Interesting Experiment - Updated

[Deleted]

Does anyone know if there has ever been a spec script that was written by complete strangers over the Internet? I think it would be an interesting experiment.

Wouldn't that be an interesting angle?

Imagine all the press when a group of writers meets for the first time at the premiere.

The only caveat is the payout should it ever be sold, but I am sure that could be arranged in advance.

Am I crazy? Have I not had enough coffee yet today?

Who would be in?

[mscherer]

By complete strangers do you mean totally anonymous to one another, or just never met, or only knew of each other through a message board

I would assume they could agree on a pseudonym and write away -- WGA script registry would be done with their real names, so credit shouldn't be an issue. Although, for me, I think it would require a real leap of faith -- and trust.

Hmmmmm…. Do you think Shane Black might be up for this? ;D

Keep Writing!

[Jonathan]

Mar 1, 2010 10:40:41 GMT -5 @mybrainhurts said:

Imagine all the press when a group of writers meets for the first time at the premiere. ... Am I crazy? Have I not had enough coffee yet today?

Lol. Whatcha got in that coffee? Pass me some.

[attatt]

I think it sounds great. The end product would be a complete mystery until it was in hand.
I loev experimental stuff like that.

I forget who the artist was that did this...you fold a paper up intil4 to 8 squares and each artist draws on one square without seeing what his predessor has done. When you unfold the paper you have a work of art that is only complete in its utter disorganization.

[oz]

I gotta tell ya, Brain, it's tough to write with a partner you know. You'd be surprised what you learn about someone when your both trying to create a single piece.

I was a part of something similar to this years ago. Can't recall where it was right now but it wasn't pretty. Problem there was there wasn't any structure to it, kind of like the old telephone game. People would pick up with the pages when it was their turn and suddenly a comedy about three old women turned into a sci-fi on a space ship. Some thought it was hysterical while others got their panties in a really tight bunch because their work was ruined.

Personally, I have too much on my plate but I would really suggest you go at it with a great deal of structure and a defined number of participants if you're going to try it. Sounds like fun, though.

[Deleted]

By complete strangers, I mean people that have not met in person or even by phone. Only contact can be over the Internet.

I would agree that the storyline and the main story, structure, plot would have to be agreed upon in advance. A discussion would have to happen prior to writing on where everyone's strengths are. Maybe are some at better at dialog, others humor, etc.

The other way you could do it is to have people write random scenes and have one person try to tie it all together somehow, which may be really tough depending on the drug content in one's system.

Will give this some thought and see how we can proceed.

[Deleted]

I gave this some thought last night, (I mean, what better to think about when you are up from 1:00 - 3:30 AM with a baby that wont go back to sleep, right?) and this is the basic idea:

I haven't had much sleep so if this doesn't make sense, feel free to ask as many questions as you would like.

5 writers - Each writer will write 20 individual pages for a total of 100 pages.

Title: 60 Seconds – 300 Seconds. I don't know, something catchy that ties in 60 seconds and five stories.

Setting: Los Angeles

Plot: A 9.0 earthquake will happen at the midpoint.

Theme: Life is Precious.

Each writer will create 2-5 characters to follow. Each writer will write a story for those characters. The characters and general story will be shared with the other four writers.

Remember though, you are writing individual pages. 60 seconds of film at a time. The challenge is to make the characters and scenes stand out as your next scene may not come around for a little while. No two pages you write will be back to back.

“OK Mr. MyBrainHurts...now my brain hurts.”

Let me show you an example. The first writer may select a high profile basketball star and his wife to be his characters.

Pages 1-5 show him playing basketball with his son, enjoying family time, practicing with the team. He is cocky and confident, on top of the world.
Page 6 He cheats on his wife
Page 7 Wife finds out, the fight
Page 8 He meets with his agent and PR people
Page 9 Press conference saying he is sorry
Page 10 Playing in the NBA finals.

Earthquake

Page 11 He is buried under the Stapes Center rubble
Page 12 Teammates are near. Some are hurt badly. Some are just trapped
Page 13 The teammate closest to him ponders his loving family, then dies.
Page 14 They can hear rescuers coming for them
Page 15 In hospital, realizes he will lose his legs
Page 16 Knows his career is over. Feels lost
Page 17 His wife refuses to visit him in the hospital
Page 18 Learns his wife filed divorce papers prior to earthquake
Page 19 Vows to live a much better life
Page 20 Wife visits him in hospital. They both value each others existence.

