After posting the news on Twitter about first-time writer David Guggenheim’s bidding war with the script “Safe House,” I had some people ask about how it happened.    Good Question.  Let’s see. 

Slashfilm.com — Universal has purchased David Guggenheim’s spec Safe House for $600k against $900k, winning out against two other movie studios in a bidding war. The action thriller tells the story of a CIA agent who becomes the only survivor after a CIA safe house attack, and must help a dangerous prisoner avoid being killed as they escape to a second safe house, “outmaneuvering various forces that want them both dead.”

According to an LA Times article, Universal, Sony, and Dreamworks were involved in the bidding.  But the question is why. 

Why were Studios so attracted to this script?

My answer to that question is that THE WRITER MADE SMART CHOICES.   Here are the three most important choices – all of which showed up in the LA Times article. 

1.  High concept.

 It is a story that can easily be marketed by a Studio – because it can be pitched in one or two compelling sentences.  That’s important when there’s $50 – $100 million at stake. 

 2.  Role for A-List actor.

LA Times – “In addition to the appealing premise, the movie is thought to sport a lead role that would be a choice one for a number of young A-listers, with its prestige gloss but commercial hook.”

 Guggenheim created a lead role that would bring on a second marketable element – an A-list actor.

3.  The story is written with a focus on making each part as interesting as it can be.

I haven’t read the screenplay, but you can tell many things from the pitch.  He picked a location that was different than previous thrillers.  The terrain causes the characters problems.  It’s a young CIA guy with a dangerous prisoner, which will create an interesting dynamic and character relationships. 

As much as I can tell, he observed the 10 Commandments of Screenwriting.

And here’s the good news.  Any writer can make similar choices and increase their chance of success.  If you are going for the Studio market, you’ll want to duplicate those three choices.  If you are working with the Indie market, you’ll still want to create a marketable concept and great characters, but you may make the story more edgy. 

Of course, Guggenheim already had connections – through his magazine and two brothers (both produced screenwriters) and that absolutely helps.   But his success came from his choices – otherwise there would have been no bidding war and no news.

Filed under: Selling Your Screenplay Tags: by admin Date 13 February, 2010