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I’m posting this only because I admire these scribes’ ingenuity in these tough times. Although the execution leaves a lot to be desired. (How about some details, dude?) As the YouTube logline says, “Yes, a trailer for a screenplay. Hey, it’s hard to get people to read these things sometimes. Get off my back.”
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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I too admire their ingenuity, however, this is the DUMBEST idea for a script I’ve ever seen and I was a development exec for many, many years. Great trailer, lousy concept. Too bad, because if the idea had been decent, I’d be the first one to read and pass to my agent buddies. Oh well. Maybe they should consider a career making trailers?
The DUMBEST idea? Oh, come on. I have a feeling this is why you “were” a development exec.
Well, it may not be THE dumbest idea (can’t say it knocked my socks off) but if one were to judge it solely on the quality of the teaser, I’d say the ball was dropped, it rolled into the street and was swiftly flattened by traffic. … sorry …
It’s a ripoff of ROUNDTABLE, one of the funniest specs to come along in quite a while.
Ummmm, this is the same script as KNIGHTS by Nick Confalone and Neal Dusedau that was on the black list 2 years ago.
Never read that one….glad I didn’t cause I wouldn’t have finished this one. If it was on the black list it must be really good, he said sarcastically….
I think it means you wasted your time David. Need to read Nikki’s site more.
I get that it’s sort of funny… but people were always knighted for achievements of all sorts. The military style of knighting is just more popular because of the way legends were told.
Even most “Knights” rarely saw the Battlefield. They were advisors and messengers who let the common-folk do the grunt work of their wars.
Not so. If you read Agincourt (by Juliet Barker), you’ll see being a knight meant being right in the thick of it because that’s what knights had to do and the code of chivalry meant they did it. It’s a brilliant book, by the way.
Wow.
Words cannot describe it.
Although, I feel like I saw this film with Tony Danza and Robert Wuhl.
I’m all for thinking outside of the box…if it were only a good idea. Pass.
I liked this script when it was called KNIGHTS by Confalone and Dusedau.
Well, it’s good to come up with new ideas, not sure this way of pitching is all that new.
So many issues…
First, why have a story about real people? Unless you are going to cast those actual people (and good luck with that), or have people who are completely convincing as them, which is unlikely to work well.
Second, it’s not a very interesting story. If you had incompetent knights from the past transported to protect the current queen, that would maybe, maybe work better. But the French kinda made a film like that.
Third, why use 20th century German music in the trailer when it’s about medieval England.
Fourth, it’s an expensive movie whichever way you want to look at it. Not promising for a first feature screenplay. (I’m assuming it’s their first — it has to be)
Actually the story is about modern knights who are “a lot like” these guys. And somebody better tell John Boorman to take “O Fortuna” out of Excalibur….what a dumb jerk, it’s German!
Best not to post on your own script in a forum like this. It cheapens your work, and it cheapens the way people perceive you. Especially when you write things like this.
Scoff all you want, but their piece-o-poo trailer just made it on Deadline and will now be the talk of industry insiders and bored assistants everywhere. One point Dave and Kent.
Nah. This bored assistant will forget all about this unappealing premise once she closes the tab.
Hum… Must be a slow news day in Hollywood.
This script was also great when Brian K Vaughn wrote it and it was called ROUNDTABLE.
i agree with nikki. execution leaves a lot to be desired. toss out the oft-used/tired carmina burana music as well. even if it is a tired concept, they could have crafted a creative/inventive trailer and tell a story with compelling audio and visuals that get people interested in reading the script.
Okay okay, so I shoulda called it a “Teaser.” I apologize if I have offended the Semantic Movie Gods.
I think it’s a great idea to make a trailer for a screenplay. I’ve been hearing rumors that’s what people have to been doing and even recently dabbled in it a little myself. (See Youtube Website: Did You Look For Work This Week?) I was tempted to check out this script…even though I thought the trailer could’ve been better.
At least come up with an original idea, guys. Hard to claim ignorance when the script was on the Black List.
Thanks for the laugh. Worst concept for a script in the last hundred years.
Hey, I know it’s no “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle,” but it’s got its good points.
Or the French film VISITORS.
Not a new premise, not a new delivery — screenwriters and authors have been making trailers for a few years now.
Authors post them to their sites for all access, but the smarter screenwriters send a business-card-sized DVD or a link to a private page to target specific people with their ‘sizzle’ reel, before, after, or to get the pitch meeting.
But let’s all take Nikki’s cue and support ingenuity on any front… even if it’s not the first time I’ve seen it done, they did it and that’s a better use of time than bitching about [complaint of your choice]. Thanks Nikki.
Hmmm… I’ve pursued numerous marketing tactics, but the ‘business card’ DVD hadn’t crossed my mind — until you mentioned it. Might have to look into that. Makes perfect sense!
this sets back amateur screenwriters ten years. no executive will request to read this script. the premise is awful. the execution is juvenile at best. more details? it’s about three celebrities who time travel. it has pass written all over it before page one. this isn’t the coen brothers doing a trailer of blood simple to raise finances – this is so much more desperate it’s pathetic. scripts should be about the words on the page, not the ability to combine pictures, text and music. i can’t believe i’m seeing this on deadline. sad day for the biz, seriously.
Agreed. Smacks of desperation. Makes it harder for everyone.
I actually read a script about 10 years ago by some dude named Dane Hanson that was, EXACTLY this same thing. I believe it was called Knights of the Roundtable, and then I heard about Brian K. Vaughn doing it and I thought he’d bought it. Seems like this idea has occurred to a few people.
Pathetic. Get an agent.
That’s the only way to have a career.
Dearest baby writer David Smith:
you are a laughing stock for posting juvenile retorts on here defending yourself and your inept idea. Time for a career change. Maybe you should teach because obviously, you can’t write.
Please kill yourself. We’d all sleep better at night knowing their was one less dick in Hollywood, Dick.
You know what? I told my mommy what you said and she said to ignore you.
This is an idea for a sketch on SNL or a 15 second clip on Robot Chicken, not a feature-length film. Trailer or not, these guys are idiots. They may have never worked before, but they’re already hacks.
I love the way all you bozos are calling it the WORST idea for a screenplay, ever, when nearly the exact same premise has been responsible for the sale, or option, of at least two other scripts — one called KNIGHTS, and the other that got a lot of heat last year called ROUNDTABLE by comicbook writer Brian K. Vaughn.
I have no idea how well these guy’s script is written; chances are, it’s pretty bad. But wise up you morons. The premise itself is brilliant — too bad it’s already been done at least twice.
Galaxy Quest – anyone???
But one has to give it to the guys, a teaser can be watched in 90 seconds. Some Hollywood readers have a hard time reading the first page of a screenplay in 90 seconds.
Good luck anyways….
Screenplay trailers aren’t new, they’ve been around for something like 10+ years. I remember seeing the marketing from a company who offered to shoot (real) screenplay trailers, with actors and dialogue etc. Their claim was that screenplay trailers were already used by some established professionals…
I hope they bump into Sir Mix-a-Lot and Sirhan Sirhan.