skip to main |
skip to sidebar
where a failed Olympic runner who has been arrested too many times for disorderly and self-destructive behavior has to coach a Special Olympics track team or spend time in jail.
Click image for upcoming movies.
Adventure ------ 1,188 --- 25.6%
The Who, Why, and What
This left-hand column explains my motivators, motivations, and current projects.
Jim Ramsbottom
jim_ram@hotmail.com
682 560-0582
AMONG OTHER THINGS, I HAVE BEEN (OR CURRENTLY AM) A ...
... senior writer, communication consultant, communication manager, PR director, speechwriter, editor, copywriter, public speaker, graphic artist, photographer, salesman, press secretary and political advisor, business manager, Life Group leader, coach, athlete, son, brother, father, husband, friend ...
... all of which has motivated and equipped me to be ...
... a screenwriter.
Click here for full resume.
... senior writer, communication consultant, communication manager, PR director, speechwriter, editor, copywriter, public speaker, graphic artist, photographer, salesman, press secretary and political advisor, business manager, Life Group leader, coach, athlete, son, brother, father, husband, friend ...
... all of which has motivated and equipped me to be ...
... a screenwriter.
Click here for full resume.
Inspiration
MY GOAL IS TO WRITE:
ENGAGING parables
about COMMON heroes
MOTIVATED by life's challenges
who go on IMPOSSIBLE journeys
to face OVERWHELMING odds
TRANSFORMING themselves
ENGAGING parables
about COMMON heroes
MOTIVATED by life's challenges
who go on IMPOSSIBLE journeys
to face OVERWHELMING odds
TRANSFORMING themselves
INSPIRING others
and CHANGING the world.
and CHANGING the world.
I WRITE BECAUSE I FEEL ...
EQUIPPED to tell stories
INSPIRED to communicate truth
EXCITED to discover life
COMPELLED to fight causes
OBLIGATED to reach others
PRIVILEGED to pursue passions
THRILLED to create art
EQUIPPED to tell stories
INSPIRED to communicate truth
EXCITED to discover life
COMPELLED to fight causes
OBLIGATED to reach others
PRIVILEGED to pursue passions
THRILLED to create art
Cinematic Themes
My movies are about:
redemption
finding purpose
living fully
opposites attracting
devotion
faith over fear
goodness over evil
the harshness of life
the beauty and sanctity of life
the cost of self discovery
redemption
finding purpose
living fully
opposites attracting
devotion
faith over fear
goodness over evil
the harshness of life
the beauty and sanctity of life
the cost of self discovery
FINISHED SCREENPLAYS
"GRAY MATTERS" is a rest home comedy about growing up, growing old, and finding your groove where
LOGLINE: an obnoxious, opportunistic executive wannabe has to turn around an ill-equipped, under-managed, out-of-control rest home or lose the job of his dreams - and probably his sanity.
TAGLINE: Old people are a riot.
THEME: It's a humorous, heartwarming story about finding purpose in life, embracing the cross-generational communities around us, and building a home and community amid a the world's most dysfunctional geriatric jungle.
IT'S LIKE: "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" meets "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
Click here for a Prospect Prospectus:
LOGLINE: an obnoxious, opportunistic executive wannabe has to turn around an ill-equipped, under-managed, out-of-control rest home or lose the job of his dreams - and probably his sanity.
TAGLINE: Old people are a riot.
THEME: It's a humorous, heartwarming story about finding purpose in life, embracing the cross-generational communities around us, and building a home and community amid a the world's most dysfunctional geriatric jungle.
IT'S LIKE: "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" meets "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"
Click here for a Prospect Prospectus:
.
"A WOMAN OF LETTERS" is a Depression-era drama about the life-defining challenge of becoming the hero of one's own life story where
LOGLINE a young, feisty single mom and aspiring writer discovers an undeliverable letter in a small-town post office and writes back to its mysterious author, living out her greatest fantasies on paper, while also pursuing the goal of becoming a published writer by the end of the year. When the deadline approaches and her pen pal and man of her dreams unexpectedly comes to town, she has to decide to continue writing or give up her writing dream for good.
TAGLINE: Make your life a masterpiece.
THEME: Life is a journey of finding the art in ourselves and ourselves in our art (Stanislavski) while facing daily challenges and roadblocks and defeating the greatest foe to our hopes and dreams: ourselves.
