Adam Best
@adamcbest.bsky.social
Screenwriter. 2023 & 2024 Black List. Arrowhead Addict Podcast Host. Lefty politics. Ex-startup guy. Past: FanSided Founder. Rep: Heroes and Villains
The average length of a Coen Bros feature is right under 100 minutes. If they can tell their epics without going 2 and a half or 3 hours, basically everyone can. 95% of the time there's just no reason for a movie to be over 2 hours give or take.
October 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
The average length of a Coen Bros feature is right under 100 minutes. If they can tell their epics without going 2 and a half or 3 hours, basically everyone can. 95% of the time there's just no reason for a movie to be over 2 hours give or take.
Thriller spec sale. Husband/wife team behind DROP. Theory: it's easier to sell spec No. 2, 3, 4, etc. than No. 1 because you've been vetted by the industry. A proven commodity. That takes nothing away from the talent of the writers (congrats!!!). Just kind of a cover-your-ass industry. #scriptsky
‘Drop’ Team Reuniting On Netflix Thriller ‘Blink Of An Eye’
'Blink of an Eye,' a thriller spec from the husband-and-wife writing team of Chris Roach & Jillian Jacobs, has sold to Netflix, Deadline has learned.
deadline.com
September 19, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Thriller spec sale. Husband/wife team behind DROP. Theory: it's easier to sell spec No. 2, 3, 4, etc. than No. 1 because you've been vetted by the industry. A proven commodity. That takes nothing away from the talent of the writers (congrats!!!). Just kind of a cover-your-ass industry. #scriptsky
First spec sale in about 3 weeks (that has been announced). Mini-slump is over after a hot streak. Rom-coms are selling like hotcakes. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/09/sas-...
New Line Acquires Rom-Com Spec From Writers Sas Goldberg & Ana Nogueira; Jason Orley Eyeing To Direct
Sas Goldberg & Ana Nogueira have sold an untitled rom-com spec to New Line, with Jason Orley eyeing to direct on the heels of 'I Want You Back.'
deadline.com
September 17, 2025 at 8:02 PM
First spec sale in about 3 weeks (that has been announced). Mini-slump is over after a hot streak. Rom-coms are selling like hotcakes. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/09/sas-...
Black List script THUMB gets picked up. Good to see a typically slow month get so much business going. Crossing my fingers that this means a big fall for screenwriters. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/mill...
Milly Alcock Sets Dark Comedy ‘Thumb’ With Akiva Goldsman’s Weed Road Pictures & Bluestone Entertainment
House of the Dragon and Supergirl actor Milly Alcock will star in Daina Oniunas-Pusić's dark comedy movie Thumb.
deadline.com
August 28, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Black List script THUMB gets picked up. Good to see a typically slow month get so much business going. Crossing my fingers that this means a big fall for screenwriters. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/mill...
4th spec sale of the week — about Kobe Bryant. As someone who's had two Black List scripts wind up in sports rights hell, doing something like this on spec is tricky... but can get you noticed or even sold with some luck. Hollywood loves a good sports story. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/kobe...
Kobe Bryant Feature Project ‘With The 8th Pick’ From Alex Sohn & Gavin Johannsen Lands At Warner Bros
The spec screenplay With the 8th Pick, about the behind-the-scenes 1996 NBA drafting of Kobe Bryant, has landed at Warner Bros.
deadline.com
August 25, 2025 at 1:29 AM
4th spec sale of the week — about Kobe Bryant. As someone who's had two Black List scripts wind up in sports rights hell, doing something like this on spec is tricky... but can get you noticed or even sold with some luck. Hollywood loves a good sports story. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/kobe...
Another spec sale. 3rd this week. Action romcom. Awesome seeing all this action around original material. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/blak...
Blake Lively To Star In & Produce Lionsgate Action Rom-Com ‘The Survival List’ Based On Tom Melia Spec
Blake Lively will star in and produce 'The Survival List,' a new rom-com coming together at Lionsgate, Deadline can confirm.
deadline.com
August 22, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Another spec sale. 3rd this week. Action romcom. Awesome seeing all this action around original material. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/blak...
