Screenwriting : Ignorance is bliss? – Penny DREADful! by Spike Thurbon

Spike Thurbon has written a wonderful screenplay....Till date, it is the most beautiful screenplay I have read. Excellent dialogues and well written narratives. And yup, it is not in any way related to Penny Dreadful which is a must watch show in my opinion

I can relate. I got a similar scare twice with mine that I sent to the Nicholl Fellowship. Once was with The Sealed Seven from 1957 which I should have known, but did not know existed and Alien Encounters 3 on the Science Channel. I was soon reassured both only had limited aspects and really no common thread though. I may have mentioned before that in reality media in general is a collective of idea's. We just have to write our originals correctly, tell a good story and thread the aspects and elements in our own way trying our damn best not too incorporate somebody else's threaded idea. It is harder than people think, it truly is.

The thing is the same idea could crop up at the same time anywhere in the world...Lets just say that nothing out there is completely original and is a derived and inspired form. It is up to us how to interpret this inspiration and convert this into a unique story. Telling a good story is important.

Such a heartfelt post! I agree with every comment and I wish I had a way out. Unfortunately we have to accept that as Varun mentioned more people can have the same idea and work on it. If people from the industry feel you should have faith in your work I would accept it and continue. In the end you'll never beforehand whether the public cannot or won't enjoy both series. Perhaps it seems undone but let's make it done! It will leave the door open to more creativity I feel. Then again I live at the other side of the ocean where everything is very small. So perhaps I'm just talking. Anyhow I would just continue if my heart was still with it and the industry likes it! Good luck Spike! You'll certainly deserve it!

Consider it this way: I think the Day After Tomorrow and some other movie I do not remember had the same underlying theme and even a similar story line yet they got produced and made...So think optimistically, work hard, put your heart into it, and hope that the producer likes it...

Spike: Tis wonderful to have the goal of seeing your work be successful in the marketplace. I am glad your fears have been alleviated by watching what you deemed as the dreaded competition. In 1994, the highly anticipated “Wyatt Earp” written and directed by Lawrence Kasdan was totally eclipsed by film called “Tombstone” that was supposed to pale in comparison. Recently, there were two great films about Truman Capote; and I believe there was room for both. And in very different ways, were both excellent movies. I just finished a script about J.D. Salinger and have had several producers and my literary agent tell me that Weinstein Company has a Salinger script in development. I knew this when I began writing my screenplay and I couldn’t care less. First and foremost, I write because I love doing it. When I occasionally make money doing what I love, I feel extremely blessed. Incidentally, another well-known agency asked me for the Salinger script two weeks ago.

There are several cases over the world, Spike. In India, two films released on the same date dealing with the same hero. One was Legend of Bhagat Singh and the other was Bhagat Singh Shaheed.... The story of both the movies were the same except there were little differences depending upon the versions.

Absolutely Alle! But what is one to do when all is an illusion? Surrender? Accept? Well, as you said it's a highlight of carefully letting go and give in to the concept that we don't control anything and we may only be grateful we are channels of creation. Thanks for sharing Alle and stating the concept beautifully! Btw I'm a fervent fan of metaphysics.

"... and somebody else writing your script!" Spike Thurbon (Sorry - couldn't resist) ;D

Absolutely Clint!

That happens to all of us from time to time. The important thing is that you came up with a great concept and can do it again! Looking forward to that.

What a relief, Spike - and you are well-placed to be in at the start of a trend! I was told by an industry professional that my dystopian-themed first novel might translate well to a screenplay because the theme was still trending - a year on, and with the novel still a WiP, I am not so sure that is still the case. So much is down to being in the right place at the right time, isn't it?

I know the feeling after I finished writing my sceenplay :Witchwars. I found a series in the bookstore called Witch Wars, the story was similar but not quite the same as mine. It was copyrighted after I copyrighted my first draft. So I am considering a name change to sell it and a complete overall.

Shows how all great ideas are floating around the universe at the same time, with millions of people, it's easy to see why they get grabbed by more than one creative hand. The key is every writer has his own window on the world and every telling is unique. Good luck on the Cotton Library.

Thanks for all the comments folks! Varun - Thanks for reading and rating my script - Your feedback is very much appreciated! Mitchell - It must be so difficult with reality/documentary - but having said that, if I am researching a particular subject through documentaries, I will generally watch several on the same subject. Ila - Heartfelt indeed! - I felt it drop from my chest and through the seat of my pants!!! But, as I said, my fears were without cause as Penny Dreadful barely resembles the Cotton Library. Phillip - I remember the Tombstone/Wyatt Earp situation, and shortly after Volcano Vs Dante's Peak was another clash. Although studios will go head-to-head on a similar concept, would they take the risk with a previously unproduced writer? Alle - real or not, fear was here! Clint - Great quote! Patricia - Luckily this was just a scare, I fully sympathise with anybody who has actually experienced somebody beating them to it! But agreed, lots more to come! Elaine - Love the sound of your dystopian novel, would love to read a synopsis. Marilyn - Name change all the way! I think sometimes we can look for similarities that aren't there through our own paranoia, induced by the shock of discovering a possible competitor. Janet - Uniqueness is hopefully the key to any success for the Cotton Library Thanks for the good luck!

Well, what can I say Spike, it's (in) "the Art of letting go"? ;-) And good for you, if it means you decided to continue working on your script. Then I can't wait to see it realised as a TV series soon!!!

Its got all the elements rock and roll, Pixar - Disney would buy it

Thanks Darryl - I agree, I thought Disney would go for it. I'm guessing it's tough to get into Disney for a pitch?

Just saw Edge of Tomorrow because a friend said it looked like something we wrote a few years ago. Sure enough, the robot suits, the helicopters, the base, the soldiers were all very similar but the line in the trailer that really sounded like mine turned out to go in a completely different direction. So it showed that parts of my concept have big hit potential and the rest of it remains untouched… so I guess I should dust it off.

No, no artwork. Just the text of how I described them. And there was something unique I did with the helicopters. But there was a direction mine took that theirs didn't and from there the stories were completely different. It was cool seeing Edge's version of those ideas.

David, dust it off, play around with the similarities and pitch! The latest Stage32 pitchfest would be ideal!

Thanks! I'm looking at that. But that's an old script--my first, in fact--and right now, I have one hot rocket ready to go, another one completed earlier this year and a book published last year in line to become a screenplay after that. What I really need now is an agent. I'm looking into the details of the State32 Pitchfest on the 20th, but the Great American Pitchfest is in Burbank the 19th. I'm now comparing the two events. I can do Stage 32 from home, but it would be good to make in-person contact with a few agents.

If you live near Burbank try go to the great american pitchfest I think it would be in your best interest.

Did you make it to Burbank David? If not, I can highly recommend the online pitches - Joey's coaching is superb! Three script requests from three really friendly execs!

I'm Skitching (Skype pitching). Joey's coaching is great. The online pitches are great.

Skitching - I like it! I too have been skitching my socks off!