Script Help please!!

[PsychoFreak]

Hey everyone,


I have a question regarding a new whodunit film I want to write. I figured all you horror thriller fans could help me out, so I put it in this forum, but mods feel free to move it to the screen writing one.

I have had this new idea whils't watching all my old Agatha Christie films. I want to write an old fashion 1930's murder story, set in a large mansion. It will be called "The Murder of Miss Hollywood". It will be set in 1932 . It's about a very famous actress (called Miss Hollywood by the press) who has a small dinner party to celebrate her second engagement, and all seven people (not including the detective) all have a motive to kill her. She is found dead in her room. There is a storm out and the police can't get to them, so they have to spend teh night till morning in the mansion.

Isabelle Kingstone-Miss Hollywood.
Simon Grisham-Her feonce (if her kills her he can get all her money)
Paul Christie-Her first husband. He could kill her out of lust, jelousy etc
Estelle Sanders- Miss Hollywood's agent. Is angry she is leaving her acting career and settling down. She will not get anymore money from Miss Hollywood's films.
Ronne Benedict-Film Director of Miss Hollywood's last film. Is also angry that she is leaving her film carreer and will not star in his next picture.
Tiffany Tilly-Miss Hollywood's official and personal paperazzi. Wrote a book on her and made lots. Want's to write another book on her but Miss Hollywood refuses.
Louise Loverstein-Miss Hollywood's best friend but an unsucessful actress. Could kill her and become the next Miss Hollywood.
Donald Duncan-Miss Hollywood's friend and detective whiles't she has a stalker at the begining of her film career.

I have my characters and all, but what the really fustrating thing is that I need a murder plot. A good twist. I've come up with a few but nothing brilliant. It's not WHY they want to kill her but it's HOW. It needs to be very clever. Like Death on the Nile or Evil Under the Sun.

If anyone can help with some ideas or a good whack in the right direction then please, i would really appreciate the help!

Thanks,
PF

[X-Nightcrawler]

To be perfectly honest . . . try something else, see . . . this has been done to death ("Clue"?).

However, if you can find a way to make this concept "whodunit" into something more unique, post it here. As is, it'd be almost impossible to create much interest once made to film . . . good luck.

[C-Desecration-]

Okay, here's what you do:
Scrap the mansion. Put this situation - a web of people with motive to kill a single person set in the 1930's - into the real world. It's been done to death in enclosed areas, but why not expand? Not the most original concept, but it could be interesting if you set the film in a city, there's this web of people, make it almost . . . well, just expand. Instead of them being trapped in a mansion they're roaming the city, and a whole slew of new venues are opened.

But really, this idea isn't interesting, but I like the fact that it's set in the 1930s. Milk it--that'll be what distinguishes this from the thousands other "who done it" movies.

[the dead one]

PsychoFreak, I really dont have any opinion regarding your script.
the Most I can add is this...

The subject matter, as your fellow schmoes have pointed out may not be the most original premise. You dont need me or anyone else to remind you of that...
However, dont let that discourage you in any way!

Considering what is being churned out by the major studios and some indies...

originality doesnt seem to be an issue!

What does matter, is your approach to the themes and the characters. Take your time with it, reinvigorate the story and the material. Keep messaging the material, have fun with it! Filmmaking should be about invention and discovery. If you have a buring desire to write a screenplay, just keep in mind it's your vision! But if you are considering actually shooting the movie yourself, dont write what you cant shoot. Keep it simple, period pieces are expensive (Circa 1930's) work with what you have and make the best of it.

Keeping the story in present day will help...you could always imply that the killer is someone who existed in the 30's and add a supernatural dimension to your screenplay. But like I said, it's your vision that is important...
I am only giving you a possible angle to work with!

"The only limits are your imagination and the ones you impose on yourself"
I say GO for it!!!!

Let me know how you make out and good luck. :D

[adamjohnson]

Well, its not NEW, but it hasnt been done LATELY, which means its due one.

I thought about doing a murder mystery on a train, byt then I thought pff, who takes trains anymore. Then I was gonna set it in the past, like you, (its always more interesting in the past for some reason, i dont know, maybe its the way they have to use only their mind instead of some clever technology etc). But period pieces become cliched as you write them, and harder to make because of extra costs.

[the dead one]

Well said Adam...:)

[mary lou 102]

Well, I love movies like these. im aking one right now, but it's set in modern times. I don't think it would loose any charm if it was taken into modern times . Think of Miss Hollywood as Julia Roberts or Nicole Kidman. They are the Miss Hollywood's of our times. Some agtha Chrisite stories can get a little bit boring at times(COUGH! And Then There Were None COUGH!). Try not to make it boring and make it suspenseful and creepy, heck mabye even gory. Also, If UR making this UR self, I'd make it modern, cause it really is expensive to make a period peice. It would make one heck of an entertaining movie. I love UR characters and they all have great motives. Kepp writing.

[Scully1888]

Okay, here's my thoughts...

You say that Donald Duncan (the friend) helped her try and find a stalker back at the start of her career.

So how's about making him the stalker at the end of the day, and therefore he knows something about her that nobody else does (and he'd have been a good stalker due to his investigative skills).

And seeing as it's her party... and he's a good friend... let's say he's making the cake.

And let's say she's allergic to a certain ingredient in the cake... an allergy that only a good friend... or a stalker... would know of.

So when she's dead people won't suspect poisoning, because everyone will have eaten the same meal.

Your other characters (the fiance, the paperazzi, the ex-husband) all provide good red herrings, but maybe you should add more less obvious ones so that people don't instantly assume it's the friend (because it's always the least obvious, isn't it?) Why not give her a couple of friends?

Anyway, just some thoughts. Hope you like them. ;)

[PsychoFreak]

course I like them scully :p