[Bubba Ho-Tep]

There are few among all of them with enough character and integrity to chance something new. Therefore, the powers there virtually always want to try something that already has a success.

An average movie these days costs $100 million to produce and market. Now, if you have $100 million to invest, would you rather invest it in an unknown property that has a 50% chance (if that) of turning a profit, or a known property with an 80% chance?

My screenwriting professor said...

Ah, that explains it. Hollywood fail to see your genius?

...he's in meetings all the time when a television episode will be discussed in terms of a predecessor.

And over a hundred years ago Georges Polti wrote a book saying that there are only 36 plots. Yeah, development execs use a shorthand and a familiarity with what works and doesn't work.

[righttackle44]

Before you make yourself into a bigger fool, you should know that I don't write screenplays. I took the course to learn story development skills. So your silly little scenario that I am a frustrated screenwriter is exactly--silly. Also, if you don't understand that there only so many basic plots, then you don't understand story telling. O Brother, Where Art Thou is a re-telling of the Homer's epic, The Odyssey, for example. And your best show of silliness is the blather about $100 million to produce and market . . . etc. Not all greenlighted production money goes into the production. You would be surprised how much of that money goes into the producer's and director's pocket, in addition to their salaries. Of that $100 million, $10 million may end up in the hands of bars, call girls, necessary transportation (new cars) and other. The Hollywood budgeting process is part of the whole process that is really scandalous. So before you go off again showing whatever it is you think you showed off, it might be well to learn something instead of simply attacking.