Batman vs. Superman. Pft. How bout Time Shark vs. Dude, Where’s My Ferret?? Now that’s a real showdown! Not that it’ll ever happen but still.
Before we get started, I thought I’d bring you into my world for a moment. I’m honestly trying to do good here. But I still get 1 to 2 e-mails a week that read like this gem I received yesterday: “Carson, I’ve been reading you for years and I’ve sent you several high quality screenplays to read, but I get no response. You pick out the worst dreck you can find and review it. Now I’m done with you.”
Don’t you realize e-mails like this make me feel like Sad Affleck?
Look, we all believe our ideas are better than everyone else’s. Or else why would we write them? But if you’re not getting a good response from sending your logline in (to me and others), there’s probably something wrong with it. The bar some weeks is really low. Sometimes it comes down to, “Can the writer form a cohesive sentence with his logline?” I’m not hiding away a series of brilliant scripts here. If you’ve got something that even sounds capable, it’s probably going to make the site.
If you’re really struggling with why your pitch isn’t getting traction, post your idea in the comments and let others tell you if you have the greatest logline since Jurassic Park. Or get a friend’s opinion. Make sure to INSIST they be honest with you (or they won’t). But seriously, take some responsibility for your stuff instead of passing it onto others. I guarantee you that your writing will improve.
Okay guys, you know the drill. Read the scripts below (or read as far into the script as you can), then vote for your favorite in the comments section (“I vote for BLAH BLAH”). But if you want to be a really helpful dude or dudette, give feedback to the writers. It’s particularly helpful for writers to know where you stopped reading and why. Oh, and if you’d like to enter your own script for a potential Amateur Saturday slot, send me your title, genre, logline, why we should read, to Carsonreeves3@gmail.com. We need some fresh submissions so get those scripts in!
Title: FOUND FOOTAGE
Genre: Animation/found footage
Logline: “A group of trainee scout ants who find themselves battling to stay alive after a training exercise in a suburban home goes horribly wrong…this is the found footage”
Why You Should Read: Haunted by all the ants that I’ve killed, I found myself with no choice but having to write this script. I hope it does justice to all the ants that have fallen in battle, most specifically the ants from the Eighth Antiment: For Queen and Colony. Hoo-hah!
Title: Vultures ‘N’ Doves
Genre: Action/Heist
Logline: An estranged group of musicians, of a once successful band, reunite in order to pull a series of robberies at major concert venues, all in one night, in an attempt to take back the millions they feel were stolen from them by their ex-manager, who now runs the venues they target. Their greatest hits, are robberies.
Why You Should Read: I love heist films. Primarily, grounded heist films. Shit that could happen. Shit that, if we put our minds to it, and had just the right opportunity, for just the right reason, we might be able to pull off and would risk doing so. Any heist situation is absolutely nuts to attempt, so it has to be about more than the money. There has to be something so wrong with the system, the person, the past or the present where it seems there is no other choice. Vultures N Doves is unique twist on the heist film, something I’ve never seen in a movie before, it’s amped up fun, there’s a couple of outrageous set pieces, and most importantly, a main character with a rockstar ego, who is struggling to keep his band, marriage, and life together.
Title: Scary Monsters
Genre: Horror/Comedy
Logline: When citizens of a small town begin transforming into werewolves, vampires, ghouls and goblins, the only person who seems to notice is the town’s narcissistic black sheep.
Why You Should Read: The Universal monsters will be creeping their way back into theaters over the next few years. “Scary Monsters” is the comedic answer to this. The script is an R-rated monster mash that I’ve been working on for about three years. It’s heavy on humor, while still maintaining its heart. I feel like the story veers in some interesting and offbeat directions as it goes on, especially in the final act. My style of humor is on full display here, as is three years’ worth of depression, addiction and self-loathing. Fun. If you do read the script, I hope you enjoy it and I would love some feedback.
Title: John Brown’s Body
Genre: Historical Fiction (Based on True Events)
Logline: After a lifetime of failure, John Brown attacks the United States Armory at Harper’s Ferry in one last ditch effort to free the slaves.
Why You Should Read: In earlier forms, this script placed in the top ten in Final Draft’s Big Break, was a semifinalist in Page and received a “Consider” from Coverage Ink. I’ve worked hard on the notes I’ve received and I think I’ve made it better. I understand that it’s a period piece (but isn’t Catherine the Great?), however it’s a really cool moment in history that has been ignored on the big screen. I like to think of this story as the American version of Braveheart.
Title: Sinkhole
Genre: Comedy
Logline: A self-centered, good ol’ boy chooses getting a pool over fixing the house, resulting in him falling through a sinkhole into another dimension where things are deceivingly better.
Why You Should Read: Brandi didn’t leave a “Why You Should Read,” so this is Carson explaining why I picked this. I’m obsessed with sinkholes. I’m not kidding. I think they’re fascinating. So there was no way this wasn’t getting onto the site. (p.s. If you have any sinkhole pitches or scripts, send them to me!)
