Ensemble scripts

Question

How difficult is it to write an ensemble script that can get produced? (Grand Canyon, Crash (not Croenberg), or Steel Magnolias) How difficult is it to get people interested in it? Which comes first, the chicken (the producer) or the egg (the actors and actresses)?

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]How difficult is it to write an ensemble script that can get produced? (Grand Canyon, Crash (not Croenberg), or Steel Magnolias) How difficult is it to get people interested in it? Which comes first, the chicken (the producer) or the egg (the actors and actresses)?[/nq]
If yu build it (really well!), they will come.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]How difficult is it to write an ensemble script that can get produced? (Grand Canyon, Crash (not Croenberg), or Steel Magnolias) How difficult is it to get people interested in it? Which comes first, the chicken (the producer) or the egg (the actors and actresses)?[/nq]
Which comes first? More often than not: the best-selling novel.

Which comes second? The script.

The two most common elements in the universe
are hydrogen and stupidity.
Harlan Ellison

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]How difficult is it to write an ensemble script that can get produced?[/nq]
For Robert Altman, from what I've read, it's real difficult.
[nq:1](Grand Canyon, Crash (not Croenberg), or Steel Magnolias) How difficult is it to get people interested in it?[/nq]
People with money? Very. Audiences? Even harder. Film Critics? Trivial.
[nq:1]Which comes first, the chicken (the producer) or the egg (the actors and actresses)?[/nq]
I'd line up 10-12 A-list actors (Kidman, Martin, Nicholson. Carrey, Zeta-Jones,
Zellweger, Law, Cruise, that ilk). Get firm contractual commitments. Then finding
a producer and funds shouldn't be all that difficult. Script quality is pretty
optional also. ;-)
-sam

Usenet · Answer

How easy to write it or how easy to sell it?

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]How difficult is it to write an ensemble script that can get produced? (Grand Canyon, Crash (not Croenberg), or Steel Magnolias) How difficult is it to get people interested in it? Which comes first, the chicken (the producer) or the egg (the actors and actresses)?[/nq]
An ensemble script is harder to get produced than a clearly star-driven one. Stars (even if less so than five years ago) are the easiest thing for a studio to have confidence in when it comes to making a film.

And ensemble scripts are harder to get stars in because they don't focus on any one role.
You don't have the chicken/egg question phrased correctly. The "egg" comes first, and it's the script. You're unlikely to get producers or actors interested in an ensemble piece at the concept stage (unless you're Robert Altman, and even him, no so much anymore).

As for the writing question, I think they're harder, but it seems like neophyte writers think they're easier (at least, judging by the number who try to write them.) I think there's something about the possibility of switching stories that lets an inexperienced writer fool themselves into thinking that their script HAS a story. And, of course, so many ensemble stories are over two hours that newbies see their scripts running on to 140, 150 pages and they think it's ok, rather than being a sign that their script is full of flab.
-Ron

Usenet · Answer

The difficulty to write an ensemble script depends on your own abilities.

The difficulty of selling an ensemble script is much higher than selling a conventional single protagonist story.
Don't be fooled by those who say its easier because you can use lesser known actors rather than a big ticket star. That is an idealized fantasy of how they wish HW made films. It is not the marketing and financing model used by HW which is based on the name recognition of the actors involved in a project. The only place people risk money on relatively unknown actors in on TV (and the theater).

Jay Simpson
All men die, few truly live

Ensemble scripts

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions