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FOR SALE: Low-budget supernatural horror feature script

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Welcome to the forums :cool:

Logline: A troubled 10 year-old boy and his single mother unknowingly moved into a haunted house; and, are soon terrorized by its current ghostly occupant, who believes the boy to be her son.

There are 1000 movies that come out like this every year.

Family movies to house ------> Haunting --------> Discovery of what happened -------> Creepy kid.

The most recent one I can think of is "Haunt".

And there's Insidious, Sinister, Amityville Horror, The Shining, The Haunting in Connecticut, The Conjuring, Don't be Afraid of the Dark, Dream House...

Those films had lots of names and money attached to them. What makes your film new and unique? Is it unlike anything we have seen and read before? I'm not taking about the execution, but is the script different? How are we going to make this film successful without big names and impressive gear?

I'm just curious as to what you have to say. I feel like I've seen this movie 1000 times, and I want to know if your script is different. There are plenty of films with this plot, the main difference being that the films listed had big names attached, lots of gear, and lots of distribution put into the production of the film. Without a unique idea, most indie films fail. There is nothing new there. A family moving into a house with a (creepy) little kid, and being haunted by a spirit is nothing new. If you can't interest someone by telling them the plot of the film in one or two sentences, there's a problem.

Hey! I just watched this awesome horror film!

What was it about?

This family moves into a house and gets terrorized by a ghost!

That's it?

Oh, and there's a creepy kid too.

Isn't that the plot of Insidious, Sinister, Amityville Horror, The Shining, The Haunting in Connecticut, The Conjuring, Don't be Afraid of the Dark, and Dream House?

Ummm.....

--------

Best of luck!
 
ACT 1:
Horror Music and Credits (maybe a scene showing what had happened in the house before the family moved in)
Unpacking
Noises/ I think I saw something
More noises.
Weird townspeople.
Things get creepier.

ACT 2:
Things get really bad.
These two do not apply if you show what happened in the opening scene:
Do research.
Find out backstory of what death happened in the house.

ACT 3:
Everything goes to $#!t! Loud noises. The lights go out. Everybody's too stupid to leave. Kid goes missing. Searching. Dark areas. Scares. Climax.
Ghost defeated.
And they live happily ever after... OR DO THEY?!?!?! :rolleyes:
 
What happened? Sold or pulled out due to asshats (gotta love that term) on forums?

If you've still got it for sale mid next year, PM me. I should be in Sydney mid 2014. We can meet and I'll take a look at your script. For me, interest will depend on your execution.
 
Sincerely, I hope the first-time OP's 81pg "low budget supernatural horror feature script" 'Maternal Instinct' actually did sell for $1.5-3k in a single day.

It would inspire me to resume serious writing.
 
I’m really disappointed in the reaction to Pete’s post.

I know, I know, you’re all going to defend yourselves by saying
it’s tough out there, if you can’t take it on the forum you can’t
take it in the real world, you were just trying to help him - but
c’mon fellow filmmakers. I sure wish we would show some
courtesy to new members who are just exploring this site and
the harsh reality of selling a script and making a movie. I wish
we could, as a group, support new people who post legit, if
unrealistic, offers like this one.

What I used to love about indietalk was the support almost
everyone gave to new members. Now it seems more and more
you guys immediately deflate all expectations. Yes, I know you’re
right. Yes I know it’s unrealistic for expect anyone here will buy
a screenplay. But was this response really helpful? Was it needed?
Was the sarcasm a good welcome to our on line community.

Indietalk was once a very welcoming, supportive community. The
comments to Pete show it has changed since I first started posting
here.
 
I’m really disappointed in the reaction to Pete’s post.

I know, I know, you’re all going to defend yourselves by saying
it’s tough out there, if you can’t take it on the forum you can’t
take it in the real world, you were just trying to help him - but
c’mon fellow filmmakers. I sure wish we would show some
courtesy to new members who are just exploring this site and
the harsh reality of selling a script and making a movie. I wish
we could, as a group, support new people who post legit, if
unrealistic, offers like this one.

What I used to love about indietalk was the support almost
everyone gave to new members. Now it seems more and more
you guys immediately deflate all expectations. Yes, I know you’re
right. Yes I know it’s unrealistic for expect anyone here will buy
a screenplay. But was this response really helpful? Was it needed?
Was the sarcasm a good welcome to our on line community.

Indietalk was once a very welcoming, supportive community. The
comments to Pete show it has changed since I first started posting
here.

when I first started using IT, feels like a while ago, it was definitely much friendlier.

It's important as a forum to make sure that people's expectations are realistic, but it should be done in a courteous way. I'm not saying that I don't get into little bouts with others myself, but I'll tell you, as a user, I don't feel like coming here and announcing my projects any more.

I feel like there would be too many people telling me it's a pipe dream, and not enough telling me how to actually DO it.

I'm trying my very best on a project right now, and it is really complicated for me to get everything done. It's a plan I'm trying to execute one step at a time. And I thought quite a bit about posting about what I was doing so that others could benefit from any mistakes I made, or could even correct me as I was making those mistakes. But I thought 'screw it.' The possibility of an emotional drainage, when I need every ounce of emotional strength right now, is not worth it.

I don't know how you fix it Mods, but if this is to be an active site where you attract good filmmakers, there has to be a way to recognize them.

Oh, and there's a creepy kid too.

Isn't that the plot of Insidious, Sinister, Amityville Horror, The Shining, The Haunting in Connecticut, The Conjuring, Don't be Afraid of the Dark, and Dream House?

