Teen movies and thrillers...

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So one thing I'm learning is that one of the easiest ways to talk to agents and managers about scripts is in terms of other movies. I was talking to an agent last week, and was telling her about a script of mine. She seemed kind of interested even though I was doing a very mediocre job pitching it.
So she asked, "What sort of movie is it like?"
Luckily, I had been thinking about this and said, "Traffic." She perked up and said, "Ooh. Why don't you send that to me."

So now I'm thinking about another script of mine, that I'm putting finishing touches on. But the problem is that I'm having a hard time thinking of tonal touchstones. "Band a Part" is one of the major touchstones, for me, but I'd rather mention things that are

a) less than 40 years old
b) in English.
But I'm stumped. I'm sure it's just a blind spot I'm having at the moment, but I may have to talk about this script with those sorts of people soon, so, I'd appreciate any films anybody would recommend which are either
1) Character-driven thrillers (eg, not Ocean's 11 - more about thepeople than the slick heist)
or
2) Non-comedy genre movies (eg, not angsty coming-of-age stuff) aboutpeople in the 18-20 age bracket, that awkward cusp of adulthood phase. There seem to be a gazillion teen comedies set in that area, but few movies in other genres.
Thanks for any ideas!
-Ron

Usenet · Accepted Answer

Hmmm... you could say "If Woody Allen made Akira."

Sorry, I'm still thinking.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]1) Character-driven thrillers (eg, not Ocean's 11 - more about the people than the slick heist)[/nq]
I suppose French Connection and The Conversation are too old?

If Abandon had been better you could quote it, but alas...

Against All Odds? The Heist? Black Widow (1987, there's a new one coming out unrelated). James Hong almost got nom'd for that one, or so he told us once...
[nq:1]or 2) Non-comedy genre movies (eg, not angsty coming-of-age stuff) about people in the 18-20 age bracket, that awkward cusp ... Reality Bites, Before Sunrise, Slacker (1991, not the newer Slackers) (I guess that's a comedy?), can't think of any more...[/nq]
Good luck!
Mysti

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I suppose French Connection and The Conversation are too old? If Abandon had been better you could quote it, but ... a new one coming out unrelated). James Hong almost got nom'd for that one, or so he told us once...[/nq]
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I can't quite decide if the difficult in coming up with good analogies means that I'm a genius or that this thing is going to prove impossible to get read.

-Ron

Usenet · Answer

Ron,
1) The problem with ODDS AGAINST TOMORROW (great flick) is that it'salso an old movie. And the problem with that DeNiro movie (that is probably the closest recent film to what you're describing) is that it was kind of bland and I don't think it was successful. Same goes for that great Burt Reynolds film that John Sayles wrote - it didn't have enough genre juice to connect to the audience (ie: too much character, not enough action). The real closest thing in recent years might be THE ITALIAN JOB remake - it had a bunch of chase stuff, but also had some great character scenes. Or maybe use HEAT - character oriented and still in the genre.
2) Another tough one - because if it's not comedy, what genre is it? Ifit's drama (the genre of flops) you're going to have trouble finding a film that was successful enough that it makes for a good comparison. But even the ones that spring to mind, like DINER or BREAKFAST CLUB, are comedies (with great dramatic scenes). The comedy is the genre juice that acts as a spoonful of sugar for the drama. You still might consider using either of those as examples, because they may be remembered more for the character stuff than the comedy.

And one of the problems you're going to run into with both is that there are a gazillion comedy teen flicks and action or comedy heist flicks because those are the stories audiences want to see... and you've got a tough sell on your hands.
Write the films you are regularly paying to see (just better).

- Bill
http://www.scriptsecrets.net
PS: When you reffed OCEAN'S 11, I figured you were looking more at that type of crime story than other types of thrillers. If your story is more like BOURNE IDENTITY or PRESUMED INNOCENT or THE INTERPRETER... well, those are good examples.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]And one of the problems you're going to run into with both is that there are a gazillion comedy teen ... and you've got a tough sell on your hands. Write the films you are regularly paying to see (just better).[/nq]
What I find myself writing, most often, is the kind of films I'd like to have the opportunity to go see - but I can't, because people aren't making them.
This, obviously, can lead to a life of frustration, so I'm trying to steer my choices a little closer to what's commercial, without leaving my sensibility behind.
On the other hand, I really do think people would go see an American Claude-Sautet-style film if they only had the chance.

But thanks for the input. You've actually given me some good ideas about how to approach talking about this film.
(As for posting the logline, as someone else asked me to, I'd rather not at this point; seeing where people's mind's go with what I asked is already providing me with solutions I never would have thought of, and I'm inclined to keep that logline a little closer to my chest for the time being.)
-Ron

Teen movies and thrillers...

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