Screenwriting : The failure of Amazon's Wheel of Time adaptation by Preston Poulter

Thanks for sharing the video, Preston Poulter. I haven't seen Wheel of Time, but Greg said in the video, "A story requires compelling characters, and this show has none..." I watched a remake movie the other day. Some of the movie was fun, but it was average because the characters weren't compelling or unique. They were just generic Horror movie characters. Plot is important, but character is more important in my opinion.

Compelling characters is key for the creative process and letting your audience enjoy a product. I know that was a criticism of the Elm Street remake, noting the remake example Maurice indicates above (though I can't say if he was explicitly referring to that film).

I recall the issues there were beyond writing, so I wouldn't put it entirely on the writing team. Sometimes things get chopped in editing for time reasons or there apprehension about certain sequences or reshoots done to try to apply an element that may have been missing at a certain point. Case in point, the Elm Street remake had over 30 scenes removed from the final product (including a pool party opening that got dropped, some good scare/chase sequences, and an alternate ending that would've been more effective).

I think really what it comes down to is either too many people clashing over visions or not enough people being passionate about the IP they're trying to adapt. That's not say that having love for an IP will guarantee a quality product (especially if you're retreading material a bit too much to the point of taking too many story beats or ideas from what came before), but it can be a factor as well.

It was the Poltergeist remake, Samuel Lebow. And great point. It's not always on the writer(s).

Thanks Maurice Vaughan. And to to be honest, I don't really fault anyone involved because a bunch of factors go into the creative process of an IP, especially an existing one. There's pressure to please fans and also build a new audience. So in short, there isn't really anyone to blame.

I will say if I'm able to really get deep into my writing career, I'd like to take a shot at the IP I just mentioned (once the rights situation gets figured out). It would be a semi-remake/reboot and I do have a loose concept for it, but I'd have to get in line like anyone else (P.S. if someone like Mike Flanagan has an idea, I'd gladly step aside and watch his vision as a fan).

You're welcome, Samuel Lebow. And you're right. There's a bunch of factors that go into the creative process of an IP, especially an existing one. Producer notes, studio notes, the movies/shows that came before it, etc. And no one sets out to make an average movie. Hope you get those IP jobs!

I appreciate the luck on the IP jobs., Maurice Vaughan. I think the ones I really want outside of Elm Street are taken (though I would do a Friday the 13th movie if I could find a character focused story that keeps Jason and Camp Crystal but deviates from the norms of the franchise). I would however love to get my hands on the early drafts of Scream 4 to see more of what Kevin Williamson intended (i.e. the Jarod plot that was deleted, Alison Brie's characters when they were two characters before being merged into one, basically anything that has happened discussed online at some point and what hasn't since some of the details of how those parts factored into the story haven't been shared).

I want to write a Friday the 13th movie and A Nightmare on Elm Street movie too, Samuel Lebow. I'm writing a fan fiction script called Friday the 13th: Dark Secrets. I'm gonna use it as a writing sample.