Screenwriting : Major movie bombs by Eric Sollars

Hi Eric,

Check out this list I put out last week. I don't know what's playing by you, but these are playing by me. I've seen the majority of them, and I haven't seen one bad film all year. Actually, I can't even remember the last time I've seen a bad film.

https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/33-Great-Scripts-Great-Film...

No screenplay ever gets made without some form of change in production.

What you are seeing is the influence of those "fine people". Even Writer/Directors are at the mercy of Producers. Kevin Smith tells a story about an off-colour joke he had in a film. He had already shot the scene. The studio said "Kevin, you want this film to reach the biggest audience don't you?".

He cut the joke.

A note received while the "Walking Dead" was in early (failed) production was "Can we make it a procedural and can we remove the Zombies". This was a real note.

That is why I put whatever the hell I want in my scripts to get the story told as best I can. It will be removed, changed and beaten to death before it even gets close to pre-production.

I will credit this to Craig Mazin writer of many huge comedies.

He said when you see a piece of crap and say "I can do better than that. That film started out great and became crap during production. You can't start at crap plus 1. Because you'll end with sub-crap".

It's always tough to argue with someone who likes all movies they watch. I love watching movies too, but I have to force myself to stay awake in many. They are so many boring movies today. I think Craig must be right, a good script gets green lighted then the whole culinary school weighs in what should be the correct recipe and soon you are eating a stew that tries to appeal to everyone. Lions Gate spent a lot of money. I guess if they get enough critics to write a good review they can say it's too far over the average movie goer's head.

Eric,

That's just it, though, bro. I read the reviews of five different critics, and I know the consensus summary of each film that I am going to watch. So going in...I know what I'm expecting; I also see a lot of trailers at the theaters and on youtube. So I know the acting, the directing, the POV, the themes, the story,the editing, the lighting and the sound are already going to tick all my check boxes, and that everything is going to be where it needs to be for me to love that film. And I enjoy all genres, too, because I enjoy drama. I also enjoy movies from all countries, too. And I greatly admire indie producers who are passionate about what they do and fight the good fight to get their passion projects made into films.

I can understand how everyone wouldn't quite be a good theater partner/companion for me, too. I actually to be alone when I see a film for the first time, too.

I hope you get to enjoy the next 100 films you see, bro!

I try to read the reviews first too. Most of the time the reviews are right on, but occasionally they are way off, or at least I didn't like the movie. Birdman comes to mind. I'll still go to the movie even with a bad review just to see for myself. I go the movies twice a week at least. Lots of data entry.

I think the quality of the script-screenplay is the most important reason a new release is destined to be a bomb or not. Craig D Griffiths is probably correct and too many people get their two cents in and soon a great idea for a script becomes something no one even recognizes as quality anymore. The last Star Wars screenplay, "Solo" is an example. The title character is the fourth strongest male role in the story. How did that come about? How does that script get even titled Solo? It sounds like it started off as a great idea for Hans Solo, but then everybody jumped in and soon the original story is a nothing. I know it's tough to keep going to the Star Wars well, but why sabotage it?

I went to see "Solo" thinking Ron Howard always does quality work and couldn't go wrong. It just proves great directors cannot save a bad screenplay or bad story. I'm sure Ron Howard knows why the movie was a bomb.

Everyone makes box office duds, from Hitchcock to current filmmakers like Scorsese, Soderbergh, Aronofsky, Ridley Scott, Karyrn Bigelow, Sly Stallone, Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Spielberg. They keep on doing because making movies is their job.

I’d suggest people to go work on a feature film or a network tv show, physical and mental labor, months/years. It’s hard to be great on one movie, and then do this for a career.

It's all about taste. Some people find birdwatching fascinating, others prefer rugby, others like to talk about fashion. (And even fashion, or birdwatching can vary. ) Film is merely a medium, and can be about anything.

Just because you think something is interesting, that doesn't mean everyone has to like it. Just because you don't like something, that doesn't mean others don't have the right to enjoy it. We have different tastes in the world, that's life.

The late screenwriter William Goldman who just passed away last month had a saying: "NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING". Meaning you NEVER know what is going to be a BOMB or a HIT. Period.

How do so many movies end up as bombs? Simple. Start by limiting script choices to only those writers who already have industry connections.

