Input for Pool Screenplay

P

PoolWriter

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I am currently writing a screenplay involving one of my favorite sports, pool. It's a mix between "The Hustler" and "The Usual Suspects"

What I am looking for are some good stories involving hustlers, hustling, scams, bar stories, tricks etc.

I want to have some good road player stories. These could be true or could be rumors, I'm just looking for situations that will make intersting scenes.

Thanks for your help

Kevin
 
Good Luck on your screenplay.

If you are going to include other people's stories, fine, just make sure they get credit.

If you don't know enough about:
"What I am looking for are some good stories involving hustlers, hustling, scams, bar stories, tricks etc."

I would suggest doing some "first hand" research.

Are you writing this screenplay for an audience of pool players or movie fans?
 
Got a name for it yet?

One reference source would be to obtain some of the pool books that are currently available. A search on this forum under "book" may provide some good leads (IMO).

A screenplay is going to require some good actors who can actually shoot pool. I always thought it would be a challenge to see pool real time on stage, but the possibilities are endless as far as entertainment. ;)

Good luck, and keep us posted on how it's going. :)

JAM
 
Clarification

Screenplay is a term for a script for film. So basically I am writing a script in hopes that one day it would be a movie. This is something that would not be on a theater stage, although that is an interesting concept.

Any stories used in this screenplay, I would most definitely give credit to all people involved. If this ever becomes a movie, technical consultation would be necessary. Although I shoot a good game, I'm sure I 'm nowhere near as good as most of you.

Any books, web sites etc. would be helpful too. Although I do like to hear some of the crazy shots, weird scams and funny circumstances that happen in a pool hall/bar at night over a few drinks.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
Good Luck on your screenplay.

If you are going to include other people's stories, fine, just make sure they get credit.

If you don't know enough about:
"What I am looking for are some good stories involving hustlers, hustling, scams, bar stories, tricks etc."

I would suggest doing some "first hand" research.

Are you writing this screenplay for an audience of pool players or movie fans?
Click to expand...

This screenplay is for both. I know a lot of people who liked "The Hustler" even though they didn't know how to play pool. Hopefully pool players will read this (or maybe see it on the screen one day) and say, "I've been there" or "that's accurate" or "that scene reminds me of a time when..."

I have written the first draft. About 75 pages. The typical movie screenplay is 120 pages. The rest of my screenplay will be devoted to character dialogue and character relationship development. Some more action scenes of pool, hustling, etc. So far there are a lot of twists inside one big twist. Still got a lot of work to do on it.

So any individual stories I might get from this posting will help
 
Well, Well, Well,

We’ve touched on something I know a bit about, I retired from the film industry after 25 years of producing and directing; written numerous screenplays, both produced by myself and others; I can tell you why “The Hustle” was a great film; why “The Color of Money” was mediocre; and why “Pool Hall Junkies” bombed.

We might as well deal with “The Hustler” because this is the type screenplay you will have to write to stand a chance of selling it unless you intend to produce the film yourself. It will cost about 15 million dollars today to make a low budget film with low budget actors, since the movie theaters collect .75 cents on each dollar this means the movie has to break 60 million dollars in theater/video/dvd/foreign sales to turn a profit; I didn’t figure in the 3-5 million to promote the film.

Now, let’s get back to “The Hustler” and why it “WORKED”. It was a GREAT screenplay, with GREAT actors AND supporting actors; you said it yourself, EVERYBODY liked this film. Another reason why this film worked is because it was shot in BLACK AND WHITE, I wouldn’t try to get away with that today unless you’re Woody Allen with Gordon Willis doing the photography. Why did BLACK AND WHITE work????????? I’m sorry to say this but pool is a dirty and gritty business and “black and white” is dirty and gritty. Pool is played from the likes of swanky billiard parlors in the upper east side of Manhattan to the dirtiest scum holes where you can get your throat slit for a dime.

Everything I mentioned above is in the below list of Academy Awards for 1961:

Best Actor (nom) Paul Newman
Best Actress (nom) Piper Laurie
Best Adapted Screenplay (nom) Robert Rossen
Best Adapted Screenplay (nom) Sidney Carroll
Best Art Direction (win) Harry Horner
Best Art Direction (win) Gene Callahan
Best Cinematography (win) Eugen Schüfftan
Best Director (nom) Robert Rossen
Best Picture (nom)
Best Supporting Actor (nom) George C. Scott
Best Supporting Actor (nom) Jackie Gleason

Nominated for 11, won 3

Okay,

Let’s assume you write this GREAT screenplay, who’s going to read it?
Do you know someone to send it to who will read it?
If someone reads it will they purchase it? And for how much. If it’s GREAT they might give you a couple of grand just to keep it to themselves, maybe put it on the shelf until the time is right.

