This is my first post to a lounge, actually it's more of a question than a post. I completed a screenplay entitled 'Apollo's Trumpet' which is a political spoof that focuses on four more years of a Trump presidency, and, like his first four years, it lives within its own alternative universe. President Donald Trump does what no one believed he could do. He convinces five Supreme Court justices to side with him and overturn the Biden victory. Even more shocking, they allow Trump to run for a third term. Once safely in office in place of Biden, ‘the Donald’ with the help of more orange makeup anoints himself Emperor. At the same time, he hires world renowned stone sculptors to change the face of Mount Rushmore. AND SO IT GOES.
I sent this off to a producer via Virtual Pitch and received the following response: "Thank you for the pitch. I think your concept is hilarious and very relevant. However, this is a hard sell because of politics and this is not a documentary. Please continue to pitch to other networks/studios and streaming companies."
My question is this. Is this too much of a political hot potato and therefore a hard sell or possibly an impossible sell? Am I wasting my time? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
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Subtlety is key.
When nearly half of Americans are still under the spell of that hustler, it's understandable that execs would be anxious to release mocking material that would incite the anger of those Americans. It's the same reason why they avoid anti-religious stories (They got cold feet during The Golden Compass) or nationalist stories (They realized how much of a dumb idea it was to include the Chinese as the villains of the Red Dawn remake).
There's a good reason why storytellers don't go on-the-nose or too heavy-handed with their thesis message in writing - you got to sneak it past the gate-keepers.
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I think you have to figure out what the premise is and really dial that up to the max.
You don't have to name anyone (given how litigatious, why would you!?), you can have a character based on him and exegerate personality traits for effect.
Don't Look Up did this to good effect.
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Thank you both for taking the time to comment on my post. The thing is if I don't hit the nail on the head, so to speak, it becomes "ho-hum' and will quite possibly lose everyone. There is story behind the hammer and nail which I happen to like needless to say. If I don't call out Trump for who and what he is what's the point. It is a spoof after all ... or maybe one can't really write a spoof about Donald Trump. Such is life!
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Steve, keep fighting for "Apollo's Trumpet." Way I see it, its time (or a similar story's time) will eventually come...one way or another.
Glad you're here on 32...all the VERY BEST to you!
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Thank you, Jim.
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Can you use the spec as a writing sample to show reps you're hirable for someone else's idea/world similar to yours?
Your question feels like you've given up on the idea after 1 virtual "soft pass" no pitch.
No, Dan, I haven't given up and honestly I don't want to hire myself out as a writer. Besides the soft pass, I've had more hard passes than I can count. So far I find Virtual Pitch Fest to be almost worthless. I say almost because who knows what's coming down the pike. And I agree, there are no doubt a large number of writers trying to put Trump in his place. Like all serious writers, I will trudge on! Thank you for your input.
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Reading your post. I think of films like Catch 22, All The President's Men, and Wag The Dog primarily that weren't easy sells in their day either and still got made.
The challenge of course is finding the right people to champion your project. Which, right at this moment might be hard to do because let's face it. Your subject matter is a bit dangerous.
Late Night Hosts can make fun of The Mango Mussolini. But, the guys who green-light films/series have to think about how his followers might react not to mention there are quite a few Conservatives in this Industry-You might be stepping on a few toes by hitting that nail too squarely on the head.
And, understand, I am speaking as a Black Woman and strident Feminist. So, I get your frustration.
But, if I may. I would like to offer the following suggestion that SciFi/Fantasy/Horror Writers tend to follow: Wrap that puppy up in Allegory ( think: 1987, The Handmaid's Tale, LOTR ). Or, at the very least, DON'T feature known individuals.
If you're willing to consider rewriting your script to feature a fictionalized character who reminds everyone of Dolt45 without actually calling him that, you might find yourself gaining more traction.
Or, if you insist on doing things as they're currently written. Be prepared to wait about 5-10 years before anyone feels safe enough to produce your script.
