LISTS OF NOTE: 11 Rules for Box-Office Appeal

It would be easy to think that Hollywood's obsession with demographics, target audiences and box office success is a relatively recent phenomenon. But as today's List of Note shows, this was the case even in the Golden Age of Hollywood.

Today's List of Note comes from writer-director Preston Sturges, who won the first ever Oscar for Best Screenplay for The Great McGinty in 1941, and is widely credited as the father of the screwball comedy. In it he lists out his 11 rules, which will achieve maximum box office success if closely followed. Like the modern-day movie executive, some of his suggestions are vaguely rational, some offensively shallow, and some just downright bizarre.


Take a gander at the full list here - or failing that, join Charlie Kaufman at one of Robert McKee's seminars...

Daniel

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