Well, that’s Part One; Major Studio Production.

The sequel is Independent Production if you want to listen to it.

Actually, I have a screenplay which I wrote 15 years ago which rotates around King James Rempe; I never brought the matter to his attention because we were obviously busy doing other things; now it is a relic for some future archeologist to find. Maybe for shits and giggles I’ll dig it out of my file cabinet and take it over to show him, I’m sure he’d get a good laugh out of it.

Well, that’s about it; if you think pool is a dirty business WAIT until you get a load of the film industry.

Good Luck to you, I hope you write a GREAT screenplay; pool needs a good kick start again like "The Hustler" gave it.

Oh Yeah, I do not refer anything to anybody. :D

JR
 
Last edited:
DeadAim said:
Well, Well, Well,

We’ve touched on something I know a bit about, I retired from the film industry after 25 years of producing and directing; written numerous screenplays, both produced by myself and others; I can tell you why “The Hustle” was a great film; why “The Color of Money” was mediocre; and why “Pool Hall Junkies” bombed.

We might as well deal with “The Hustler” because this is the type screenplay you will have to write to stand a chance of selling it unless you intend to produce the film yourself. It will cost about 15 million dollars today to make a low budget film with low budget actors, since the movie theaters collect .75 cents on each dollar this means the movie has to break 60 million dollars in theater/video/dvd/foreign sales to turn a profit; I didn’t figure in the 3-5 million to promote the film.

Now, let’s get back to “The Hustler” and why it “WORKED”. It was a GREAT screenplay, with GREAT actors AND supporting actors; you said it yourself, EVERYBODY liked this film. Another reason why this film worked is because it was shot in BLACK AND WHITE, I wouldn’t try to get away with that today unless you’re Woody Allen with Gordon Willis doing the photography. Why did BLACK AND WHITE work????????? I’m sorry to say this but pool is a dirty and gritty business and “black and white” is dirty and gritty. Pool is played from the likes of swanky billiard parlors in the upper east side of Manhattan to the dirtiest scum holes where you can get your throat slit for a dime.

Everything I mentioned above is in the below list of Academy Awards for 1961:

Best Actor (nom) Paul Newman
Best Actress (nom) Piper Laurie
Best Adapted Screenplay (nom) Robert Rossen
Best Adapted Screenplay (nom) Sidney Carroll
Best Art Direction (win) Harry Horner
Best Art Direction (win) Gene Callahan
Best Cinematography (win) Eugen Schüfftan
Best Director (nom) Robert Rossen
Best Picture (nom)
Best Supporting Actor (nom) George C. Scott
Best Supporting Actor (nom) Jackie Gleason

Nominated for 11, won 3

Okay,

Let’s assume you write this GREAT screenplay, who’s going to read it?
Do you know someone to send it to who will read it?
If someone reads it will they purchase it? And for how much. If it’s GREAT they might give you a couple of grand just to keep it to themselves, maybe put it on the shelf until the time is right.

Well, that’s Part One; Major Studio Production.

The sequel is Independent Production if you want to listen to it.

Actually, I have a screenplay which I wrote 15 years ago which rotates around King James Rempe; I never brought the matter to his attention because we were obviously busy doing other things; now it is a relic for some future archeologist to find. Maybe for shits and giggles I’ll dig it out of my file cabinet and take it over to show him, I’m sure he’d get a good laugh out of it.

Well, that’s about it; if you think pool is a dirty business WAIT until you get a load of the film industry.

Good Luck to you, I hope you write a GREAT screenplay; pool needs a good kick start again like "The Hustler" gave it.

Oh Yeah, I do not refer anything to anybody. :D

JR
Click to expand...

JR,

Thanks for the feedback.
I didn't realize that there might be any movie industry folks up here. Lots of good things to think about.

I have a couple connections that I plan on showing this to once I have done 20 rewrites so that it is GREAT not good.

I also figure since I have some experience with actors. I actually write and perform sketch comedy. That I might gets some actors and shoot a scene in digital video (DV) to help sell this thing. Maybe go the Indie route and try and get it distributed. Got to dream right?

Although this movie involves pool and some interesting people who play the game, it really isn't about the game. One could argue that (please nobody get mad at me) "The Hustler" really wasn't about pool. It was about, as George C. Scott put it "character." Eddie didn't develop character until he lost someone that he actually cared about.

This screenplay involves a father and son's relationship. A Jim Croce "Cats in the Cradle." All the good stuff. Revenge. Loss. Love. Evil. Lots of back stabbing and swindling. Very dark. -- so you are correct, just like the movie industry!

Some good pool playing as well.


Thanks

Kevin
 
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