Five amateur screenplays. Read and tell us which one you liked best in the comments section. The winner gets a review. Also, feel free to offer constructive criticism to the writers. We’re all trying to help each other out here and your one comment could lead to the breakthrough that helps that writer crack his script.
Title: False Flag
Genre: Action
Logline: A CIA black ops agent hunts down his former partner to find out why he was left for dead and uncovers a conspiracy involving a black market WMD that only he can stop.
Why you should read: I love the action movie genre. More correctly, I love the potential of the action movie genre, and it bugs me that so much of what is released in this genre fails on really basic screenwriting levels – as if the genre itself is an excuse not to put the hard yards in. I want to write smart, surprising films with compelling characters that also happen to contain much kick ass action.
Title: The Multiverse
Genre: Sci-Fi
Logline: A man who can move between alternate universes must protect the secret to his ability from a power-hungry former colleague who wishes to destroy all life in the Multiverse.
Why you should read: I was on a general meeting a few years back when the executive announced that thanks to “Inception”, she could hear original, sci-fi pitches again. Although that rule apparently only applied to writers named Christopher Nolan, it did start my mind on the path that led to this script. It’s a heady, mind fuck of a script – which is just how I like ‘em.
Title: IVY
Genre: Drama/Crime-thriller
Logline: When her older brother — a notorious NYC graffiti writer — is murdered, a teenaged fine arts student must infiltrate this underground world in order to find her brother’s killer.
Why you should read: The script takes place in NYC during the implementation of Mayor Guiliani’s infamous “broken window” theory. I hurried to get this draft done, as I feel it’s only gaining relevance given the current events. Graffiti’s a tough subject to crack (since most people see graf writers as nothing but vandals), but I tried to make the world as human as possible — through the eyes of a strong young woman. Think Point Break in the world of graffiti, with some freaking GIRL POWER!
Title: The Henchman
Genre: Action
Logline: In an action movie universe, struggling blue-collar worker Arthur Goodman takes a job as a mob henchman to support his family. Then finds himself fighting to protect them from his employers, while trying to survive as an expendable character.
Why you should read: With the Expendables 3 coming out, I figured I’d offer my own spin on the action movie genre. It’s gotten some good feedback, including high scores on the Black List. Even if it isn’t voted, I hope people will enjoy the read, and I can get some notes on how to improve it.
Title: Revision
Genre: Thriller
Logline: After being manipulated into covering up the murder of a coworker, a collections agent’s life spins into a frenzy of psychological and physical torture that can only be stopped by the compassionate love of his new crush.
Why you should read: I love movies like Fight Club, Memento, and Shutter Island when the protagonist doesn’t realize that he is the antagonist. You should read Revision because it is engaging, entertaining, and scary. Mix Tyler Durden’s mania with Lenard Shelby’s “condition” and you get the main character, Arthur Graham. He fights off his demons as he struggles to hold on to his new girlfriend; and he does it all with a smile on his face (most of the time.)
