Monday, January 31, 2011

QUESTION FOR THE READER: What's Selling Now

In response to a reader's question re: what type of scripts are best now, the 2010 Spec Market Roundup reports the top 3 genres are:

Comedy - 27%
Thriller - 27%
Action/Adventure - 26%

YOU: So I should ONLY write to the market?
ME: No.

YOU: Then I should ONLY write my passion.
ME: No.

YOU: Then what the hell should I write?
ME: A passion-filled story that is informed by the market.

YOU: Isn't that the same thing?
ME: No.

ex. In "The Town," Ben Affleck tried to see if he could "get a drama to succeed more commercially by introducing genre elements... Heist elements wrapped around a drama."

http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/2010/12/ben-affleck-town-q.html

If your passion is drama, first pack the core full of high dramatic EMOTION. Then step back & see if you can add elements of action. Or maybe some comedic moments.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Don't let "conventional wisdom" that drama is dead limit you.

But don't ignore it. Work around/over/with it.

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