magic. Writer: Chad Kultgen Agent: Daniel Rabinow Agency: ICM Manager: Mason Novick Management Firm: Benderspink Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Benderspink, Film Engine Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/11/2006
24. Title: To Each His Own Logline: N/A Writer: Tyrese Gibson Agent: Kenny Goodman Agency: William Morris Agency Production Co.: Screen Gems, HQ Pictures Genre: Drama Date Sold: 4/12/2006
25. Title: Sex with Midgets (aka American Pie 5) Logline: N/A Writer: Erik Lindsay Management Firm: Benderspink Studio: Universal Pictures Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/20/2006 Notes: Spec acquired to be adapted into American Pie sequel
26. Title: The Art of Cool Logline: A geeky student discovers the classic book “The Art of War,” by Sun Tzu, and uses it as a survival guide for navigating the social politics of high school. Writer: Alex Sabeti Agent: Marissa Devins Agency: UTA Studio: Columbia Pictures Production Co.: Mosaic Media Price: $600,000 against $850,000 Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 4/21/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
27. Title: The Feynman Chronicles Logline: After a mysterious object crashes into a remote mountain in 1940s Africa, a brilliant young physicist Richard Feynman is recruited by the government to investigate it. He teams with a beautiful English spy and a cynical French aviator in a race against the Nazis to find the object and unlock its secrets. Writer: Ashley E. Miller, Zack Stentz Agent: Jonathan Westover Agency: The Gage Group Manager: Jim Strader Management Firm: Quattro Media Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Production Co.: Mayhem Pictures Genre: Action Adventure Date Sold: 4/26/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
28. Title: Rodeo Gal Logline: A debutante equestrian falls for a cowboy and then circumstances lead her to enter the rodeo. Writer: Katie Wech Agent: David Boxerbaum Agency: APA Manager: Zach Tann Management Firm: Magnet Management Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Jerry Weintraub Productions Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 5/3/2006
29. Title: Live Bet Logline: Described as a heist picture set in the underworld of NYC. Writer: Charley Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides Agent: Mike Esola Agency: William Morris Agency Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Stuber/Parent, G-Unit Films and TV Genre: Heist Date Sold: 5/10/2006
30. Title: Untitled Lohla Comedy Logline: Centers on all of the nightmares that go into planning a wedding. Writer: Erik Lohla Agent: Matthew Bedrosian Agency: Paradigm Manager: Seth Jaret Management Firm: Jaret Entertainment Production Co.: Original Film Price: Low- to mid-six figures Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 5/11/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
31. Title: Dead in the Water Logline: A grieving couple takes a cruise in an attempt to reignite their marriage. When the ship rescues a man at sea, the couple becomes embroiled in a horrific nightmare. Writer: Noah Hawley, Alexi Hawley Agent: Patty Detroit, Max Roman Agency: ICM, Innovative Artists Studio: Touchstone Pictures Production Co.: Cider Mill Productions Genre: Horror Date Sold: 5/15/2006
32. Title: Game Boys Logline: Two thirtysomething video game junkies are recruited by the Department of Homeland Security to lead a geeky army of gamers in a battle against creatures that have come to life from a video game they have mastered. Writer: Tom Ropelewski, Evan Katz Agent: Joe Cohen, Paul Haas Agency: CAA, Endeavor Agency Studio: Walt Disney Pictures Production Co.: Jerry Bruckheimer Films & Television Genre: Action Date Sold: 5/17/2006
33. Title: Anvil Logline: A young woman, on a road trip with her friends, stumbles into a remote Kansas town and realizes the town locals are not what they seem and that she has a supernatural destiny. Writer: Adam Sussman Agent: Jason Burns Agency: UTA Manager: Brian Lutz Management Firm: Brian Lutz Management Production Co.: Gold Circle Films Genre: Horror Date Sold: 5/22/2006
34. Title: Buried Logline: “Urban explorers” — youth who explore abandoned metropolitan structures like subway tunnels, buildings, etc. — stumble on WWII medical experiments that had gone terribly awry. Writer: Jeff Dixon Production Co.: Maverick Films Genre: Horror Date Sold: 5/26/2006
35. Title: A Family Affair Logline: A real estate agent has a one-night stand with a distinguished older man. After becoming engaged to someone else and heading off to meet her fiance’s family, she discovers her future father-in-law was her bedmate. Writer: Sahara Lotti Agent: Nicole Clemens Agency: ICM Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Apartment 3B Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 6/1/2006
36. Title: She’s Out of My League Logline: A regular guy meets up with a perfect 10. However, his own lack of confidence and the suspicions of his friends and family begin to sabotage the relationship. Writer: Sean Anders, John Morris Agency: Broder Kurland Chervin Silbermann Agency Management Firm: Mosaic Media Group Studio: Dreamworks Pictures Production Co.: Mosaic Media Price: Low- to mid-six figures Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 6/8/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
