NEWS: 41 Hours in Wal-Mart May Lead to Movie Deal

I think we're crying "Boo" more to the movie studios, book publishers, and newspapers than the actual guy. Even the guy thought this was a bad idea, but I guess that's how starved Hollywood is for "new" material.

what i'm more concerned about is the complete and total dependence on wal-mart this teacher seems to have.

First of all, you called the guy "sort of a wuss." If there is some sort of anti-Hollywood commentary in there, I'm missing it. Secondly, where do you get the idea that he thought it was a bad idea?

The people who complain about all the bad ideas that book publishers, Hollywood, Newspapers are free to come up with their own ideas. I think people are crying boo because they are either jealous, not creative enough to have an idea of their own, or too lazy to put their ideas into motion.

What New Line did was offer him a chance to write a proposal. That's hardly the same as throwing 50 million at a Bad News Bear remake.

I think the kid should be congratulated.



[Edited on Mar 31, 2006 by PointBlank]

Because he is. 41 hours is all he could muster? Not that notable in my opinion, though others seem to think otherwise, hence my lamenting those who do.

[Edited on Mar 31, 2006 by AceTracer]

Thank you.

I know someone that spent 49 hours in a WalMart as part of an art piece back in 2001. His zine can be viewed here.

You kids and your opposable thumbs...

Of course you guys are missing that he got an offer to " write a movie proposal," not an offer to make a movie. There's a big difference. He could add whatever he wants to the story. You're also igoring the fact that about 5 people here have linked to movies and tv shows based on a similar stories.

ah i was thinking the same thing...

jennifer connelly

the 41 hours in wal*mart,rewrite.
nobody noticing for hour 1/2 boring...

i see a remake starring nick cannon in the future

[Edited on Apr 02, 2006 by fiendish]

What I'm saying: Sometimes movie studios see someone who they think might be a good a writer/have good ideas and give that person the opportunity to pitch them a story. The story may or may not have anything to do with Walmart. The movie could be about a guy who meets the love of his life in a Walmart. The movie could be about the French Revolution. What I have a problem with is the all-too-predictable urge of people to piss on someone who came up with an idea, acted on it, and is now doing good because of it. It's lame.

I'm inclined to agree. It's the old "Well, anybody could do that" or "I could do that" idea. Well yeah, maybe. But nobody else did; this guy did.

Except, you know, that guy who spent 49 hours in a Walmart.

Its different, and mildly interesting but theres more to movies than that.

Did you ignore EVERYTHING i just wrote?

Not really.

And I'm sure there'll be some dramatic embellishment, should it even be optioned.

And Tom Hanks was just in a movie about a guy who got confined to an airport. It's pretty similar, and that did pretty well.

There could be a message of some sort.

Maybe he'll stay in the store the whole damn week instead of getting tired and bored, or maybe he'll do something important or interesting instead.

Which is precisely the reason we don't need to see it again with different names and backgrounds.

I couldn't tell you the last time I saw a movie that didn't have some thematic (or even plot) similarities to another movie.


Everything important has been said before

Yeah, I'm very hateful, bitter, and jealous person who can't stand the success of others. I could never think of such an amazing movie idea.

How about a former ad executive who retires to ride around the country on a motor cycle cutting down billboards and "seeing what jury will convict him" (paraphrased) as was suggested by an actual ad executive.

Perhaps a someone who makes the world a more interesting place by leaving secret wall tattoos, moss graffiti, secret worlds, adbusted billboards, and other wonders in his wake?

Maybe about a man (Danny Hillis) who felt the future was shrinking and now works to build a mechanical clock to last 10,000 years as a monument to long term thinking.

A light hearted gang of pirate punks who terrorize downtown X and evade the authorities on a homemade hovercraft.

I just don't think being somewhere longer than usual is the basis for a good story even if elaborated. What can he do in a walmart? all the exciting things you can do while trying not to get caught. There are better stories to be told.

[Edited on Apr 02, 2006 by Someguysteve]

Hook up with Jennifer Connelly (or, I guess, whoever currently fills the role of Jennifer Connelly ca. 1991), foil the shenanigans of some crooks, and then get the hell out of the midwest and head to Hollywood. I'll option the film rights for one million dollars and get John Hughes III to write it. Where's my money?