Second spec sale in 24 hours! Erotic thriller. #scriptsky
New Regency Lands Erotic Thriller Spec ‘Fixation’ From ‘Wednesday’s Erika Vazquez & Siena Butterfield; Made Up Stories Producing
New Regency has acquired 'Fixation,' an erotic thriller spec from 'Wednesday' scribes Erika Vazquez and Siena Butterfield.
deadline.com
August 20, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Second spec sale in 24 hours! Erotic thriller. #scriptsky
Hot spec sale. Will Dunn's THE PIRATE. He also wrote the Black List script THE PEASANT, which was kinda like period piece John Wick. Enjoyed that one for sure. Good to see things keep moving. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/jaso...
Jason Momoa-David Leitch Package ‘The Pirate’ Lands At Amazon MGM Studios
Jason Momoa and David Leitch are in talks to produce the action pic 'Pirate'
deadline.com
August 20, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Hot spec sale. Will Dunn's THE PIRATE. He also wrote the Black List script THE PEASANT, which was kinda like period piece John Wick. Enjoyed that one for sure. Good to see things keep moving. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/jaso...
Screw Myers-Briggs. The real personality test is your Letterboxd top 4. #scriptsky
August 19, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Screw Myers-Briggs. The real personality test is your Letterboxd top 4. #scriptsky
Third spec sale of the week! This one had 11 freaking offers. I share this shit to keep our spirits up. There are reasons to be hopeful, and the industry will need strong original feature stories to keep audiences showing up at the theater — and even streaming. #scriptsky
Searchlight Wins Bidding War For Psychological Thriller Spec ‘Incidents’ From William Gillies
'Incidents,' a thriller spec from 'Hallow Road's William Gillies, has sold to Searchlight following heated bidding, Deadline has learned.
deadline.com
August 15, 2025 at 8:46 PM
Third spec sale of the week! This one had 11 freaking offers. I share this shit to keep our spirits up. There are reasons to be hopeful, and the industry will need strong original feature stories to keep audiences showing up at the theater — and even streaming. #scriptsky
Geeking out about HIGHEST 2 LOWEST. Love Spike. Am a Denzel stan. And this is a Kurosawa remake. Been almost 20 years since these two worked together! INSIDE MAN was one of my favorite movies from the aughts.
August 13, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Geeking out about HIGHEST 2 LOWEST. Love Spike. Am a Denzel stan. And this is a Kurosawa remake. Been almost 20 years since these two worked together! INSIDE MAN was one of my favorite movies from the aughts.
Specs are selling again after summer vacay hibernation. This is the second of the day announced. A comedy. The Naked Gun effect??? Anyway, good to see biz happening. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/sony...
Sony Buys Shipley Brothers’ Comedy Screenplay ‘This Could Be Our Night’
Wrecked creators Justin and Jordan Shipley's comedy screenplay This Could Be Our Night has sold in a pre-emptive sale to Sony.
deadline.com
August 11, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Specs are selling again after summer vacay hibernation. This is the second of the day announced. A comedy. The Naked Gun effect??? Anyway, good to see biz happening. #scriptsky deadline.com/2025/08/sony...
What movie taught you how to curse? For me, it was BEVERLY HILLS COP.
August 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
What movie taught you how to curse? For me, it was BEVERLY HILLS COP.
Spec script market seems to have cooled off. Probably just because execs/producers are all on vacay this time of year and reps are waiting to send things out to market. We're waiting to send something out right now. Shocking how much of the year is a bad time to send things out. #scriptsky
August 1, 2025 at 10:59 PM
Spec script market seems to have cooled off. Probably just because execs/producers are all on vacay this time of year and reps are waiting to send things out to market. We're waiting to send something out right now. Shocking how much of the year is a bad time to send things out. #scriptsky
The biggest grift in entertainment right now is to label your project "anti-woke."