37. Title: Shotgun Wedding Logline: A girl kidnaps her boyfriend and forces him to marry her in Las Vegas. Writer: Tiffany Zehnal Agency: CAA Manager: Beth Stine Management Firm: Relevant Entertainment Studio: Dreamworks Pictures Price: Mid-six figures Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 6/16/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up. 2006 Black List script
38. Title: Wardogs Logline: Four retired Vietnam veterans get called back into action when their former leader goes missing in Turkey. Writer: Adam Grossman Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Production Co.: Regency Enterprises, Mad Chance Genre: Action Date Sold: 6/20/2006
39. Title: Dracula Year Zero Logline: Centers on the epic origin of Dracula, weaving vampire mythology with the true history of Prince Vlad the Impaler and showing him more as a vengeful hero than the monster seen in Bram Stoker’s classic novel. Writer: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless Agency: Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency Management Firm: Guy Walks Into a Bar Management Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Michael De Luca Productions Genre: Drama Date Sold: 7/11/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
40. Title: The Drowning Man Logline: A man wakes up without a pulse and soon discovers that he is at the center of a macabre government experiment. Writer: Adam Alleca Agent: Kimberly Bialek Agency: William Morris Agency Production Co.: Intermedia Films Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Thriller Date Sold: 7/11/2006 Notes: Based on Hideshi Hino’s manga “Living Corpse”
41. Title: Mr. Burnout Logline: A bitter, rude English teacher accepts a bet from an attractive new teacher to get three of his most problematic students into a top college and in doing so he renews his faith in teaching and the future. Writer: Eric Gravning Agency: Hohman Maybank Lieb Manager: Bryan Brucks Management Firm: The Syndicate Production Co.: NALA Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 7/13/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
42. Title: My Beautiful Coma Logline: A married man lives out his dream of having every woman he has ever fantasized about after a near-fatal car accident leaves him in a coma. Complications ensue when his wife enters his dream to “rescue him.” Writer: Chris Downey Agency: CAA Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Rat Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 7/17/2006
43. Title: Swingles Logline: A bachelor is dumped by his wingman and teams with a sharp-tongued woman he can’t stand in order to meet singles. Writer: Duncan Birmingham Agent: Matt Leipzig Agency: Original Artists Manager: Ragna Nervik Management Firm: Ragna Nervik Management Studio: Paramount Pictures Production Co.: Misher Films Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 7/21/2006
44. Title: Kidnap Logline: After her son is kidnapped at a local mall, a woman embarks on a chase to save him. Writer: Knate Gwaltney Agency: Original Artists Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures Production Co.: di Bonaventura Pictures Genre: Thriller Date Sold: 7/24/2006
45. Title: Straight and Narrow Logline: A parolee is forced to pull off one last heist for his future father-in-law. Writer: Joe Gazzam Agent: Emile Gladstone, Harley Copen Agency: Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency Manager: Noah Rosen Management Firm: Circle of Confusion Production Co.: Regency Enterprises, Ralph Winter Productions, Circle of Confusion Productions Genre: Heist Date Sold: 7/26/2006
46. Title: (500) Days of Summer Logline: Examination of a relationship between a woman who doesn’t believe in love and the man who falls hopelessly in love with her. Writer: Scott Neustadter, Michael M. Weber Agent: Bill Zotti Agency: Broder Webb Chervin Silbermann Agency Management Firm: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures Production Co.: Watermark Pictures Genre: Anti-Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 8/3/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
47. Title: Shooter Logline: A young gunslinger seeks out and challenges the sport’s undefeated veteran. Writer: Ron Krauss, Tom Hietter Agent: Robert Stein Agency: Paradigm Manager: Andrew Hersh Management Firm: Lovett Management Production Co.: Maverick Film Genre: Action Date Sold: 8/9/2006
48. Title: American by Blood Logline: Three U.S. Army scouts, who are the first to arrive at the horrifying aftermath of the battle of Little Bighorn, take on the grueling assignment of tracking down the Sioux leader, Crazy Horse. Writer: Matthew Sand Agency: UTA Management Firm: Circle of Confusion Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: The Kennedy/Marshall Company Genre: Drama Date Sold: 8/29/2006 Notes: Based on the novel by Andrew Huebner.
