Butler's Script Sale of the Week...
February 25th, 2001
Not a very active week, but some interesting stuff nonetheless. Not a very active week, but some interesting stuff nonetheless. It's good to see that Ed Burns has returned to his hyphenate ways. It'll be interesting to see how his ASH WEDNESDAY turns out. I've also always been a Rob Schneider fan, but my enthusiasm for ANIMAL II will very much depend on how good, or bad, ANIMAL (2001) is. I'm also curious to see what John Grisham does with his self-financed project MICKEY.
There is no question about my pick of the week. It's the project that combines one of my favorite comedic actors with my favorite baseball team. GO TO HELL, MIKE PIAZZA sounds simply awesome.
This is the script that Universal bought this week for Ben Stiller's prodco Red Hour Films to produce. Word is that Stiller will take the starring role in this flick about a bitter and twisted hot dog vendor who blames all his life's troubles on his childhood friend, All-Star New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza. The hot dog vendor exacts his revenge when he gets a chance to strike out Piazza at a high profile charity event.
The script was written by Ryan Oxford and David Rotman. Apparently this is the first script they've written. Or at least sold. Their credits so far include producing for Rotman (DRAGONHEART, 1996) and directing for Oxford (DAVIS IS DEAD, 1998).
There's always need for concern when first-time scribes are involved, but the involvement of Stiller should belie any fears. He's a writer himself ("The Ben Stiller Show", 1990-92, TV and ZOOLANDER, 2001) and I've got a feeling that some the best bits in his movies are improvised (the last scene of MEET THE PARENTS [2000] for example).
Stiller is simply the best comedic actor out there right now, as far as I'm concerned. Sandler's a bit too sophmoric and Carrey's a bit too manic. Stiller's got great timing and reactions. The hot dog vendor sounds like a perfect role for him. He may be a bit too neurotic for some, but I think his characterizations hit a nerve with guys everywhere. Put him in a flick with the best ball club in the world and I can't wait.
-- Edward Butler
There is no question about my pick of the week. It's the project that combines one of my favorite comedic actors with my favorite baseball team. GO TO HELL, MIKE PIAZZA sounds simply awesome.
This is the script that Universal bought this week for Ben Stiller's prodco Red Hour Films to produce. Word is that Stiller will take the starring role in this flick about a bitter and twisted hot dog vendor who blames all his life's troubles on his childhood friend, All-Star New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza. The hot dog vendor exacts his revenge when he gets a chance to strike out Piazza at a high profile charity event.
The script was written by Ryan Oxford and David Rotman. Apparently this is the first script they've written. Or at least sold. Their credits so far include producing for Rotman (DRAGONHEART, 1996) and directing for Oxford (DAVIS IS DEAD, 1998).
There's always need for concern when first-time scribes are involved, but the involvement of Stiller should belie any fears. He's a writer himself ("The Ben Stiller Show", 1990-92, TV and ZOOLANDER, 2001) and I've got a feeling that some the best bits in his movies are improvised (the last scene of MEET THE PARENTS [2000] for example).
Stiller is simply the best comedic actor out there right now, as far as I'm concerned. Sandler's a bit too sophmoric and Carrey's a bit too manic. Stiller's got great timing and reactions. The hot dog vendor sounds like a perfect role for him. He may be a bit too neurotic for some, but I think his characterizations hit a nerve with guys everywhere. Put him in a flick with the best ball club in the world and I can't wait.
-- Edward Butler
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