So what it is a used plot? Every plot in hollywood is used. Hollywood just made Superman. I'm sure Pete's plot is superior.

I don't want to hijack this thread, but I really really want to make a point.

There was a short posted by user mojebory. I honestly thought it was one of the best indie short films I had ever seen. Forget my emotional attachment to the way the story was told, but just the sheer technical brilliance of the short was overwhelming to me. If anybody here has worked extensively with After Effects, they will recognize how difficult that film was to make. It would have taken me 4 months of pure dedication to create a film like that. But we did not really recognize the mountainous effort mojebory put into EVERY SINGLE frame of that short. That is a level of dedication, I do not possess, and I'm not sure how many filmmakers do. But this forum has to recognize people like mojebory, and not drive him away. I don't know how you do it, but it has to be done.
 
You see it is hard to be friendly to a random internet user,who starts his forum life by insulting the intelligence of an average forum member by trying to sell stuff which is clearly bellow the minimal standards of quality.
 
You see it is hard to be friendly to a random internet user,who starts his forum life by insulting the intelligence of an average forum member by trying to sell stuff which is clearly bellow the minimal standards of quality.
It is difficult, isn't it? At one time people on this forum at least
tried. What made this forum better than the others were those
who made the effort to be friendly and helpful. None of you
actually read the script - you didn't - yet you know he was insulting
our intelligence by trying to sell a sub-standard script.

As I said, I know you will defend your actions. I accept that. This
seems to be the current direction the regular users are comfortable
with. I wish this forum was different than others. It was once. This
guy completed a script. He is exploring ways to sell it. We all know
it is likely not very good. Is it important to tell him so without
reading it? Is it really insulting for a beginning writer to offer a
script for sale? I guess it is. And that disappoints me.

I don't want anyone to misunderstand me - this forum is still the
best one I have been a member of which is why I am disappointed
when a new member is treated poorly.
 
I was rude. I do feel bad about that now. I judged the film only by it's plot-line. I should keep an open mind.

Sorry if I offended OP or others. Not my intention :(
 
It is difficult, isn't it? At one time people on this forum at least
tried. What made this forum better than the others were those
who made the effort to be friendly and helpful. None of you
actually read the script - you didn't - yet you know he was insulting
our intelligence by trying to sell a sub-standard script.

As I said, I know you will defend your actions. I accept that. This
seems to be the current direction the regular users are comfortable
with. I wish this forum was different than others. It was once. This
guy completed a script. He is exploring ways to sell it. We all know
it is likely not very good. Is it important to tell him so without
reading it? Is it really insulting for a beginning writer to offer a
script for sale? I guess it is. And that disappoints me.

I don't want anyone to misunderstand me - this forum is still the
best one I have been a member of which is why I am disappointed
when a new member is treated poorly.

I am guilty of trolling too much and I get your point that it is obv much nicer than people don't go flaming,insulting etc,esp for new members.

But... when a new writer makes his first thread and post on a forum and tries to sell a script for 3K + smth smth which is 81 pages??? Full of "we see" and random mistakes?
How would you respond to a person who would try to sell a Canon T3I for 10,000 USD?

It is so beyond common sense,that it naturally sparked sarcasm and flame

Now if the guy would post and say,here is my first script what do you think and it would be 81 pages,I will guarantee you that most members would give a lot of useful tips.

Feature films can run as little as 70 minutes. If each page is equal to one minute, I don't see the problem. Depending on the style of writing, the film could run much longer than 81 minutes.

Yes,there was Following,but read any reputable screenwriters blogs,articles,books,interviews and you will see that no one will even look at such scripts,unless they are from a veeeery reputable filmmaker and even than he will have to fight till his last breath.

A script that sells for 3K+ I believe will be filmed to get distributed,so why would you not comply with the general requirements of distributors
 
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Mike, I fully understand your reasons. You would prefer a new
member ask for help rather than offer a script for sale. If one
does you will be sarcastic and rude. I get it. I don’t like it, but
I understand your reasoning. What used to set this forum apart
from others is we all used to treat new members with some
respect until they did something to deserve disrespect. Now,
too many people start off with sarcasm and “teach a lesson”
in my opinion.

Am I wrong? Did you read his script? How do you know it was
full of "we see" and random mistakes?

How would you respond to a person who would try to sell a Canon T3I for 10,000 USD?
I would ignore it and let the thread die. I take it you would be
sarcastic and flame. We each have our own method.
It is so beyond common sense,that it naturally sparked sarcasm and flame
Right. The natural response is sarcasm and flame. That is less
difficult than the unnatural respectful reply or no reply at all.
I would love to see indietalk be the place where we don't do
what is easy, but what is harder. And more polite
Now if the guy would post and say,here is my first script what do you think and it would be 81 pages,I will guarantee you that most members would give a lot of useful tips.
You're right. It's too bad that when a new member doesn't follow
that protocol some of you respond with sarcasm and flaming.


Yes,there was Following,but read any reputable screenwriters blogs,articles,books,interviews and you will see that no one will even look at such scripts,unless they are from a veeeery reputable filmmaker and even than he will have to fight till his last breath.
He wasn't going to the studios. He came here, trying to sell a
low budget script to what he considered a group of low budget,
independent filmmakers. I do not believe he deserved what he
got. And that disappoints me.

I'm not trying to change you and how you post. I don't want to.
If your goal was to run this guy off, you and others achieved it.
If that was an unintended result you now see that sarcasm and
flaming of a new, inexperienced writer may not be the best way
for indietalk. I would love to see the people here rise above the
usual message board ways like it was for a long time.

Said with all due respect to you and your views, Mike.
 
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