MovieChat Forums > AVH: Alien vs. Hunter (2007) Discussion > Asylum Scriptwriting Contest

Asylum Scriptwriting Contest

posted 16 years ago by dgotzh
40 replies | jump to latest

This is how disappointed I am in "AVH" (An acronym Asylum came up with for this movie, not me). I am willing to sponsor an open screenwriting contest, by anyone, including Nora the piano playing cat, to do what Asylum does. I am as serious as a heart attack.

I had such good hopes when I saw "I Am Omega," that Asylum had made a wonderful effort to release solid Direct to Video entertainment. Now that I've seen AVH, I just have to shake my head.

I have defended Asylum time and time again. I have been tough, but fair on their reviews. But honestly, I feel saddened that they would be so callous as to release a film like this. The people who put their name on this deserve better, the cast deserved better, the crew deserved better, and most importantly the viewers.

Again I am serious. I'm willing to bet I can sponsor a mockbuster scriptwriting contest, take the winner, make the film with less money than Asylum, and have it be at least on par with AVH, and probably better.

www.myspace.com/mattdavidfilms

Who's with me???

Matt/David

[–] dgotzh 16 years ago

I'll even throw in some prize money.

Matt/David

[–] regulus7000 16 years ago

Really?
This intrigues me greatly.
Would the winner actually have his/her script produced?

[–] dgotzh 16 years ago

Absolutely. And here's how:

The best way to criticize a film is to make a better film. Asylum has done decent films; you just never hear about them because films like AVH greatly overshadow the what few good titles are out there.

The Contest's goal, the sole goal, is to write a low-budget script that's better than AVH. So clearly the bar is low here folks, most of you with little experience have a better than average chance. I'm making a website as we speak, I'm hoping to put it out live on Jan 1st.

In the interim; spread the word, tell a friend, direct them here. Let's put our criticisms into productive action.

Let's make a movie, a better movie.

Matt/David
www.myspace.com/mattdavidfilms

[–] regulus7000 16 years ago

Alright, I'm game. I don't know if I can get a full huge movie script done by the time the contest date would end as I'm a very busy college student (as you seem to be), but I can certainly try!

[–] dgotzh 16 years ago

I've already drawn up a tentative timeline, assuming all goes like it should. Jan 1st - April 1st contest. April 15th pick a winner. May Pre-Production. June Shoot it, July do post production, show it to the public in early September.

That's all I'm going to say for now, because it's too early in the game to be making solid predictions (Filmmaking is, by its very nature, volatile).

So all you IMDb'ers out there that have a bone to pick, this is your one and only chance to drive your point home. Write a script that beats out Asylum's AVH, collect some awesome prize $$$, and watch it get made into something supercool.

Matt/David
www.myspace.com/mattdavidfilms

[–] caseman999 16 years ago

I'm too busy to write, but I am an Indiana University theater major. I'm working on a degree as an actor with specialty in film acting. I've been called back for three productions and am currently acting in one. If the subject is comedy I am a member of IU's premiere sketch comedy troupe. Drop me a line if you would like my services as an actor in this Asylum- off. I've seen basically everything they've made.

[–] dgotzh 16 years ago

Having had time to cool down and think about the situation, I think it's fair to say that although Asylum has many angry viewers, most of them are people who just like watching films as opposed to being filmmakers. In short, if I were to launch a screenplay contest, I might get 4, possibly 5 entries. Why? Because most people have lives. :P

Being aware of this, I've decided to modify what I want to do. The goal is still the same, beat "Alien Vs. Hunter," (AVH) but the means is changing. I posted some stuff about this on my site, so I won't bore you readers by repeating it here. Suffice to say, I am going to do something about this, because watching AVH is like forcing a homophobe to masturbate to gay porn; everytime he does it he just gets angrier and angrier (And of course, this joke is not meant to be homophobic).

Take a look, and decide for yourselves. Feedback is always welcome of course,

Matt/David
www.myspace.com/mattdavidfilms

[–] squidmodem 16 years ago

Instead of a contest, why not team up and make something with local Aslum haters? I am pretty sure you could rally a group of people for a weekend to make a movie.(same amount of time used to make this movie I am guessing)

Cthulhu Club Member - Nyarlathotep

[–] dgotzh 16 years ago

To a certain extent, that's what's being planned. Though it won't be done in a weekend (Thus securing Corman's 2-day record on "Little Shop of Horrors"), and most of the people involved probably don't hate Asylum.

I don't look at Asylum as a faceless entity. I see it as an organization that has layers; some talented, some not so much. I personally believe the problem is more at the top then bottom - I've seen what some of the key figures can do when they're with different groups/companies; it's like a night and day difference.

Matt/David
www.myspace.com/mattdavidfilms

[–] 9sam1 16 years ago

What is the website for this contest?

I have some questions

How long should it be?

Should it be a serious attempt or should it just be intended to be funny and awful. Can it be a rip off of any movie, or must it be a movie coming soon.

[–] nbvwes 16 years ago

The only really decent stuff Asylum's put out were the films they released exlusively through Hollywood Video around '97/'98 ('Social Intercourse', 'Anarchy TV', 'Chicks, Man' all come to mind... and I still want to see 'Green' and maybe 'Dante's View'), but stuff like 'I Am Omega', 'Transmorphers', 'Da Vinci Treasure', 'Snakes on a Train' are just plain lazy... I mean, really. With all the decent stuff out there nobody sees, why all these C-list knockoffs of lame blockbusters?? Come on... I couldn't WAIT to see their 'I Am Omega' and i've tried twice and am still having trouble just getting through the damn thing (despite the star from 'The Base', the first movie my mom ever worked on)... I think I may just have to submit one of my script ideas for this contest...

