Screenwriting : What to do if you have a controversial teleplay and your having trouble getting it made. by Paul Price

As we see with Gone Girl (read some reviews in the NYT and New Yorker), you'll always find controversy (which may be a good thing PR-wise). What you need is someone who likes it, a sponsor, a VIP who will fight for it.

Jenny thanks for the comment. Where would I find the person who would like and sponsor the show? I'm new to this. I don't know anyone who could do this for me right now.

I don't really have any advice as such, but one thing that comes to mind is that it sounds like it may have a closed ending - is there enough story to sustain a whole TV series (or more than one season)? I'm only basing that on what you've written here of course. The concept is really interesting, I'd watch it!

There's elements of stories from the past until the present time of the series. These elements deal with the foundation of the Council of twelve and their rise to power as a shadow government, also how they used cloning to bring forth the Chosen One. I can see at least 2 or more seasons of shows that span history from the time of the foundation of the Egypt to modern times. All done as 3D holographic archive stories. This will set the basis of the rise of the Antichrist from a historical prospective. Thanks Pete for the reply.

Ah, I see! Sounds great :)

honest opinion.... shelve it for another day... write another.

BTW: I'm a big fan of the Left behind series books... read 'em all.

Georgia Thanks for the input. I believe however that the Left Behind series is flawed since it doesn't take into consideration what the Bible completely states about the end of days. "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man" Matthew 24:37. This is a direct reference to the stories in the Old Testament dealing with children sired by demonic angels, the nephilim. Christ spoke of this in the Matthew 24:37. The nephilim will return. Why didn't Jerry Jenkins and Tim Lehaye write about this in the Left Behind series? Maybe because it might have shot down their theological argument. Maybe we will all be left behind only raptured after Jesus Christ's return. Nowhere in the book of Revelation does it state that we will be brought up to meet him in the air before Christ returns as some tribulations followers insists is the case. Read the Bible and make your mind up from what the words state alone.

Georgia, I would like to encourage you to read the teleplay then let me know what you think of the concept. You might change your mind. :)

Genesis 6 has the reference to the children sired by demonic angels and the daughters of men. Look into the Book of Enoch as well.

good morning paul.. I agree the Left behind series takes a lot of liberties... but consider this. Because it did... Millions of people who may not have ever considered watching a "Bible flick" watched it and the underlying message was presented. I am certainly NOT judging your script, our beliefs, or your work when I offered my simple statement.. What I am saying is your screenplay might be brilliant.. but if people are not interested in it, or interested in producing it, or optioning it... Then put it away and write another one... Not a rewrite, not a redo... a completely new script concerning something else... If that one doesn't fly... do another.. and another. ... persistence and skill will win in the end. Perhaps after selling or producing a more down the middle commercial flick, you might be able to dust off one of the old ones ( like this one) and you may find a more open interest in you previous work. Frankly, selling a TV series is more about who you know and what the networks are looking for than your personal idea. My SHOW RUNNER team stay in contact with all the majors all the time so when we talk its about what kind of show are the networks looking for and can I create one that fits in the network plans... Not, I have a great idea lets present to the networks. Yes, I have done that on occasion and it has worked once... out of more than 15 times. So as you can see. Even with my access... the chances are extremely low in presenting a new show to networks and its more about creating a new show that fits what the networks are looking for.

You may want to consider turning it into a low budget indie feature and doing it yourself.

Controversial topics is what gets people talking, it starts a conversation, therefore its a good thing.

It really looks more nichey than controversial. Most mainstream movie-goers/boob-tubers'll say Nepha-what?

Violette I agree with you. Conversation is a good thing. Thanks

Jim, thanks for the reply. The mere fact that I'm talking about the end of days and stating that Satan will use the DNA of Christ mixing it with the DNA of the son of Satan is controversial enough. Not to many Christians will take that to politely. Even though in the Bible itself states that Satan will try and copy God's moves in every way, even if he has to bring forth a bastard child to copy God's one and only Son. I've talked to many Christian's who feel that this would make them uncomfortable to say that the DNA of Christ would be used to make the antichrist. Jesus body didn't make the man alone. It was the spirit of his father God inside him that made him who he is. So even though people may not know what a nephilim is, they will know what I'm trying to convey through this plot element. Thank you again for the input.

Georgia, again thank you for the input. I'll mull this over. I like your input.

Write something else. A pilot is only going to be a writing sample anyway.

William, thank you for the input. I've got other things on the back burner. However I believe that this is a great project. I may have a narrow focus but I believe that this is a great project. I feel that this project will be a great one.

Pilot scripts are only writing samples. A way of getting a job on another show. They are never purchased for production until you have become a top TV showrunner. You start at the bottom and work your way up.

William thank you for the insight. I'll keep this in mind. I'm new to the business.

Thank you Lyse! I'll take your advice!

Actualy jews will love that story. Anything that insults Jesus and perverts His story Jews love. Therefore you will have no problems making it in Hollywood since most producers are jews. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCodaoMt8XE

In the 30s and 40s the people who owned studios were Jewish, today studios are mostly owned by Japanese companies... so they are probably mostly Shinto (religion). Of course, none of that matters because it is a business. Only a third of a income for a USA movie is from the USA, the rest is from the rest of the world with all of their different religions, which is why films seldom focus on religion as it limits the ticket sales.

Nasty piece of bigotry there, Pup.

Pup there's no Jesus insulting here. It's meant to show at what lengths Satan will go to mimic God's work.

Hey Paul I've had the same problem with my suspense/horror "The Baby's Room" it deals with religion of "santeria" a dark subject in the latino community. For me it's purely entertainment mixed with some facts of the subject matter, but it's been rejected. My grandma, who was a medium, told her experience she had with the small subject in my story, so I wrote a story around it.

Just seconding what Lyse said above. It may not have anything to do with what you think is controversial but instead with the way it's being presented as a concept (not the concept itself). So getting professional feedback as Lyse suggests is a good step to take now.

Jorge, sometimes the truth is a hard pill to swallow. I mix fact with fiction as well. I'm trying to convey facts dealing with the elites plans to bring forth the destruction of the world so that they may rise above the ashes as the rulers of us all. It's hard for mainstream media to go against the grain of their corporate masters. This type of story needs to be told, even with the controversy.

Richard you're right. I will do this. Thanks