Should I write a fictional movie about a real man

[attatt]

I have an idea for a story about Stephen King that is totally fictional and I am wondering if I should bother to write it that way or just use a made up name and describe who the character is.

The thing is, everyone knows who Stephen King is. There is no need for any explanation and it would allow me to cut right to the chase on page 1.
If the name cannot be used in the actual movie, it can easily be changed and descriptive stuff added in later.

What do you all think? This is a light-hearted comedy by the way, leaning towards rom-com. Nothing that would necessarily cause Stephen King to want his name taken out.

[trellicktower]

I love these kinds of movies. If you have time you should write it.

Write it the way you want to. If Stephen King is integral to the plot and including him lets you jump right into the story where you think it should start, do it!

Should Stephen King decide he shouldn't be involved, you can re-write it.

But these fictional movies about real people are great. Ever since reading that Pete Best once worked in an office briefly, I thought that would make an interesting premise for a movie. A young corporate up-and-comer, raised on a healthy appetite of The Beatles, realizes the Pete Best sitting in the cubicle next to him is THE Pete Best.

[Jeff Messerman]

100 percent change the name. I think by actually using the name Stephen King you wind up being pidgeonholed into that most unfortunate of categories known as "Fan Fiction." And I have to assume that you'd like to somehow, someday be paid for your work, right?

An example... the film "George Lucas in Love." While actually a rather smart little movie that DID get some ink, I would contend that the filmmakers could have taken the concept further by just making a film about "a guy who made a massive blockbuster sci-fi opus." That's the beauty of good satire... you can take reality and mirror it exactly and people will know what you're up to... C3-P0 becomes T4-Q1, dig? Same with King... have your story about a massively successful horror writer named Devon Kring (silly name but you get the point) who wrote some novel about a girl who drives a haunted car with ESP and a rabid homicidal chihuahua... (hey, that's not bad, I may get working on that! jk)

John Carpenter did a halfway decent film called "In the Mouth of Madness" a few decades ago which had a strange Stephen King/Lovecraft hybrid character named "Sutter Caine."

"Sutter Caine"/Stephen King... sheesh, that was the BEST he could do???

[trellicktower]

But what about Being John Malkovich? That movie exemplified everything that can go right with fan fiction. It was bigger than John Malkovich.

I guess it depends on the premise for the movie. Attatt: can you tell us more about your idea?

[Jeff Messerman]

Very true, however I think Kaufman's initial draft was not with Malkovich. Can't recall which actor he used.

From wikipedia:

"Jonze claimed in an interview that when he was shopping the screenplay around Hollywood, at least one unspecified producer asked if he could possibly rewrite the film as "Being Tom Cruise". John Malkovich was approached about this film several times and loved the script, but he and his production crew felt that another actor would fit the role better. Malkovich offered to help produce the film, and aid Spike Jonze in any way, but refused to star in it. Eventually after a couple of years Malkovich's will was worn down and he agreed to star in the film.[5]"

Again, stranger things have happened but I would hate for a great spec script to have a strike against it merely because the subject of the script, Stephen King, isn't "in" on the joke, y'know?

And as I love to preach... we spec scriptwriters have the odds stacked against us so high... why intentionally make things harder for ourselves?

[mscherer]

Here's the kicker. Will Stephen King 'love' your script when you show it to him? Will he react like John Malkovich? Give you total support? Offer to help produce? Then take a role in your film?

I would think twice about spending 6 months to a year writing a spec script that has absolutely no chance of being sold. In addition, if you have Stephen King do something that disparages his character or causes him embarrassment, well, I hope you have a great lawyer

Whatever you decide,
Keep Writing!

[Jeff Messerman]

Oh and attatt, by the way, please don't mistake my lack of enthusiasm about using the King name as a lack of enthusiasm for your project.

I think a comedic riff on a mega-bestselling horror writer has HUGE potential for big laughs, ripe for satire!

Jeff

[attatt]

I will throw out a quick logline to try and express my idea. It really doesnt have to be Stephen King, I just like the idea of starting with someone everyone is familiar with and building from there. There's an existing emotional attachment. It does have to be a living author to work though.


The world's most celebrated living author struggles to choose what is most important to him: marrying the love of his life, or protecting his biggest secret - his illiteracy.


I have pages and pages of hilarious notes on this idea. I obviously dont want to give too much away, but there are a million directions to take this and the stakes are very obvious.

[trellicktower]

Good points all around.

attatt, should you choose not to go with Stephen King, based on your description I think you could easily and quickly establish that the author in your script is the #1 bestselling author in the world etc.

[songswithoutwords]

Firstly, I want to see this movie.... I think it's a great idea.

Not sure how that log line would play out in front of Stephen King himself. The character has the luxury of keeping this a secret. For Stephen King, it's announced to the world as a point of (perhaps) fact.

Despite the audience's intelligence, they may not be sure if it's real or not, because by including Stephen King, you've already mixed reality and fiction. It'll get people talking. It COULD be a great marketing opportunity. Automatic topic for Stephen King's talk show visits.

He may have the sense of humour for that. I hope so. Personally I love that stuff. It makes me gleeful. But I would worry that King's publicist would warn him against it. That's the risk.

All that to say, maybe write it first as suggested by Jeff.

[tcsp]

Is Stephen King illiterate? If not, doesn't it fall down somewhat?

[attatt]

I dont know if it falls down or not. As a movie watcher I like it when people rewrite history (e.g. Watchmen) and dont get bogged down in what is real vs false. It gives you more to think about when the movie is over and stepping out of your comfort zone enhances the movie experience.

I think I will go ahed and plan to write this as a fictional character. It does set up easily, I just thought it would be fun to launch off an existing public persona. I trust the collective opinion here greatly though.