[–] dgotzh 16 years ago

I liked "I am Omega," and when you compare it to AVH, it's Oscar gold. But that's just my opinion.

Asylum has done the occasional good film, in addition to "Omega," they've done "The Beast of Bray Road," and a rehash of "War of the Worlds." These weren't bad films. Regretfully, instead of putting out material of that caliber, we're stuck with AVH type films.

Who is to blame? Easy, the producers. They pump the money in, they're the one's that ultimately sign off on these films.

Matt/David
www.myspace.com/mattdavidfilms

[–] tim_cantebury 16 years ago

yes put the blame on all the producers and not the guys who just want to make a quick buck.

[–] ScreamTooLate 16 years ago

I actually sent a script into Asylum. Its called The Man in the Chair..

Its about a guy, that sits in a chair and stairs at a wall for an hour and a half. They bought it from me for $35. And have already asked me to write the sequal. Same guy, this time the wall was JUST painted, and its a different color than the 1 in the first movie.

I have a feeling it will do better than the rest of their *beep*

You know, thats one thing i hate about Netflix. I see, I Am Omega.. and i to was thinking.. this might be entertaining. and i love Mark Dacascos. And then i find its by ASSylum when i get it. Oh my god.

B-Horror King

[–] regulus7000 16 years ago

Is this a joke? Or did they actually purchase this?

[–] moviewizguy 16 years ago

Great! I love to write scripts! And I love to see my stuff on screen (if I win AND I've NEVER ever seen my stuff on screen). I really hope this work because I'm excited to write one right now. It has been so long since I've written a script (well, maybe like a month ago) but I really don't have a lot of time. BUT, since it'll end like on April, I have the time! And believe it or not, I have NEVER submitted a script to anyone so I'm not sure if mine are that great (got some good comments from my friends). I'm so excited!!!

[–] moviewizguy 16 years ago

Oh, I was like one click away to send a script to Asylum because I know that it would be better than most of their movies. However, I sent an email to ask them if they would pay for it but they never answered. Seeing that they ripped off movies, I could send my fan script (Final Destination 4) to them so they can intentially change the title so it could rip off Final Destination.

[–] moviewizguy 16 years ago

Are there any restrictions?

[–] junttijoe 16 years ago

moviewizguy, you should do it.
I think I read once that Asylum pays about 2% of the movie's final budget for the writer. Seeing how they usually make really low budgeted movies you could get 2000-4000 dollars if you're lucky.

Just make sure that you're not a member of WGA.

[–] moviewizguy 16 years ago

^^Lol/ I heard studios are actually holding contests for writing scripts...does that actually mean...not-known writers will have a chance to actually become a writer?! I like the WGA for that thing...but I would really like to see Desperate Housewives and Heroes to be back on...still, I love reality tv shows.

[–] AcidHypnosis 16 years ago

So whatever happened with this?

[–] Leader_Of_The_Sandbox 16 years ago

LOL!

I guess he quit on the project. . . .

Whitearachnia's Lair
http://z11.invisionfree.com/Whitearachnias_Lair/index.php?act=idx

[–] moviewizguy 16 years ago

He did seem to quit on this project. Good thing I never had the time to write at least one page of it.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] LaserPoint 16 years ago

I think he has quit on the project, if you check his youtube page you will notice that he has wiped everything to do with AVH & his project.

[–] moviewizguy 15 years ago

5000 years later...

[–] Emperor_Torgo 15 years ago

Even if the contest is dead, I intend to seriously write a screenplay in the mindset (aka infantile) of Asylum. I'm going to make it "coincidentally" coincide with the release of JJ Abrams's "Star Trek". Brace yourselves for the Asylum-laden crapfest known as "SPACE TREK"!

Featuring the knighted Sir Bezecny as Captain Jacob Tiberius Girk.

[–] moviewizguy 15 years ago

bumping this up for a good reason: Keepin' it alive!

[–] m_chubbs 14 years ago

Did you have a Youtube account
and put up that this film was the worst ever?
Or is this someone else o.o

Guinea Pigs :-)

[–] Electrical1 14 years ago

He quit on this project ages ago, and to my knowledge, he didn't even began filming, let alone start pre-production or write a script or even cast actors for that matter. He may well claim that money and time structuring were the reasons for the calculation, but in my opinion; I think he just got beat.

[–] CamberwickGreen 12 years ago

I think he should have used that guy's "Man in chair" concept.

You know, before it was turned into the movie "Buried". ;-)

[–] adamoconnell 14 years ago

great, I've always wanted a post like this

Amazing!

[–] moviewizguy 14 years ago

A post like what? Keeping the dead thread alive? It's like beating a dead horse.

[–] adamoconnell 14 years ago

oh yeah, sorry about that.

i didn't read the other ones until after i posted my one!

[–] moviewizguy 14 years ago

No, I really don't mind. I love the fact that this thread is still going.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] moviewizguy 13 years ago

And on and on and on...

[–] magic_rem 12 years ago

Hi guys

[–] Destroyah22 11 years ago

Dude even though he's not interested, with things like kickstarter, we could still do this... i make costumes ad have a makeup artists, *beep* we got gt half of etsy involved

i watch waaay to many movies >.<