FrankenScript :: Lee Gabel's Screenwriting Journal/Blog

After a week long bidding war, Lion’s Gate reportedly paid just under $1 million dollars for Shawn Christensen’s high concept screenplay “Abduction”. I read it last night to see what all the fuss was about. The script is a page turner, I’ll give it that, and if the momentum in the script ends up on [...]

After reading and enjoying “Buried”, which recently premiered at Sundance this year, I jumped at the chance to read “ATM”, another script written by Chris Sparling. It is clear why this script was acquired so quickly. It is a page turner to be sure, and not surprisingly it follows the same formula as “Buried”. “ATM” [...]

If I answer my office line and am met with three seconds of silence before someone speaks: strike one. If you then mispronounce my name: strike two. If you insist on telling me about that special offer you are not trying to sell me for only $19.95/month, after I state politely that I am not [...]

This remake has a “Death Wish” setup and feel, but the setup is overly long, violent and extremely sadistic. I can only guess that the filmmakers really wanted to intensify the sympathy factor for the victims. It does work, and I have to admit, the creep factor is turned up to eleven. The tension builds [...]

This is a gripping story of givers and takers, but it is also a story that is hard to categorize. Sexual awakening, betrayal, forgiveness, shame and secrets, it’s all covered. When we learn the truth midway through the film, we as viewers are just as conflicted as David Kross’ character. We learn that even monsters [...]

Here’s a solid story about boys becoming men, facing their fears, and learning to leave prejudice at the door, while still having a hell of a lot of fun. The portrayal of gangs in the 60s felt a little light and sanitized, and is nothing like gangs of today, but it felt real enough. The [...]