Breaking Bad
Executive Summary
Pass/Consider/Recommend/Highly Recommend
Overview
Genres: The, list, of, genres, for, the, movie, would, be:, drama, crime, thriller, family, and, romance, Note:, Each, genre, only, appears, once, in, return, string)
Setting: Modern day, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Overview: The screenplay has a strong foundation with high originality, engaging characters, and compelling themes. However, improvements in character depth, emotional resonance, and pacing could elevate its impact further.
Themes: Mortality, Desperation, Guilt, Family dynamics, Self-doubt, Crime, Escapism, Terminal illness
Conflict and Stakes: Walter's struggle to keep his criminal activities a secret from his family and the law, while also dealing with the moral implications of his actions. His family's financial future, his own mortality, and the safety of his loved ones all hang in the balance.
Overall Mood: Dark, suspenseful, and morally ambiguous
Mood/Tone at Key Scenes:
- Scene Opening Scene: A sense of dread and foreboding as Walter White drives an RV in an isolated location, wearing only white underwear and a gas mask.
- Scene Walter's Diagnosis Scene: A sense of shock and disbelief as Walter receives his cancer diagnosis.
- Scene Walter's First Cook Scene: A sense of excitement and danger as Walter and Jesse cook their first batch of meth.
- Scene Tuco's Attack Scene: A sense of violence and brutality as Tuco attacks Walter and Jesse.
- Scene Hank's Discovery Scene: A sense of tension and suspense as Hank discovers Walter's secret lab.
Standout Features:
- Unique Hook: The transformation of Walter White from a mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin.
- Plot Twist : The discovery that Walter White has been cooking meth all along.
- Distinctive Setting : The use of the desert as a backdrop for the meth trade.
- Innovative Idea : The exploration of the moral consequences of one's actions in the context of the drug trade.
- Unique Characters : The complex and flawed characters of Walter White, Jesse Pinkman, and Hank Schrader.
- Genre Blend : The combination of drama, crime, and suspense genres.
Comparable Scripts:
Market Analysis
Budget Estimate:$20-30 million
Target Audience Demographics: Adults aged 25-54, fans of drama, crime, and suspense.
Marketability: It has the potential to attract a wide audience and generate buzz due to its compelling characters, gripping storyline, and exploration of universal themes.
It may not have the same mass appeal as other Breaking Bad scripts, but its unique blend of genres and exploration of compelling themes with a diverse cast could generate a niche following.
While it may not be as marketable as the other Breaking Bad scripts, its compelling characters and gripping storyline, as well as its relevance to social themes, could still make it a success.
Profit Potential: High, due to strong appeal to a wide adult audience and potential for award nominations
Scene Level Percentiles
Emotions Elicited Percentiles
This is a rough estimate of how the average intensity of emotions elicited in this script compare to all scripts in the Vault (all genres).
Higher isn't necessarily better. This is FYI.
Writer's Voice
Summary:The writer's voice throughout the screenplay is characterized by a mix of understated naturalism, dark humor, and vivid attention to detail. The dialogue is often snappy and filled with banter, while the narrative and direction focus on the characters' inner thoughts and emotions. This contributes to the overall mood, themes, and depth of the screenplay by creating a sense of realism and authenticity, as well as highlighting the complexities and contradictions of the characters' motivations and actions.
Best representation: Scene 1 - Walt's Mundane Life. Scene 1 best showcases the author's unique voice. The deadpan humor and vivid attention to detail in describing the setting and character actions are evident in this scene. The writer's voice sets the tone for the rest of the screenplay, establishing a sense of dark humor and realism. Moreover, the scene introduces the main character, Walter, in a highly unusual and absurd situation, which immediately captures the reader's attention and reflects the unique voice of the writer.
Memorable Lines:
- Walter White: My name is Walter Hartwell White. I live at 308 Belmont Avenue, Ontario, California 91764. I am of sound mind. (Scene 1)
- Walt: Chemistry is the study of change. (Scene 2)
- Walt: Best-case scenario, with chemo, I'll live another two years. (Scene 6)
- Hank: Meth labs are nasty on a good day -- but when you mix that stuff wrong, you wind up with mustard gas. (Scene 8)
- Walt: Red phosphorus, when heat is applied... oxidizes and yields carbonyl chloride. Phosgene gas. One good whiff of it... (Scene 18)
Explanation: