Using Comps/Nutshells (e.g., "It's The Hunger Games meets Saving Private Ryan") is a contentious topic in the business. Some execs love them and other never want to hear them. Do you give comps when pitching or telling someone about your story?
If you do, or you just have one in mind, let's have some fun. Drop your nutshell into the comments so everyone's imagination can run wild thinking about what that film or show might actually look like!
I'll start with an odd one of mine:
It's DROP DEAD FRED meets 500 DAYS OF SUMMER
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Heh. I don't really use comps given how contentious they can be. That said, when I try to think of one for one of my projects, the first that comes to mind:
It's THE BOONDOCKS meets LOGAN.
Well, Allen, here goes:
One of the scripts I'm working on, "Pixie Dust," can be- barely- described as "A.N.T. Farm" meets "Revenge of the Nerds."
Come to think of it, a past project of mine, "Gayle Strawberry and Her Soda Pop Music Makers," shakes out as "Strike Up the Band" meets "Greased Lightning."
Thanks for the question, Allen!
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Solomon Twiggs, that would definitely get me interested just to see what it is. Very fun and interesting one!
Jim Boston Revenge of the Music Nerds... I like it! But is it TV or Feature? Adult or for Kids?
From imagination: it's THE COED AND THE ZOMBIE STONER meets THE GODFATHER.
From a current feature script, WORLD'S BEST MOM, it's WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN meets KRAMER VS KRAMER and WORLD TRADE CENTER.
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Since I don't know, going in, whether the person I'm pitching to likes comps expressed that way, I've modified how I use them. Instead of saying "It's X meets Y" I will say "Tonally, it's in the same ballpark as X and Y." It's a less playful approach, but it's safer.
Agree with Phil Parker about "tonally", and also like to have a "thematically" comparison, too. I'd also sure hate to make a comparison to something that they maybe didn't like, but I love cinema and great films, and they probably will like the comparisons that I'd reference, too, and for the reasons that I reference them..
Best fortunes to you in your creative endeavors, Allen!
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It's Dexter meets Newsroom, with a little bit of Daredevil on the side. :)
"Revenge of the Music Nerds..." WOW!
Originally, Allen, I meant my projects to be TV-movie pilots for shows on the tube...but since joining Stage 32 last month and looking at one screenplay after another (as well as absorbing all sorts of tips from contributors), I'm aiming all my projects at the big screen. (The decision to stop breaking up my movies into acts was the clincher.)
And the things I've been working on since getting to know the Final Draft 6 installation in my Power Mac G5 have been meant for families...people of all ages.
Oh, by the way...the lead character in "Pixie Dust" actually is a music major, a la China Anne McClain's "A.N.T. Farm" character, Chyna Parks. (Can't wait to get back to that script!)
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I have done it both ways and if you do you better hope they like the movie you are comparing it to. I am using comparisons in a pitch deck but my goal there is to show them how much money the comparable brought in.
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Aray, "Lady Sings The Blues" meets "Paul Blart" is definitely something I'd see!
A couple of mine. One very cliche'.
It's Star Wars meets WestWorld.
Another:
It's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest meets The Witch.
Another:
It's Stranger Things meets Friday the 13th.
I have used for one of my scripts, I described it as a mix of Babylon 5, Terra Nova and Lost.
Deliverance meets Wolfman
Harry Potter/The Wizard of Oz Native American style.
Fried Green Tomatoes meets Shawshank Redemption
Backdraft meets Manchester by the Sea.
For writers, I caution not to use them. Comparables set an expectation in the prospect's mind when the writer should be offering something completely original. And why not allow the producer the delight of drawing the comparisons themselves AFTER they've read the script? Then they could use them when they approach funding sources, talent etc. I agree they're good to use in a pitch deck though, if only for box office stats. That said, I'm working on ANIMAL HOUSE meets TEEN WOLF, but in reverse as the dog becomes human every full moon :^}
I totally use comps, mostly cuz ST32 lessons and lounges and prompts have led me to believe I should. This is the first I've heard that it's a potentially contentious practice. I bet, like anything in the biz, if misused enough times it can piss off those who have to sift through the mountains of wannabe queries. Anyway, here's some I've used so far:
It's Mad Max meets Dusk Till Dawn, in winter
It's Samantha from Her vs. Skynet from Terminator
It's ET meets Maleficent
It's Star Wars IV meets Apocalypse Now meets Avatar
It's Monster meets The Judge
I think it's important to comp well-known movies if you're wriitng for film, or well known TV shows if you're writing for TV. If you go wide, you're sure to hit something everyone knows and likely loves. If you go too niche, there's a chance your prospective producer/director/manager won't even know what you're referencing, and then you've pigeon holed yourself into avant-guarde weirdoism - you may think your reference to a niche show or film makes you sound intelligent or artsy, but if it backfires and your audience feels outwitted or put off, then too bad for you, right?
Tristan, I find that a neat concept of blending a period piece with horror.
My latest concept is THE WARRIORS meets ELEPHANT.