"Which one of you is going to take a shit in the street in this one?"
– Annaleigh Ashford
As someone who's spoken with several filmmakers and comic book creators about "the art of the deal," I can tell you with absolute confidence that pitching your ideas for a project is, more often than not, an excruciating experience. Try as you might to get investors on board with your vision, there will be times when those who hold the keys to the castle will erect every blockade in their arsenal as part of an effort to downplay your project's potential. Take this satirical video about the process of pitching a film like Paul Feig's A SIMPLE FAVOR to executives in today's modern climate for example. Yes, the video is meant to be funny, though I'm certain that there are aspects of it that ring true for those who've had their ideas butchered and re-purposed by financiers and formula-loving reps.
You can watch the video starring Paul Feig, Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, with Thomas Lennon and Annaleigh Ashford as the insufferable execs below:
Like Anna, Blake and Paul were trying to say, A SIMPLE FAVOR centers around Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), a mommy blogger who seeks to uncover the truth behind her best friend Emily's (Blake Lively) sudden disappearance from their small town. Written by Jessica Sharzer and based on the novel of the same name by Darcey Bell, the comedic crime drama also stars Henry Golding (CRAZY RICH ASIANS), Ian Ho (WILLA), Joshua Satine (GODLESS), Dustin Milligan (EXTRACT, ME HIM HER), Danielle Bourgon (REGRESSION) and Gia Sandhu (THE MOTH DIARIES, BEEBA BOYS), among others.
To reiterate, yes, the video is definitely worth a chuckle or two, but it also highlights how outlandishly sexist Hollywood meetings can be in this day and age. There's always a little truth behind every "just kidding," and one has to wonder just how many great ideas have been altered by those looking to control the flow of creativity. The world is vampire, my friends. Stay vigilant, and stick to your guns.
A SIMPLE FAVOR will arrive in theaters on September 14th.
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