IT'S LIKE: "Erin Brochovich" meets "Places in the Heart"
(The "A Woman of Letters" movie page is under construction).
LOGLINE a young, feisty single mom and aspiring writer discovers an undeliverable letter in a small-town post office and writes back to its mysterious author, living out her greatest fantasies on paper, while also pursuing the goal of becoming a published writer by the end of the year. When the deadline approaches and her pen pal and man of her dreams unexpectedly comes to town, she has to decide to continue writing or give up her writing dream for good.
TAGLINE: Make your life a masterpiece.
THEME: Life is a journey of finding the art in ourselves and ourselves in our art (Stanislavski) while facing daily challenges and roadblocks and defeating the greatest foe to our hopes and dreams: ourselves.
IT'S LIKE: "Erin Brochovich" meets "Places in the Heart"
(The "A Woman of Letters" movie page is under construction).
CURRENT PROJECT
"BONHOEFFER: A MAN FOR OTHERS -
PREACHER/SPY"
is a true World War 2 drama about the humanity, urgency, and cost of true faith where
LOGLINE: a brilliant young pastor's, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, convictions compel him to become a double spy in the German army and chief conspirator in the attempts to assassinate Adolph Hitler.
TAGLINE: Faith has a face.
Click here for a Prospect Prospectus:
PREACHER/SPY"
is a true World War 2 drama about the humanity, urgency, and cost of true faith where
LOGLINE: a brilliant young pastor's, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, convictions compel him to become a double spy in the German army and chief conspirator in the attempts to assassinate Adolph Hitler.
TAGLINE: Faith has a face.
Click here for a Prospect Prospectus:
Click here for sample pages:
("A Man for Others" page is under construction)
"BONHOEFFER: A MAN FOR OTHERS -
PASTOR/SAINT"
is the sequel story, following Bonhoeffer through his prison years, profound smuggled writings and love letters, pastoral comfort to fellow detainees, and continued resistance efforts.
("A Man for Others" page is under construction)
"BONHOEFFER: A MAN FOR OTHERS -
PASTOR/SAINT"
is the sequel story, following Bonhoeffer through his prison years, profound smuggled writings and love letters, pastoral comfort to fellow detainees, and continued resistance efforts.
OTHER WORKS IN PROGRESS
COMEDY
"SNEAKING PAST CASTRO" is an escapist, boxing come-dramedy about knocking out the ghosts of your past and shadow dancing toward your most fulfilling future
where a former Olympic boxing legend and current disenchanted, puppet/public figure secretly smuggles refugees into the U.S. until a hard-nosed police chief exposes him and forces him to escape to the U.S. himself, only to have to escape back to Cuba when he realized that's where his real home is.
"ALTAR EGOS" is colorful black-and-white comedy about some of faith's gray areas of inner genuineness and outer responsibility
where two high-strung pastors--a black, traditional, intellectual Baptist, and a white, progressive, street-smart non-denominationalist--fight for power, prestige, parishioners, and prime real estate for a new church site until a devastating tornado rips through the town and the two men have to resurrect their congregations and their own faiths.
DRAMA
"IT'S A FUNNY THING, THIS WAR ..." is a World War 2 drama about the power of laughter and community to defeat the horrors and inhumanity of war
where a highly combative and woefully unsuccessful vaudeville comedy team finds overnight success, worldwide fame, and enormous privilege and responsibility when they entertain troops where no one else will go: the most dangerous battle zones of the war.
"THE PERFECT MILE" is a drama about lost and renewed dreams and the unexpected people who complement our lives
where a failed Olympic runner who has been arrested too many times for disorderly and self-destructive behavior has to coach a Special Olympics track team or spend time in jail.
"THE PERFECT SCHOOL" is a compelling, soul-ful, true-life drama about opportunities lost and found and the courage to follow your life dreams
where a gutsy, inspiring 1st grade teacher teaches an elderly, homeless man how to read, who returns to her class and becomes a friend, role model, and father figure to many of her at-risk students, motivating her to start her own inter-generational literacy foundation.
where a gutsy, inspiring 1st grade teacher teaches an elderly, homeless man how to read, who returns to her class and becomes a friend, role model, and father figure to many of her at-risk students, motivating her to start her own inter-generational literacy foundation.