As first a fan, it's discouraging what's being made today. Either ridiculous action/ super hero crap or awful pulp to fill fringe cable. Great movies that would have been hits 10 years ago, last a weekend at the theaters at most. Not sure if the risk averse producers/studios or the dumbed down consuming public. Things are changing.

As we watch films we often find ourselves identified with a character. Everyone has a different take on what that character means to one's life. In that sense it is difficult to quantify what constitutes a great film to so many different points of view. So we are left with the only accepted measurable gauge which is box office revenues. Simple really. But not all together accurate. In my humble opinion. Thank you. I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

I have a feeling the producers get what they want in the way of the final product. They have the power in the decisions going forward. Clint Eastwood can smell a good story. I'm sure he doesn't let the movie get off track. We need more Clint Eastwoods .

There will always be BOMBS. There will always be HITS. Accepting it in the age of social media is challenging. But nevertheless there it is.

As far as i’ve Read Hollywood follows trends and current formulas. So a bad script that is in the form, genre, etc of what is trending will get made over a good script who’s content is out of favor. (I.e. all the special effect movies).

I don't think anyone really sets out to make a bad movie, or a bomb. The bad movie thing is VERY subjective by the way. I mean, I would rather watch The Bikini Carwash Company 2 than The Godfather 2 any day of the week. And I bet Bikini Carwash 2 was a hell of a lot more fun to make.

Ultimately though, I don't think you really know whether it's going to be good or bad, or a hit or a bomb, until after it's done. Until then, everyone does the best they can, to make the best movie they can, with what they have in terms of material, talent, and resources.

What a pile of nonsense. Great original stores are rare these days. All derivative, minimal risk, easy sells. Miramax turned out to be a turd but they, at one time, had a great eye for terrific original stories. Who will step up?

A lot of times films get made because stars and directors who want to work together suddenly have their schedules coincide. Remember William Goldman's quote “Nobody knows anything...... Not one person in the entire motion picture field knows for a certainty what's going to work. Every time out it's a guess and, if you're lucky, an educated one.”

There's very little logic in the film industry. We have an Emmy nominated TV director attached to a feature project, and you'd think financiers would take one look at his work and see that he gets great performances out of actors and tells compelling visual stories, all while working in consistently tight schedules where there's no option to go over-budget or over schedule. But he's not "hot" and is a "first time feature director" so they throw all the rest out the window. It's nuts!

Eric, remember that it takes a whole lot of folks to make a movie and any one of them can screw it up. I've seen excellent scripts turned into junk by inept Directors, Actors and/or Editors but likewise I've seen a couple of somewhat marginal scripts made to shine up on the silver screen by excellent Directing/Acting & Editing. But generally, I have to say that it takes a good script to make a good movie. (What did you think of August, Osage County?)

I did see August, Osage County when it came out. Big cast and director so I figured it would be good. It for me was one of those depressive movies that are very popular now. Dysfunction was the star. Very common now.

Dysfunctional characters have been popular for a long time. Shakespeare's FALSTAFF was a favorite dysfunctional character, but he was always the only one that was dysfunctional in the eyes of the audience. When everyone is dysfunctional the story is dysfunctional. I might be wrong. I know the critics liked August, Osage County so I can only speak for myself.

https://stephenfollows.com/movie-flops/

Pamela Bolinder leave me alone.

A.S. : so you criticize one of Hollywood's great filmmakers, who is also a great writer - which you neglected to mention (Pi, Requiem for a Dream, Below, The Fountain) - and then come back with a conclusion based....oh let's see.....on "insider status"...."box-office totals"....."lack of writing awards"....

.....and then you add an extra little dig, and make a remark about "habitual critics looking for people to abuse?" Man...talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Or this might be more accurate....talk about the pot being so blind that it doesn't even recognize the difference between black and white, and metal and plastic? And two people even liked that little attempted witticism-shmiticism of yours? Holy shit - I guess I'll never be going to the theater with any of you three folks.

Darren Aronofsky is a great writer, filmmaker, producer and visionary. Period. He gets movies made. He manages large crews. They get the job done. Every single one of his films is a brilliant telling of a story that most of us can relate to in some way. People in the business admire his uniqueness, his voice and his passion. He teaches to others story and film making theory. People embrace his theories and unique voice, and learn from him. His work will live on forever.

