Hopscotch Films

I watched a Metro Screen video (Oz Film vs Oz Audience) recently where Troy Lum (of Hopscotch Films)claimed he read a lot of scripts that should never have been written and why can't somebody write something funny or something that young guys would like to see.

Well...

I thought I had a few ideas that were a no-brainer for just this kind of thing, chief of which is turning Hanging at Picnic Rock into a feature. I mean, I've already made a short of it. Which can be a kind of blueprint. They are going to love it! So I called up Hopscotch to see if they would be interested in backing any of them.

So they sent me this:

With each project, we require the submission of a 1-2 page story outline with the following structure before considering the project further:

Act 1: Problem (1-2 paragraphs)
Act 2: Complication (2-3 paragraphs)
Act 3: Solution (1-2 paragraphs)

So I sent them some outlines, and some pictures to wet the appetite. Then I went to the USA.

While I was there I started to think, "hang on, these are the people who made Somersault." That film where nothing much happens to some really annoying kid (like a French film where nothing ever happens)and they think it's good!!! They're not going to want to make a Trash film about Zombies and lesbians killing each other with bad effects.

Sure enough, when I got back I got this;

Thank you for sending through the information requested. The team has now had a chance to read and discuss the story outlines, and unfortunately, they have decided not to consider the films further. I’m afraid this is a pass on for us on HANGING AT PICNIC ROCK.

I’m sorry we’re not able to be involved, but please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding future projects you wish to discuss.

Oh well. It was kind of polite. But they didn't even want to see it? How can you turn down that title alone? Even if you didn't like the story you could just keep the title and write something else. Leigh Whannell loved it! More on that later.

I did ask about reasons why my ideas were rejected but never got anything back. I think they were genius, everyone else thinks they are shit.