It is really sad that we live in times that a spoof about such a figure beloved by half the country and despised by the other half is dangerous, but alas you may be right. I will consider trying my hand at "wrapping this puppy up" into a disguise but my preference would be to see it made as it is, hammer, nail, and all. As for waiting 5 -10 years, I'm too old for that. Unfortunately my tendency is to write with hammer and nail. All my books and screenplays focus on subject matter somewhat devoid of Mary Poppin, subject matter including George Bush's lies about Iraq, Pedophiles in the Catholic Church, Dementia and the right to die with dignity, and the evils of religious orthodoxy, to name a few. Maybe that's why I'm fighting an uphill battle. In any case, I appreciate your thoughtful comments and those of everyone else.
What if you made the character an obvious parody of real life? Like maybe President Ronald Crump? You could really play up the extremes - the hair, Twitter rants, the unending mass of adoring sycophants ...
Thank you, Bob. It seems most of you don't think I should use a sledge hammer. And I am game to see if that works for me. However, do you really think that's going to make a difference. Does a pseudonym, so to speak, really make a difference? Will a gatekeeper really raise the bar and let me in because of that????
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Steve Shear Sounds like a wild ride. However, I believe that your tribe will get it. No one can truly say how well something will or won't do. They're guessing at best. Onward and upward.
The purpose of a movie is to entertain. They are emotion engines. You've taken the approach that you want to tell a political perspective. That's better suited to the medium of documentary and even then, a production company would need a great legal team.
If you want to expose a truth, or get a message across in the form of theme, brow beating people is never the approach. This is what modern social media does - it stokes fear and anger. Greek Tragedies didn't say, don't do this! they showed the result of a person's bad choices and people learned the lesson vicariously.
More food for thought. I will see what I can do and we'll go from there. If anyone wants to read the script as is let me know. The next draft will take a while I'm afraid.
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People are being kind here, and this has nothing to do with your writing or how well you execute the script... no one will buy and no one wants to read a Trump script or a Trump under a different name script. especially one that outlines the nightare scenario. You would have to make it even CRAZIER (If possible) than what a real world scenario could be. But being very honest - if you were my client - i would 100% try to persuade you to move on and not waste your time.
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Well, Danny, I appreciate your 'no bullshit advice' and I believe you are singing the same tune as many others who commented on my endeavor. You are probably right, although the the script is pretty crazy. Clearly what I have to do is start taking my cannabis in the late morning and then start revising. The thing is I am going to stick with this for a while given how much fun I'm having. Then, who knows, I will go back to my more mundane subject matter like putting George W. Bush on Trial for Murder as described in my latest novel, W - A President on Trial, or like the trial of a young girl who was charged with murdering a priest who raped her not once but twice as described in my novel, stage play and screenplay entitled Black Hearts & Hungry Bears. Of course so far I haven't sold those screenplays either. One thing I will say, going back to your initial thoughts, is this. I believe there are lots of people who want to finally read or see something that make a fool out of Donald Trump, even if it's all make believe.
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So Hitler spoof get's coupla Academy Awards, but Trump spoof will be one big "no-go"...dunno, maybe u should just pitch it to Hollywood studios with PR China's majority share...plenty of those around...
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IMO, always go with your gut, Steve. The only thing I would take into consideration is timing. Maybe too soon? Too fresh? OTOH, there are examples in history of current political/social issues being portrayed on-screen and being hits. All the President's Men, Primary Colors, The Newsroom. So, as always, it will come down to the quality of the script and if its successful on its own terms. If you're confident, send it out and let the chips fall where they may.
Unfortunately with the state of Politics it can be a very hard sale. And most will think of it as a form of exploitation. I would suggest pitching it as a comedy film, similar to Canadian Bacon. That film had political issues from controversial director Michael Moore but the concept is well delivered. The comedy is first and foremost.
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In reality, a presidential candidate can not be elected 3 times in the row but he can be elected once and after 4 years break he can be elected for 2 more terms. Maybe you should move the White House to Martha's Vineyard, just to spice things up a bit. Have you tried to contact any international movie company about your project?
