TV and such

So the TV show's starting to grow legs, albeit a couple of stumpy ones for the moment.

It's been an interesting journey - the show started off as an adaptation of a Japanese manga, and has morphed via a late night HBO-type drama into a light n' primetime ITV pitch. For women.

We're calling it Bridget Jones meets Karate Kid. Get your head round that.

The treatment's done, (6 x 1hr eps), with character summaries, themes, style and cast. It's our first move into the world of TV but it can't be that different to features, right?

We're getting feedback from industry types at the moment and so far it's all been good.

Next week the hard pitching starts. Watch this space.

80s Movie Elements Pt 2

UGLY DUCKLING / GEEK GETS THE GIRL

There’s usually some frumpy/geeky type girl whose heaving bosom is concealed beneath the oversized dungarees that used to belong to her dad/retarded brother. Ideally her mom has left them somehow (often dead) leaving the clueless dad to try and handle her pubescent raging hormones and ‘women’s business’ with hilariously touching results.

The ugly duckling gets done-up like a cheap whore to go to the prom, so that the high school quaterback, pre-saging his future as an alcoholic travelling saleman drinking himself into a stupor in $2 stripclubs, will decide that she’s the woman of his dreams. The hilarious thing is that she had absolutely no idea that she actually had the body of a stripper and all she had to do was lose her glasses! Who gives a toss about inner beauty when she’s got a rack like that…?

Variant: Other versions include the pretty girl with a good heart who, for reasons best known to herself, has decided to go out with some meatheaded thug (nearly always called ‘Chet’ or ‘Brad’) who is also usually the quarterback for the high school football team. Our hero (ideally her childhood sweetheart) has to prove to her that his love/intelligence is more attractive than Chet’s money/looks/brawn. Usually involves him growing some cojones and thumping someone, thereby negating the whole positive message.

Example: Back to the Future.

BAND OF MISFITS

A bunch of freaks and weirdos, each ideally with special (and not at first obviously uselful) skills, come together into a kind of superhuman army, forged in the fires of team spirit and the triumph of human will.

They then defeat the über-team of the enemy mastermind (characterised by their Aryan looks and matching uniforms).

Examples: Street Fleet, Police Academy

80s Movie Elements Pt 1

So here they are, the first two Elements in the Great 80s Movie Elements List of Elements that make a Great 80s Movie.

Maybe all movies from now on should have an EITG80MELOETMAG80M score depending on how many elements they have and how much time you have on your hands...


TRAINING MONTAGE
Need no real explanation. Hero is crap at something. With a thumping soundtrack and a few innovative training routines he become a superman in about three days.

Actually you can have a montage about anything, especially building wacky machines, but this is the best type and deserves its own category.

Examples: Karate Kid, Rocky.


BACK FROM THE DEAD
Our hero is getting a wholesale behind-of-the-hand ass whuppin’ from some enormous neanderthal. About to give up when he catches the eye of his adoring girlfriend / the girl he fancies, who has just arrived. Comes ‘back from the dead’ to win heroically.

Variant: Echoed voice of dead master / “Do it for little Jimmy”/ “I will avenge the death of my father” etc.
Example: Rocky, Karate Kid, Star Wars

The 1980s

The 1980s

This is a decade I have a lot of mixed feelings about.
Actually that's not true - apart from Movies, I wish the entire decade had never happened.

People dressed badly, ate horrible food and listened to music that was like being given an aural enema with a cactus.

That said without all that awfulitude, it's arguable there would never have been an Eddie Murphy, a Gizmo or a Spielberg.

At least with 80s movies you knew where you were. This was because they were so relentlessly formulaic. The following is what I would describe as the definitive list of Elements for a Great 80s Movie. Well I would, wouldn't I.

All suggestions for inclusion will be laughed at (hopefully).