The story, described as having shades of "Gone in 60 Seconds" and "High Noon," features a Gumpert Apollo, a race car used by drug smugglers, and it centers on a cartel leader that uses it to break out of a courthouse. As he speeds to the Mexican border, the only thing standing in his way is a border-town sheriff and his inexperienced staff.This is what happens: People who work in movie development read so many crap scripts, they figure, "I can do that." Some of them do. And some of them are successful, like Mr. Knauer.
Knauer is a former assistant at Media Talent Group and before that interned at Lionsgate. In a move that is sure to fuel many a writing fantasy, he quit his job to write full-time, with "Stand" the resulting screenplay.
He is repped by WME and Energy Entertainment.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Spec script sale: "Last Stand"
Lionsgate with preemptive purchase of action thriller spec "Last Stand" from writer Andrew Knauer:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
2 comments:
The older I get the more the word "successful" changes. Once I might have said Mr. Knauer was successful because he sold his spec. More recently I'd have to say that it remains to be seen: will it be HIS movie? Or will it be something else entirely? What's a good definition of success for a screenwriter, to get something sold, or to get their movie made?
Lee, you're quite right to raise the point and it all depends upon one's situation in life. Per selling a spec script: If you're outside the business or a lackey in the business, and you sell a spec script, considering there were 87 specs that sold last year - out of probably 25,000 projects flowing through the system - I think you'd consider that a success. Selling a spec script not only gets you $$, it also gets you meetings, which can turn into filling OWA (Open Writing Assignments), which can translate into more $$. If you're smart, have good representation, and do good work, it's possible to be in a position where you write material you truly care about.
But I've met plenty of 'successful' screenwriters who are plenty bitter about things that happened to them, most notably about projects that went south. Hell, I've had 4 movies made, and I only felt halfway good about one of them. So even getting a movie made comes with caveats.
That said -- and speaking from personal experience -- there is no underestimating the value of writing and selling a spec script. It's the equivalent of blowing open the castle gates and gaining immediate access to everyone who matters.
Post a Comment