Ok, maybe it isn't perfect, but it is just an example.


Time Periods: To keep everyone on track, Pages 1-10 are five days. Pages 11-20 are two days.

Structure:

Pages:
1-5 = Setup
6-10 = Act 1

Earthquake

11 = All writers will now need to define what happens to your characters immediately after the earthquake? Are they buried in rubble? Do they survive? Do some get killed off? Are they flying overhead and watch the earthquake from above?

12-15 = Act 2
16-20 = By page 20, all characters need to be at the hospital.

At this point there will be 101 pages of script. The last 5-9 pages will tie everything together as all of the protagonists from all 5 stories will speak, touch, mingle with one another. (Think Crash...sorta)

Once all five writers are finished, all pages will be collected and put together. While I envision the first page of each writer will go in succession for the first page or two, from each story, I can see the rest of pages may go out of order, whatever makes the story the best.

----------Writer #

PAGE 1 - 1 2 3 4 5
PAGE 2 - 1 2 3 4 5
PAGE 3 - 3 2 1 5 4
PAGE 4 - 2 1 4 5 3

Etc. Whatever helps the story move along and makes the most sense once all the pages are gathered.

Yes, for all those who are wonder, I am a madman.

Any questions? Anyone want to participate?

[dwight]

very interesting. I'd be interested in being part of some of the planning.. mainly see a bit more. I like the crash theme. A screenplay created by a collaboration of GITS people would be awesome. Could be tough, but i'll bookmark this thread to see what stems.

[mscherer]

Team,

This sounds great!! I think you guys and gals should go for it.

I'm in the same boat as Oz -- swamped with work; my own writing; work; family; work; and did I mention my writing?

Seriously, please, please follow through on this -- a chance for everyone to learn -- even the bystanders.

Keep Writing!

[attatt]

I would love to participate, so let me get this straight...everyone writes 20 pages, then one person combines them into a single interwoven story and writes the last 5-9 pages to close it out?
Reminds me of the movie Crash suddenly

[Deleted]

Yes, that is the gist of it.

It is Crashesque.

The interesting part will be to see how all of the characters and stories develop as five different people will be writing them, but they will interconnect through the major events.

Ok, so there are 2 in. We just need three more victims volunteers.

[songswithoutwords]

I'm in.

@brain, in your example you get a lot done in each of your pages. our stories will need to be simpler i think. but i guess that's up to each writer to some extent.

do we agree on each story before we start or do we surprise each other? i think we should know what each other is up to, up front.

[dwight]

I'm definitely for a quick outline before going in.. Just so we can get an idea, and collaborate. And maybe mention something if a person's story involves an ancient chinese spirit world under china town, or a martian invasion.

I'm definitely interested, but this next week i've given myself a deadline for my own projects so after that, then i can crank out a short 20 pager.

[attatt]

If this is for our own amusement, I say absolutely no outlining/no boundaries. If you want to take this really serious, then I am all for that too. We need to sort of go to one extreme or the other to have a really satisfying experience.

[Deleted]

@songs - The story can be as complex or as simple as you can make it within the parameters that are given. The real challenge is to find the right balance so that the story can be followed clearly as the viewer watches it in 60 second slices and it is mixed with four other stories.

@peter - I am not opposed to a quick outline of everyones general story beforehand. We are all busy so starting next week would be fine.

The vision I see is to make it realistic. What would happen to your characters if there was a 9.0 earthquake in Los Angeles? I am more than willing to listen to more ideas.

From thinking it through, I think the real work will be in the rewrites as that is where we will be able to see opportunities to improve our individual pages that will help out the whole.

attatt We are all busy and even writing 20 pages may be tough. I say we go serious and try to sell it. Why the hell not? I think it would be interesting for anyone to read because every page is going to be different from the one before it since it is written by different people. Different styles, different character ideas, etc.

When we all meet at the premiere, you are all buying me the drinks that night because it was my idea.