What types or genres are spec script NO NO's?

Nektonic

Nektonic

Veteran
I've always read about how an unproduced writer shouldn't write a spec in certain genres or types of films. For example I've heard don't write a: fantasy, World War 2, vampire, zombie, western, space opera, historical epic, etc... type of script unless you are a big shot Hollywood writer with a foothold in the industry. Mainly the reasoning I've seen is that these are either too costly or the industry is too jaded towards a certain one of these because there are so many of them flooding the town (vampire and zombie ones).

Anyways, what do you guys (and gals) think about this kind of reasoning? Anybody heard of any other types or genres that the screenplay gurus frown upon?

Personally, I've always thought this kind of silly and have decided to just write whatever the hell I want to when I want to.
 
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If it's seriously awesome that won't matter, but I get the reasoning. Those particular films tend to have a more specific market and can often be done poorly. They also represent more expense than any other kinds, as you said. If I were looking to produce a film and one of those came across my desk I would be much more critical than with some generic buddy-comedy thing I know I can do cheap and market easily.

As always, though, it depends on the quality of the work. That issue can be overcome by the right writer.
 
Cassius said:
As always, though, it depends on the quality of the work. That issue can be overcome by the right writer.
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That's what keeps me sane, basically if I write a great script it shouldn't matter what genre because great writing is great writing. Of course, the hard part isn't choosing a genre, it's writing a compelling screenplay of 90 to 120 pages.

Worst case scenario is that even if your fantasy or western spec doesn't actually get produced, it can still get your foot in the door if the writing knocks their socks off. If it is really great a studio or production company might still buy it so that they have it for a few years down the line.
 
What the hell is that supposed to mean? It's time for a comeback. I'm going to change all my scripts now to require him be in them.
 
Cassius said:
What the hell is that supposed to mean? It's time for a comeback. I'm going to change all my scripts now to require him be in them.
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His old stuff like Jury Duty, Son in Law, Bio Dome, and In the army now.

"Pauly Shore is Dead" was actually quite entertaining, but I gotta say the "dumb guy movie" like the examples above are movies that haven't been done in a while.
 
I'd say you should probably stay away from the oft-ignored (and rightly so) mixed-genre of:

Disaster-Midget-Musical-Hermaphroditic-Western-Horror
 
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kylekmd said:
I'd say you should probably stay away from the oft-ignored (and rightly so) mixed-genre of:

Disaster-Midget-Musical-Hermaphroditic-Western-Horror
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How about an uber-patriotic sci-fi / chop socky / space western / musical, all wrapped up in the guise of an X-rated romantic comedy?
 
Although the prospect of seeing...

a person of small stature belt out a stirring lyric while self-pleasuring during three-card monte at The Bull's Head saloon, or narrowly escaping frontier-baked zombies during an earthquake-incited dust storm...

...intrigues me.
 
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kylekmd said:
Although the prospect of seeing...

a person of small stature belt out a stirring lyric while self-pleasuring during three-card monte at The Bull's Head saloon, or narrowly escaping frontier-baked zombies during an earthquake-incited dust storm...

...intrigues me.
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Whattaya mean "or"? Gotta have both, man...

And don't forget to show (not tell) that "frontier-baked zombies" are a tasty treat!
 
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