49. Title: Mercy Logline: A college student decides to debunk the urban legend of the Mercy Killer, a killer who makes his victims’ deaths look like suicides, only to discover that he is all too real and has chosen her as his next victim. Writer: Carolyn Townsend, Eddie Hartman Management Firm: New Wave Entertainment Production Co.: Intrepid Pictures, E-Squared Genre: Horror Date Sold: 8/31/2006 Notes: Preemptive pick-up
50. Title: Matchbreaker Logline: Centers on two guys and a girl set against a vibrant cultural backdrop. Writer: Adam Sztykiel Agency: UTA Management Firm: Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: 21 Laps Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 9/9/2006 Notes: Based on an idea which was generated internally at 21 Laps Entertainment.
51. Title: The City That Sailed Logline: A New York City street magician’s daughter, because of family circumstances, lives in England. In exploring a lighthouse one day, the girl discovers a room with magic candles and wishes to be reunited with her father, causing the island of Manhattan to break away and drift across the Pond. Writer: Andrew Niccol Agency: CAA Management Firm: 3 Arts Entertainment Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Production Co.: Niccol Films, Inc. Genre: Drama, Fantasy Date Sold: 9/10/2006
52. Title: Little Lover Boy Logline: A small-time crook gets abducted by aliens, swipes their spaceship and teams with an alien pilot for a Robin Hood-inspired intergalactic road trip. Writer: Rick Overton Agent: Neil Bagg Agency: Don Buchwald & Associates Studio: Universal Pictures Production Co.: Stuber/Parent, Mosaic Media Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 9/21/2006
53. Title: Mild Things Logline: A mellow married couple wants to have a baby. Before they change their lives forever, they decide to have a “baby bender” and spend a few months partying like rock stars. Writer: Michael Colton, John Aboud Agent: Tony Etz Agency: CAA Manager: Peter Principato Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Studio: New Line Cinema Production Co.: Principato-Young Entertainment Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 9/27/2006
54. Title: Cougars Logline: A group of young men, fed up with dating women their own age, discover the pleasures of dating older women. Writer: Erik Lindsay Agency: UTA Management Firm: Benderspink Production Co.: Focus Features Genre: Romantic Comedy Date Sold: 10/5/2006
55. Title: All About Steve Logline: A TV news cameraman is stalked across the country by a brilliant but eccentric crossword-puzzler. Writer: Kim Barker Agency: CAA Management Firm: Underground Management Studio: Fox 2000 Production Co.: Fortis Films, Underground Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 10/13/2006 Notes: 2006 Black List script
56. Title: Armored Logline: A young armored car guard is persuaded by his veteran cohorts to empty the truck of its $10 million haul. Writer: James V. Simpson Agency: Endeavor Agency Management Firm: Farah Films & Management Production Co.: Screen Gems, Buckaroo Entertainment, Farah Films & Management Price: Low to mid six figures Genre: Crime Drama Date Sold: 10/13/2006 Notes: Simpson was also a finalist in the 2006 Nicholl Screenwriting Fellowship with this script.
57. Title: Muskrat Love Logline: A self-absorbed player dumps the perfect woman, only to be injected with a monogamy serum by the woman’s vengeful best friend. Writer: Martin Sweeney Manager: Trevor Engelson Management Firm: Underground Management Production Co.: The Weinstein Company, Underground Films, Launchpad Productions Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 10/23/2006
58. Title: Captain Awesome Logline: Involves a superhero element. Writer: Mike Arnold, Chris Poole Agency: CAA Manager: Allen Fischer Management Firm: Principato-Young Entertainment Studio: Fox Atomic Genre: Date Sold: 11/13/2006
59. Title: Funny Fat Guy Logline: A stereotypical funny fat man, who is the life of the party and everyone’s mascot, becomes sick of his lovelorn status and he decides to transform himself, Eliza Doolittle-style. Writer: Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme Agent: Jay Gassner Agency: UTA Manager: David Miner Management Firm: 3 Arts Entertainment Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures Production Co.: Broken Lizard Films Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 11/17/2006
60. Title: The Escape Artist Logline: Centers on a relationship consultant who gets paid to break people up. Garner helped develop the script with the writers. Writers: Jim Kehoe, Brian Kehoe Agent: ICM Studio: Lionsgate Genre: Comedy Date Sold: 11/28/2006. Notes: First sale for the Kehoe brothers.
Analysis
* Notable Sales: (500) Days of Summer.
* Top Dollar Sales: They Came From Upstairs [$2.25M].
* Interesting Storylines: How about Sex With Midgets which was procured to “be an American Pie sequel.” And sure enough American Pie Presents the Naked Mile has a midget in it.
* Sales stabilized for the year, but the numbers were still quite low. 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
2006: 60
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: 2007.
Special thanks: Sales details are included with permission from Done Deal Pro (www.donedealpro.com).
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