THE FILM BIZ
In this right-side column, I discuss the business side of art and the artistic side of the business.
BOX OFFICE
NEW AT THE CINEMA
Click image for upcoming movies.
REQUISITE RESOURCES
CRAFT: BLOGS, PODCASTS
Wordplayer
Written By
Go Into The Story
Wordplayer
Written By
Go Into The Story
(WORK IN PROGRESS)
Click links above to access online.
THE CRAFT
LOGLINES
Loglines are one of the most fundamental tools a writer possesses for identifying the essence and scenario of his story. They're also one of the most powerful weapons he has in communicating his vision to others.
And yet they are often misunderstood and rarely written well or pitched effectively. Create a masterful logline and your script has a chance to be read. Fail to do so and you'll be dismissed.
Click here for more details and examples.
Loglines are one of the most fundamental tools a writer possesses for identifying the essence and scenario of his story. They're also one of the most powerful weapons he has in communicating his vision to others.
And yet they are often misunderstood and rarely written well or pitched effectively. Create a masterful logline and your script has a chance to be read. Fail to do so and you'll be dismissed.
Click here for more details and examples.
PITCHING POINTERS
Now that you've written your script, you've got to find a way to fully, concisely, and effectively communicate it to others. In the audio files below, you'll hear more about this crucial step in the marketing of your stories:
WHY do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
TO WHOM do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
WHAT do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
HOW do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
Now that you've written your script, you've got to find a way to fully, concisely, and effectively communicate it to others. In the audio files below, you'll hear more about this crucial step in the marketing of your stories:
WHY do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
TO WHOM do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
WHAT do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
HOW do you pitch?
(Coming soon)
HOW TO GET AN AGENT
Everybody wants an agent.
Look here for WGA approved.
Checklist: What do you need accomplished before you secure an agent?
(WORK IN PROGRESS)
Everybody wants an agent.
Look here for WGA approved.
Checklist: What do you need accomplished before you secure an agent?
(WORK IN PROGRESS)
MORE FILM FIGURES
U.S. BOX OFFICE
YEAR-END TOTALS
(through 12/31/23)
2023 - $8.906 billion
2022 - $7.370 billion
2021 - $4.483 billion
2020 - $2.114 billion
YEAR-END TOTALS
(through 12/31/23)
2023 - $8.906 billion
2022 - $7.370 billion
2021 - $4.483 billion
2020 - $2.114 billion
2019 - $11.363 billion
2018 - $11.892 billion
2018 - $11.892 billion
MARKET SHARE/STUDIO
1995 to 2024 (through 12/31/23)
(% and movies)
(% and movies)
Walt Disney ------ 17.0%---613
Warner Bros. ---- 15.2%---875
Sony Pics --------- 12.4%---806
Universal ---------12.4%---604
Paramount -------- 10.4%---522
20th Century ----- 10.1%---531
Lionsgate --------- 4.0%----446
New Line ---------- 2.4%---211Dreamworks ----- 1.7%------79
MGM --------------- 1.6%----254
TOP GROSSING GENRES
1995-2024 (through 12/23)
(movies/market %)
Adventure ------ 1,188 --- 25.6%
Action ------------ 1,232 --- 22.5%
Drama ----------- 5,791 ---- 14.4%
Comedy ---------- 2,542 --- 14.0%Horror ------------- 831 ----- 5.8%
Rom Com --------- 684 ----- 4.4%
Musical ----------- 217 ------ 2.0%
Thrill/Susp ----- 1,330 ----- 8.2%
Rom Com --------- 684 ----- 4.4%
Musical ----------- 217 ------ 2.0%
Documentary --- 2,609 ----- 1.0%
Black Comedy --- 268 ------ 1.0%
TOP GROSSING SOURCES
1995 - 2024 (through 12/23)
Orig Screenp --- 8,619 --44.0%
Fiction/SS ------ 2,300 -- 19.2%
Comic/Graph ---- 290 --- 10.9%
Real Event ------- 3,488 --- 4.9%
TV ---------------- 242 ------ 4.7%
Remake ---------- 322 ---- 4.5%
Factual Book --- 348 ---- 3.2%
Spin-Off ------------ 52 --- 1.9%
Fairytale/Leg ------ 79 ---- 1.3%
Game --------------- 58 ------ 1.2%
ALL-TIME DOMESTIC B.O.