July 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The biggest grift in entertainment right now is to label your project "anti-woke."
Action comedy spec set up at Amazon. 🔥 #scriptsky
Ryan Gosling, Will Ferrell Teaming for Action Comedy ‘Tough Guys’ at Amazon MGM Studios
Daniel Gold penned the script as a spec about two henchmen who "break free from the criminal underworld and rewrite the rules as they abandon their ruthless boss and dodge the elite assassin on their ...
www.hollywoodreporter.com
July 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Action comedy spec set up at Amazon. 🔥 #scriptsky
Think confidence is the most underrated part of screenwriting. Listen to your favorite rappers and how they express their message — there’s no half-stepping. Being assured and bold convinces readers they’re in safe hands. #scriptsky
July 16, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Think confidence is the most underrated part of screenwriting. Listen to your favorite rappers and how they express their message — there’s no half-stepping. Being assured and bold convinces readers they’re in safe hands. #scriptsky
Screenwriting is a dense lattice of micro-decisions. Thousands of word choices conveying hundreds of plot choices. And because movies are as much about what you leave out as what you leave in, every decision really counts. #scriptsky
July 16, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Screenwriting is a dense lattice of micro-decisions. Thousands of word choices conveying hundreds of plot choices. And because movies are as much about what you leave out as what you leave in, every decision really counts. #scriptsky
The peach allergy sequence from PARASITE is so face-melting that it relegates CALL ME BY YOUR NAME to the movie with the second most memorable peach.
July 16, 2025 at 12:17 AM
The peach allergy sequence from PARASITE is so face-melting that it relegates CALL ME BY YOUR NAME to the movie with the second most memorable peach.
Thank you, Sam! I agree that reading screenplays is vital. I was stuck in the mud before I started reading a ton of Black List scripts + spec scripts that sold. Really gave me a ton of insight on what was resonating with reps and producers. You’re kinda flying blind without that intel. #scriptsky
BO KNOWS INFINITY - @adamcbest.bsky.social
A perfectly paced, fresh innovation on the time loop movie that truly feels like it touches on nearly every genre to extremely satisfying results.
#Scriptsky
#SpecScriptShoutout
A perfectly paced, fresh innovation on the time loop movie that truly feels like it touches on nearly every genre to extremely satisfying results.
#Scriptsky
#SpecScriptShoutout
July 14, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Thank you, Sam! I agree that reading screenplays is vital. I was stuck in the mud before I started reading a ton of Black List scripts + spec scripts that sold. Really gave me a ton of insight on what was resonating with reps and producers. You’re kinda flying blind without that intel. #scriptsky
There's a huge correlation between classic movies and classic scores. Distinctive theme music that meshes perfectly with the story is a secret weapon.
July 13, 2025 at 10:06 PM
There's a huge correlation between classic movies and classic scores. Distinctive theme music that meshes perfectly with the story is a secret weapon.
Somehow plants and payoffs are still an undervalued part of screenwriting. How can I make this action/line/prop multipurpose? How can I bring it back later for a bigger bang (perhaps multiple times)? We get so cause/effect focused that we can forget the job is bringing things full circle. #scriptsky
July 13, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Somehow plants and payoffs are still an undervalued part of screenwriting. How can I make this action/line/prop multipurpose? How can I bring it back later for a bigger bang (perhaps multiple times)? We get so cause/effect focused that we can forget the job is bringing things full circle. #scriptsky
Reposted by Adam Best
a new clipse album and a tiny desk? happy fri-yay indeed
July 11, 2025 at 11:24 AM
a new clipse album and a tiny desk? happy fri-yay indeed
Universal was so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
July 6, 2025 at 4:47 AM
Universal was so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
My big takeaway from the NYT insider and readers top 100 movies of the past 25 years poll is that we overindex drama and penalize action to some extent when it comes to “best” lists.
July 3, 2025 at 6:11 AM
My big takeaway from the NYT insider and readers top 100 movies of the past 25 years poll is that we overindex drama and penalize action to some extent when it comes to “best” lists.