Good news, chaperoos. I’ve got another batch of scripts for you. What can I say, I’m in a rhyming mood. So before we get into the goods, I’m changing my position on Adapted Screenplay today because I just watched The Big Short and it’s amaaaaaazing. What a daring screenplay and a daring movie. They really took a lot of chances there. It was like a comedic Scorsese film. Sorry “Room!” I still love you. Which is the perfect segue into today’s offerings because I know – for a FACT – that someone from this site is going to win a screenwriting Oscar at some point in their lives. I can’t tell you how I know (other than I might be an AI program sent back in time through the internet) but rest assured, I’m like… 18… 19 percent sure. And how sure am I about being sure? I’d say at least 5%. I’ve never been so 5% sure of being sure of something in my life. Will one of today’s writers be making that big acceptance speech? Uh, when a script called “Time Shark” makes Amateur Offerings, I’m pretty sure the answer is DEFINITELY!
Title: A Walk Across the Sun
Genre: Western
Logline: Long after the fall of civilization, a sheltered teen searches for his estranged older brother, now wrapped up with a gang of marauders storming across the Mojave Desert.
Why you should read: Whenever I make the drive from Los Angeles to Vegas, I can’t help but absorb the barren landscape that flanks the 15. It’s a land that still bears the luster of the frontier and a setting that’s ripe for a proper story… A post-apocalyptic Western where we see the world transformed back into a time of cowboys and the prospect of “leaving the nest” has deadly consequences. This is The Road-meets-Once Upon a Time in the West… Bloody, brutal, and thrilling. A Walk Across the Sun is another script I hope to take out very soon, but I would love to hear what the Script Shadow community thinks of it before I do. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Title: Inner Geoff
Genre: Comedy
Logline: A man finds himself at war with his repressed subconscious in this sex-comedy spin on Jekyll & Hyde. On a day that will determine whether Geoff Perkins will get the promotion he desperately needs to maintain custody of his sister, he begins experiencing blackouts that allow his inner horndog to get out.
Why you should read: Anybody out there into script sex? That freaky-deaky tango of two writers getting down and dirty and going to poundtown on each other’s material… Well this script here is Scriptshadow Script Sex. That’s that really nasty stuff you’re not even allowed to send in the mail. Co-writers Patrick Bonner and John Eidson met on the Scriptshadow boards and did the will they-won’t they dance, trying to figure out who was catfishing who. But then they just threw caution to the wind, put on some Barry White, and nine months later, here we are. With a Scriptshadow godchild just waiting to be baptized.
But forget the sexy-time and consider this: Comedy, more than any other genre, is dependent on great characters. Quick, what’s the plot to Dumb & Dumber? Anchorman??? Do you remember that Harry & Lloyd are trying to return a briefcase, or do you remember Harry & Lloyd? What does “I love lamp” or Sex Panther Cologne have to do with sexism in the 70’s media market? The truly great comedies live on in the characters that have been created, and the quotes that get repeated over and over again. So when we set out to write this, we weren’t content to rest on a unique (if somewhat confusing) premise and nailing it’s execution. This script is full of fun characters, ones that you’ll remember, and quotes you can see becoming catch-phrases. If you can read this and say that Cassidy isn’t on the Alan in The Hangover or Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids-level (her name was Megan, but no one seems to remember that), then we’re calling bullshit.
Carson,
Full disclosure; my husband, Matt is on your page daily and I can’t take one more drop of this shoulders as he anxiously awaits someone to read his script. Matt is an incredibly smart man who secretly writes late into the evening… dark scripts that could potentially freak out a spouse, except his is a little crazy herself. Save me from having to irrationally drive cross country wearing a diaper and forcing someone brilliant to read Burn on It.
I have read it and although you do not give GENIUS as a rating, you might get pretty damn close after reading this.
Sneaking through Matt’s notes I found the description as:
The actions of a ruthless kidnapper grip an affluent neighborhood in fear. A young boy from a broken home may possess the secret that ends the reign of terror.
Pretty good for two sentences but- there’s no hint to high society scandal, a parents greatest fear, death of a best friend that causes a surprising act of violence… I never know what I’m allowed to share or say but “Read the script already!”
Matt has read several scripts on your site and found one that seemed to be shared just because the author seemed to be a friend or generally good guy. If I must play that card, there isn’t a better man out there than Matt Campau. Compliments and acknowledgment of good deeds embarrass him; he’s rather pull them off without anyone knowing. He wouldn’t want you to know that either, he wouldn’t mind people knowing about his pranks.
Matt is patient and kind, I am not. Please get cracking- I promise you won’t be disappointed. He needs to know that he doesn’t have “American Idol Syndrome”.
Sincerely,
Momma Bear
Script link for Burn On It.
Title: Pontiff No Return
Genre: Action/Comedy
Logline: The Pope, a former soldier, goes on the run, to thwart the American President’s evil plan to stoke a holy war in the Middle East; and gets some help along the way from a bad-ass Virgin Mary.
Why you should read: The best part is you don’t have to read it. As a winner of the WILDsound International Screenplay Contest, it was performed at their festival, and you can watch a live table read with professional actors here.
When I was writing this, I was kind of worried that Hollywood wouldn’t want anything to do with an irreverent, R – rated action/comedy. Then Deadpool happened. Maybe the timing now is perfect.
Title: Time Shark!
Genre: Spoof/Action Adventure
Logline: A retired marine biologist goes back into the water when inter-dimensional time-traveling sharks invade our world. But an overzealous military-man has nefarious plans for the strange fish. Airplane! meets Jaws.
Why you should read: Hey there! So I’m a first time screenwriter, starting this a little later than most, (I’m in my early 40s) and I had a story to tell about time traveling sharks. So I did. I don’t live in California, I’m actually a tv sports producer in Florida, a cuban-american dad, and write as a hobby on the side. I think you should review my script because it’s a comedy about time traveling sharks. And time travel is awesome, and so are sharks. And spoof comedies aren’t all that common anymore, so why not? I really hope you give it a look. Thanks.