(infl. adj. thru 12/2023 - million)
Gone w/ Wind ('39) ----- $1,895
SW: New Hope ------------ $1,669
Sound of Music ('65) ---- $1,335
(infl. adj. thru 12/2023 - million)
Gone w/ Wind ('39) ----- $1,895
SW: New Hope ------------ $1,669
Sound of Music ('65) ---- $1,335
ET ('82) ---------------------- $1,329
Titanic ('97) ---------------- $1,270
Ten Commands. ('56) --- $1,227
Jaws ('75) -------------------$1,200
Titanic ('97) ---------------- $1,270
Ten Commands. ('56) --- $1,227
Jaws ('75) -------------------$1,200
Doctor Zhivago ('65) -----$1,163
The Exorcist ('73) -------- $1,036
Snow White... ('37) ------- $1,021
SW: Force Awake (2015) -$1,013
The Exorcist ('73) -------- $1,036
Snow White... ('37) ------- $1,021
SW: Force Awake (2015) -$1,013
101 Dalmatians ('61) ------- $936
Emp Strikes Back ('80) ---- $920
Ben-Hur ('59) ---------------- $918
Emp Strikes Back ('80) ---- $920
Ben-Hur ('59) ---------------- $918
Avatar (2009) ---------------- $911
ALL-TIME MOST PROFIT MOVIES
thru 03/2021 - ROI, $ in millions
1. Mad Max (1980) --------- 24,738%
_Budget: $200K -- Profit: $49.675M
2. Facing - Giants (2006)--- 24,277%
_Budget: $100K -- Profit: $24.377M
3. Para Activity (2009) ----- 19,885%
_Budget: $450K -- Profit: $89.934M
4. El Mariachi (1993) ------- 14,385%
_Budget: $7K ------- Profit: $1.013M
5. BlairWitch (1999) -------- 13,771%
_Budget: $600K - Profit: $83,224M
6. Halloween (1978) -------- 10,131%
_Budget: $325K -- Profit: $33,250M
7. Super Size Me (2004) ----- 9,789%
_Budget: $65K ---- Profit: $6.428M
8. Charlie B Xmas (2009) --- 9,710%
_Budget: $150K ----Profit: $14,715M
9. Fireproof (2008) ---------- 9,213%
_Budget: $500K -- Profit: $46,563M
10. The Gallows (2015) ------ 6,824%
_Budget: $100K ---- Profit: $6.924M
11. Friday 13th (1980) ------- 4,822%
_Budget: $550K --- Profit: $27.073M
20. God's Not Dead (2014) -- 3,091%
_Budget: $1.2M ----- Profit: $36,698
CELLULOID STORIES
The first scriptwriter was New York journalist Roy McCardell, who was hired in 1900 by Henry Marvin of the American Mutoscope & Biograph Co. to write ten scenarios a week at $15 each.
"Deja Vu" by Terry Rossio and Bill Marsilii was purchased for $5 million; "The Long Kiss Goodnight" by Shane Black was sold at $4.5 million; and "Basic Instict" by Joe Eszterhas, Medicine Man by Tom Schulman, and "Panic Room" by David Koepp brought $3 million each.
The fastest time to write the script of a full-length feature film was two days for "Weird Science" by John Hughes, who also directed. He also wrote "The Breakfast Club" in four days. And less than a week for "Mr. Mom." "The faster I go," Hughes stated, "the better it is."
The final scenes of "Casablanca" were up in the air until the final days of shooting. As co-writer Julius Epstein put it, "Warner had 75 writers under contract and 75 of them tried to figure out an ending."
"Deja Vu" by Terry Rossio and Bill Marsilii was purchased for $5 million; "The Long Kiss Goodnight" by Shane Black was sold at $4.5 million; and "Basic Instict" by Joe Eszterhas, Medicine Man by Tom Schulman, and "Panic Room" by David Koepp brought $3 million each.
The fastest time to write the script of a full-length feature film was two days for "Weird Science" by John Hughes, who also directed. He also wrote "The Breakfast Club" in four days. And less than a week for "Mr. Mom." "The faster I go," Hughes stated, "the better it is."
The final scenes of "Casablanca" were up in the air until the final days of shooting. As co-writer Julius Epstein put it, "Warner had 75 writers under contract and 75 of them tried to figure out an ending."
What I learned at the movies