LA Screenwriter

Blake Snyder places a lot of emphasis on the title of your script, and I think he’s on to something. If you have a fully developed log line and a well-thought out outline, but still haven’t thought of a good title, it may be because your story isn’t very compelling. This isn’t always the case, of course, but you should never underestimate the value of a good title. A title that catches a reader’s attention, that intrigues them and, ideally, gives them a sense of what your story will be about, is a priceless commodity.

Here are a few great movies that almost suffered the terrible fate of a bad title:

1. $3000 - The original title of Pretty Woman. The movie also had a different, sad ending originally, but that didn’t play well with audiences.

2. Star Beast - This was the original title of Alien. Doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, does it?

3. Anhedonia - This medical term for the inability to feel pleasure was what Woody Allen wanted to call Annie Hall. Other title options suggested by co-writer Marshall Brickman included It Had to be Jew, Anxiety, and Me and My Goy.

read more »