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Given this is my first post, I can't believe how many thoughtful comments it garnered from one extreme to the other and everything in between. I thank you all for that. The question always comes down to how much you are willing to change your script to please the gatekeeper in order to get it read assuming you are willing to change it at all. Many years ago, I went into a gallery in Denver with my portfolio of paintings in hopes the gallery would represent me. The owner looked at my stuff and nodded his approval. That was the good news. The bad news - what I painted wouldn't sell in Colorado. Paint Cowboys he suggested and come back when you do!!!! To this day I haven't painted cowboys and have been in only a few galleries since then. So, I plan to push on ... possibly with some changes to the script but probably not enough to make a difference. Such is life!
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It could be, as the networks have been getting backlash for "politicking" and messaging in shows, which results in low viewership. However, timing is everything. I would still shop it around, because a network may want rights to it and keep it until the timing is right.
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Steve - Don't change your screenplay to please the current gatekeeper or anybody else because that gatekeeper he/she might not be there 3 months or 3 years from now. I could be wrong but nowadays it seems that most screenplays and TV series revolve around human tragedy or state of mind; alcoholism, suicide, depression...etc. You have to write your screenplay the way you see it not because of how some executive thinks or feels. As you know or not, any screenplay is considered to be an art, in written form and no art can be shaped in way someone wants it to be shaped, it needs to happen spontaneously. However you wrote it, that's it. Whatever you wrote in your screenplay, scared the shit out of somebody in Hollywood and that's why your screenplay is a "no-go". I can't tell you what that scare was since I haven't read it but again, try somewhere else then go international. Good luck!
I think you are both right, Stephanie and Niksa. Unfortunately thus far I haven't gotten past a gatekeeper to have someone actually read the script rather than just the logline and synopsis to really know if the script is any good. As I said in an earlier comment if someone wants to read the entire script and give me your thoughts I would be happy to provide it. I would also be happy to read a script of your and provide you with my thoughts for what it's worth. I am finding that getting one of my scripts read is more difficult than it was to get one of my novels read.
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Steve Shear You are right, getting it read is the key. I think the premise is good and funny. Maybe finding a reader that is in-line with the satire. It reminds me of Idiocracy. Maybe check IMDB and see who the listed managers and agents are on that film (if the satire is similar enough). I know that Luke Wilson interviewed with Conan O'Brian on his podcast. They mentioned Idiocracy and the political season we are experiencing today. It's possible that there might be the right audience for you if you can find it. I might be able to read in the future, but unfortunately when heavy into writing, I am too singular to switch. I will follow you to check back in when I am more free.
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Stephanie, thank you for the offer if and when you free up. I say if you free up because I know how focused a writer has to be. I will also check out Idiocracy. Good luck with your work.
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Okay, all. It seems some of you think I should avoid using Trump's name. Others think I should. So here is my question. Would it help one way or another if I make this animated? Would that be a good idea whether or not I change his name? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Keep in mind that I could add more "magical moments" if it's animated.
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. I don't believe it would be a good movie in this day and age because of the timing. First, the '2024 election is not that far away. From what I've read, movies can take years to make. So probably before the movie would even be made, the president for 2024 will already be in office. If that were to be Trump, then the movie would be in conflict with reality. And, I very much doubt that Biden will win again in '2024, given facts about his mental frailty and potential legal problems with Hunter. However, if you were to change the movie to where the individuals weren't Biden or Trump in the main conflict, but totally different unknown fictitious characters, that might be a rational story. Another way of putting it would be if I were to write a movie about Vlad of Russia, and I put in the movie that he sets off a nuclear bomb in the US-or several of them. Well, I kinda believe that I couldn't very well expect a producer to agree to produce such a movie because of timing. Reason: Vlad of Russia might possibly do such. So that is not the kind of thing producers would think the public wants right now in a movie-obviously. The timing of such a movie would not be ideal right now, given the state of the world right now because such a situation according to Biden, actually could take place. But, if I were to write a script about an unknown/fictitious character from somewhere that's not such a hot place of controversy surrounding it, then maybe that would be a rational story.