The Award-Winning Director

A prescient lesson from Hollywood

Photo by Venti Views on Unsplash

I can't imagine what it is about recent world events has reminded me of this story...

I've fudged a lot of details, so as not to let anyone be identifiable, but the story itself is true. Much of it is really not unusual, but the denouement is at least uncommon.

It all starts with me sitting at home in London. This is a few years ago. I get a call from an American producer I have met a handful of times, and who I think is very good.

"What do you know about (REDACTED COMIC BOOK TITLE)?"

I tell her I know it and I like it.

"What would your version of the movie look like?"

It turns out that she has an AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR (AWD) with a studio deal who likes this material and is looking for a writer so he can get the project set up at the studio.

We spitball some ideas.

"Yeah, OK. This is good. Let me put you on a call with the director. Walk him through this stuff, see what he thinks."