For all of you who participated in the lengthy analysis we did here on the spec script “The Beaver” — with posts here, here, here, and here — an update from the Daily Variety:
Summit Entertainment has picked up dark comedy “The Beaver,” starring Mel Gibson.Project, to be helmed by Jodie Foster, is slated to begin lensing in mid-September in New York.
And one of the big reasons Summit picked up the project?
“We bought the project because it’s told in one of the most unique voices ever,” said Erik Feig, Summit’s president of worldwide production and acquisitions.
“Unique voice.”
Hm.
Seem to remember somebody somewhere talking about…
Writers developing their voice.
Read that really recently…
Like…
Yesterday…
Here:
But there’s one thing you — and only you — can offer that nobody else can.
Voice.
That unique point-of-view you have…
Based on your experience…
Your life…
Your creativity.
It’s the thing that can cause your script…
To rise up out of that vesuvian pile of manuscripts…
In the cramped Hollywood apartment…
Or New York walk-up…
Of that overworked script reader…
And catch that reader’s attention.Your voice is the way you approach a story…
How you tell it…
How you handle it…
Your unique take on storytelling.
Bottom line re The Beaver:
The script’s surprising story concept and its unique voice…
Won out over fears about making such a dark comedy.
Congratulations to the script’s writer Kyle Killen.
Summit picked it up because of Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster. There's the appearance of very little risk when you have names like that.
My friend works at Icon. And has been watching Mel practicing — with a prototype puppet on his hand. Some of the stories are the funniest thing I've ever heard.
I really hope the movie makes it. It's a very tough sell to audiences imo. It's not really a comedy.
People may tend to forget but Gibson is a gifted comedic talent. And I can definitely see him pulling off the beaver hand puppet thing.
However do Gibson – in a comedy (I'm not sure how else Summit can market the movie) – and Foster as a director translate into certain box office results? In the context of this?
Of course, there's another reason that could, and likely did influence Summit: It's a prestige project. Whatever Gibson and Foster may / may not mean at the box office, they're still stars and that means something within the business. For Summit to get a project with 2 A-listers and a script that has been atop the Black List, therefore, well-known by creative execs, producers, agents, etc, it definitely is a buzz-worthy package from that perspective. Maybe that results in them being sent better projects, bigger projects, more name-heavy projects.
I agree with you, James, in that I hope the movie does well, too. Even if someone doesn't like or get the script, it's an innovative story concept, an extremely well-written script, and an interesting story.
James,
I have a couple scripts I would LOVE to get in Mel Gibson's hands to read, and possibly direct or star in. IF he's ever looking for material… and your friend's willing, I'd jump at the opportunity to have at shot at entertaining him. What I've got is a couple supernatural western thrillers.
So just lemme know IF that's ever a possibitility.
- E.C. Henry from Bonney Lake, WA