Perhaps you read the headline recently, "Sony Pictures Teams With Mattel To Fashion Film Franchise Based On Barbie Toyline." 

That's right, they are going to make a movie based on a f-ing doll. I know they're gonna hire screenwriter(s) and they are gonna write a cute little story, blah blah... Folks, people, this isn't good news, it's another stone on the dog shit pile.

I know, this is a big win for Sony. It's a franchise and a potential tentpole and whatever...

It's just one more nail in the coffin for real, edgy, creative, innovative storytelling. Studios do not want something new.  No one in Hollywood wants to be the first to try something. They want to be the second, third, fourth, to follow a winning formula. They want a franchise that is safe and comes with a built-in consumer base. They want comic-book franchises and now dolls.

Consider this from the article:

"Studios prize franchises more than ever, and it is particularly a priority at Sony. The key to turning these brands into successful films..."

Turning "brands" into a movie is what they do now. And with the flop of movies like TRANSCENDENCE -- can't blame them sometimes. 

What it all means to you the struggling screenwriter is it just keeps getting harder; especially if you're the unknown with a spec script to pawn. They (the Studios) don't want what you have to sell.

As independent writers we must all cross our fingers and hope and pray that BARBIE the movie is a gigantic flop for Sony. That is fails miserably and losses so much money they fire everyone (Okay, I don't wish for anyone to be fired, but you undersand my point). The sad reality might be that it will indeed make money and will indeed be a huge winner.

Why? TRANSCENDENCE. That should have been a big movie. The spec script written by Jack Paglen was a Black List script in 2012. It was a good script and the movie I assure you isn't bad. I am throwing down the gauntlet with moviegoers. It seems people today don't want creative storytelling. I predict BARBIE will be big because its dumb down plot will be exactly what our Twittered, Snapchated, Facebookered idiot public can handle. It's what they want!

Let's stop just blaming the Studios for the crap that they develop and sell, its time to point the finger at the simpleton, ignoramus audiences that support crap.

Peace. Out.