We’d Like to Make an Offer

John and Craig discuss spec scripts, pitches and how it feels when your movie gets brutal reviews. First up, an article by Margaret Heidenry in Vanity Fair tracks the history of spec script sales, going all the way back to Preston Sturges. We talk about the 90s bubble, and what’s changed. Next, we discuss what a screenwriter needs to do in that last few hours before a pitch — including the drive over. Finally, Craig talks about what it feels like when the movie you wrote does huge business, but you as the writer get singled out for harsh criticism. In our One Cool Things, John admires Dungeon World, a newish RPG that radically simplifies the D&D mechanic, while Craig foresees the next big weight-loss drug. LINKS: When the Spec Script was king by Margaret Heidenry in Vanity Fair Examples of early screenplay formats Amor Fati on Wikipedia Dungeon World RPG Canker sore drug helps mice lose weight without diet, exercise OUTRO: Roll a D6 You can download the episode here: AAC. UPDATE 2-22-13: The transcript of this episode can be found here.The post We’d Like to Make an Offer first appeared on John August.