Comments on: Who Will Help Us Buy The Unpublished Screenplay For Terrence Malick’s ‘The English-Speaker’?

By: rodrigoperez

rodrigoperez — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:32:02 +0000

Guess you don't have that one either, huh?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 07:31:47 +0000

So I tracked down the name of the Malick script that came through the office in the early 90's: "Countryman" (alternately titled "Hungry Heart")

By: rodrigoperez

rodrigoperez — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:18:13 +0000

"it was in Malick's head and not on the page."

generally the case, no? Dude shoots thousands of miles of footage trying to express a deep-seated emotion he's got deep down inside.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 21:07:44 +0000

There are others out there.

When I was working for an international distribution company in the early 90's, we had a Malick script come through. It was more a curiosity at the time -- everyone was very focused on locating the next "Total Recall' or "Basic Instinct." I don't recall the title but as I remember it was about 2 men (brothers perhaps), one wealthy and successful and one broke and homeless. At the time, I loved me some arty drama scripts (I was a big champion of "The Piano" which ultimately found a home elsewhere) but the Malick script was really on the nose and clumsy. If there was a great film there, it was in Malick's head and not on the page.

By: rodrigoperez

rodrigoperez — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:30:16 +0000

Damn, that was fast. Don't forget to scan, save and fwd. 🙂

By: Derf Nurfleberger

Derf Nurfleberger — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:27:33 +0000

Too late, sir. The original first draft (per the ebay seller's online store) and the auction draft have been purchased 🙂

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 17:03:13 +0000

You could try a kick-starter campaign. Ask around twitter for an invite.

By: Derf Nurfleberger

Derf Nurfleberger — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:58:05 +0000

The rights issue with The English-Speaker is more complicated than you've been led to believe. Before his falling out with Geisler and Roberdeau (who were underwriting development of English-Speaker out of pocket), they inherited the rights to the project (they outright own it, not just an option)... They've since had loads of financial trouble and refuse to sell the rights back to Malick, so don't expect to see it any time soon.

That said, thanks for the tip-off. Derf will be acquiring this script :)