I've seen every one of his films - and each one more than once. How many of his films have you actually seen? And you are one of the people who posts here and who historically bashes everything - Hollywood....the supposed lack of original films (like Darren Aronfsky makes every single time).....sequels...prequels....script consultants...contests....paying to pitch....paying for anything....defined structures....what exactly do you like? And I posted a list of 33 great films that are out right now in my local theaters...have you seen any of them? Do you have anything positive to say about any of them...or anything, for that matter?

Erik: man....that is such a great quote, and from one of my favorite writers of all time. I and every woman whom I have ever been with/been in love with/had or have fun with practice the same type of spirituality that Anais Nin practiced. I will always love Anais Nin and be appreciative of her great mind; her intellectual sharings; and her existential ways.

Thanks for the very timely and very appropriate share, bro. And here is a great collection of some of Anais Nin's quotes, for those who may be interested:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/7190.Ana_s_Nin

Seeing things as we are is a foundational point from which growth can occur.

"Play that funky music, white boy."

-- Lawrence Welk

"Jacobsen, Costantini, Machi and Riprock..." Kinda sounds like the makings of a law firm to me. Do you guys have law degrees? If you don't....I can get 'em fast....yes sir...I can get 'em faaaaaast."

Alessandro....Dio ti benedica.....when I first moved to L.A. back in the day....I lived near Saticoy and Fallbrook, and experienced my first earthquake there. The earthquake was a 7.1 and centered 150 miles away at Joshua Tree. October, 1999, in the middle of the night. Our small tract house rocked like a boat in the rough Pacific for five minutes. Do you remember that one? Man...I'm not a roller-coaster kinda guy...and that was far, far away...and I freaked the fudge out, bro....freaked the fudge out.

Bill, we were literally walking distance neighbors. However I recall the Northridge quake of 1994 as being worse. I don't recall the 1999 Quake, wow.

Alessandro: nobody walks in L.A.! If you lived three houses away from me, I still would have drove to your house. Heh-heh.

A lot of studios think that an actors track record guarantees success. I remember The Wild, Wild West reboot with Will Smith, Kevin Kline and Kenneth Brannagh. Should have been great, lots of screen talent, but the script was crap. It was like they figured they didn't need a script cause the actors had so much talent it didn't matter.

Bill Costantini, So that was you driving by whenever I was walking by your house.

What were the movies you saw that were so bad?

Robin Hood 2018, Solo, Crazy Rich Asians, A Simple Favor, First Man, A wrinkle in Time were probably my worst movies. I know the critics loved some of the list, but I guess it's just me.

Watched M. Night Shyamalan's "Glass" and someone needs to tell him to drop the character with the split personalities. I know some of the script readers love the "deep" character. but he is so off. I can't stand the character and again he's the lead character in the movie. What a waste of a movie. These guys get the green light because of their great prior success and quit listening to outside people. The script was horrible.

Eric, why do you keep spending money to watch movies that you think are bad? Movie making involves a whole tribe of Chimpanzees - any one of which can screw up the works. I've seen some pitiful films made from some pretty strong/good scripts but if you don't like the way others are doing it; then just go do it yourself.

I have no skills to be a producer. I can barely finish a sentence. I've written ten screenplays with my brothers or my sons and haven't sold any. Watching bad movies is still education. I always go hoping it will be good, but this year has been more education than entertaining. That "Spit" character is so unbelievable. Even the psychiatrists laugh at the character. I hope M. Night drops him and gets back on track. He's had several great movies, but the last two forgettable.

Akin to the child declaring the Emperor has no clothing, then silencing the child.

Eric...is someone holding a gun against your head, forcing you to watch the drivel or do you go willingly so that you have something to bitch about? Perhaps the reason that you haven't sold any scripts is that you've been learning by watching the bad junk out there. My advice is to learn good story development and weave from the few really good films out there. A.S. has a valid point - it is hard to argue with success.

Split was okay. Not a terrible film. It takes a lot these days to make me watch an entire film so if I watch it all it can't be that bad.

Lots of movies I fall asleep now on. Seems a lotta people writing to a Computer graphics template. I do miss the dialogue of the classics, but there are a lot of good ones coming out too.

We have that "how on earth did this get made" look on our face with virtually every other corny lifetime or hallmark movie.

Hard to say. I would assume they have internal writers and just not anyone who knows how to write well or review well.

@AS only goes to prove that, if marketed right, everything has a market.