Pitch Your Concept
The best comedies make you laugh before you even watch them: they are built around strong concepts that grab your attention with an arresting title or provocative tagline — think about the comedies that have had success at the box office over the past year and continue to push the boundaries. But a great concept also needs a compelling narrative driven by dynamic characters - so use your synopsis to lay out your story to the Lionsgate team. Use your scene sample to showcase your ability to craft sharp dialogue, comedic tension, and moments of awkward hilarity — all while creating an engaging story that goes beyond slapstick humor. This is an opportunity to see your concept produced and to be attached as a writer if your project is selected.
- Seven Dates
- Timothy Fraser
- 20-something bachelor Seven Ford reluctantly re-enters the dating scene and dramatizes a series of dating mishaps during his weekly therapy sessions.
- 96 views
- The Iguana Was Driving
- Thomas Carson
- Arrested with his iguana behind the wheel, Jarrett becomes a national news item thrust into the swirling riptides of Hollywood.
- 26 views
- The Lead
- Nick Albanesi
- An aspiring film director convinces his friend to act in a film that inadvertently reveals the inadequacies of the actor’s real life.
- 19 views
- Woodies
- Andrzej Rattinger
- Two friends survive a mid-life crisis by taking the teenage children of one of them to visit the greatest roller coasters in the US.
- 10 views
- The Circle Jerks
- Mick Miles
- A food truck chef moonlights as a sperm donor to finance an engagement ring, but when his fiance finds out, he and his pals must pull off a "bank" heist
- 25 views
- The Burning
- Laura Kittrell
- After being stuck in a post-college rut, two friends accidentally commit a crime and are forced to move to a small town and assume new identities.
- 8 views
- How to Please a Woman
- Ken Choy
- For a sure-fire success, four married friends conduct research for a book on how to please a woman.
- 10 views
- Winston
- David Miller
- Alan, who hates dogs, woos dog-loving Susan by pretending his dog just ran away, which works great until she “finds” his dog – a huge Great Dane.
- 13 views
- DOOMMATES
- Cleve Nettles
- After an apparent nuclear holocaust, a dentist and two losers fight off mutant rodents as they search for women and beer, unaware they are lab rats in a bizarre
- 3 views
- Shamily
- Benjamin Attwell
- When the country's two greatest cons team up to scam a dying billionaire they get more then they bargained for when he leaves them everything in his will.
- 12 views
- The Deathpool
- Matt Sohinki
- n order to save their own lives, timid loser Edward Shimazel and his slacker friend Tim have 24 hours to kill Hollywood's biggest asshole.
- 4 views
- HARD NEWS
- Brian Stephens
- A struggling reporter who wants to make a difference in the world of journalism, finds herself as the lead story of the night.
- 4 views
From the Studio
Tell us a little about your background and how you came to film? I mainly come from a music video and commercial background, although I also create short films every now and again.
Once again, we've been overwhelmed with the quality of submissions received during the Director's Phase of the Incubator program.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Barbara Gray and learn a little more about the emerging writer, as well as hear how development is progressing for The Wrong Guys for the Job - the first film from the Lionsgate Incubator partnership.
We believe that THE WRONG GUYS FOR THE JOB is a fun story that fits the desired male-driven comedy genre while maintaining a relevant and accessible theme.
It's hard to contain our excitement for the fantastic response to our first program under the Lionsgate Incubator. With over 1,400 submissions, this has been the most successful development phase to date and shatters our previous record for number of concepts entered.
Recent Reviews
This is extremely funny!!!! It's unique. I laughed so hard in the beginning. I do see a Bullsworth approach to it! Alban is hilarious. You have to feel for Chauncey. Chauncey reminds me of Walter Maltheiu (The Odd Couple). I really want to see this film.
Let me guess - the soundtrack for the film was playing in your head while you write the screenplay? I totally see this with the sound effects and music which would bring out the quirkiness of your concept. I do see comedy but its way dark and deep - your writing brings out the emotions of these characters, their smugness, their cleverness, as if you're more writing a manuscript then screenplay - (Which of course a producer would want you to edit, edit, edit! lol) but this works with the concept that you are working on. Not sure if it's what they want for this contest but heck they may love it! So good luck - would be interesting to see the rest of this story!
The logline had me. The synopsis made me iffy. The excerpt bored me. However, the basic concept behind this pitch is so good, so full of potential that I have to encourage you to drop the lame, crude jokes and write this idea with more sincerity.
You have an interesting idea. Why are you wasting it on toilet humor?!
I like the concept and think it works well as a thriller (psychological thriller). Having said that, I found myself often confused by your descriptions. For instance, the scene in the classroom where Leslie is stalking her prey. You say something about Leslie blending into the charcoal walls. So she's inside the room? Why doesn't anyone see her? Would a calculated seriel killer be so brazen as to be in the same room as her victim with all those people around?
I liked the use of a narrator and the fact that it is done in the psychiatrist's pov. However, I felt his narrations to be a bit intrusive at times, particularly when his V.O's come between dialogue.
Overall, though, I would say that you have a great concept and logline. Not too sure about the title though, but that's minor. Good work.
Recent Lionsgate Team Notes
Running Errands
Very interesting story, and somewhat like Echelon Conspiracy in that there are super-powerful, mysterious forces at play and communicating through gadgetry. It also reminds me of the Barcelona MoFilm winner (http://www.mofilm.com/std/0dbfa9) and somewhat of The Game. All in all, however, this is a crime drama with elements of comedy, rather than a comedy. Try making this a comedy, perhaps something like the ultimate GPS-led shopping experience gone awry in his ultimate search for the best futon on the "market." Also take out the deadly threats to his family -- maybe threaten his non-IKEA furniture.
—Alex Barkaloff
The Rebound Guy
Interesting premise. Reminds me a little of our own Roger Dodger. Make Dan younger and also work on Wendell's character arc--does he develop so quickly or can you just keep him somewhat inept but as a kind, goodhearted but funny character? Like the title and the premise, but tighten this up.
—Alex Barkaloff
Best night, worst night.
The premise is interesting -- guy gets robbed by a hot one night stand. But then it seems to go into drama territory. Would be fun to see more humor in the robbery -- not just the toilet paper. Did she write on his face perhaps, or something else happen in a very odd way when he wakes up? And why did she do it? Does she have to be a bad person or can she be someone who we find out later is not a bad person at all. Perhaps she left a note with her number (in Paris!) that got blown away by the draft. Perhaps Art stalks her on Facebook, and the two brothers decide to take a trip to Paris to get even with her. Perhaps she's in love with him and wonders why he never called her.
Whatever you decide to do, just look more at the romantic comedy side--more of what we are looking for here. Also, look at comedic effects like out-of-sync character arcs.
—Alex Barkaloff