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The tag line for the Cate Blanchett film "Veronica Guerin" is: WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO KILL VERONICA GUERIN?
A better question might be: WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT VERONICA GUERIN?
Not that the martyred woman's story shouldn't be told, but it's the kind of tale that would be better served being produced on cable on HBO or Showtime. I like Cate Blanchett and I knew about the Veronica Guerin story from watching a report on 60 Minutes or 20/20 or something. From the moment I heard about the tragic facts of the story I thought that it would make for a good film.
But stories like this--true stories--are tough sells in today's moviegoing environment. Who did the producers think their audience was? Teenagers? Twenty-somethings? Men over 35? Babyboomers? Senior citizens?
The film did very little business and will probably disappear from theaters fast. Maybe it will have more appeal when it comes out on video. Maybe.
The point I'm making is that just as studios and producers take a gamble making a dark film about a real event, screenwriters are in the same boat when they want to write a spec script about a dark, real event or person.
I'm not saying don't do it. If you're passionate about a story, write it. But whether or not you can sell it is another matter.
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