The aspiring screenwriter ("Justin") walks in to the office of the lower level studio exec ("Rob").
Rob: So, Justin, Mr. Brooks says that you have a screenplay that we'd find interesting.
Justin: Yeah, Mr. Brooks fell in love with the idea.
[Note: Mr. Brooks is Justin's father-in-law and the head of the studio. Mr. Brooks thinks that Justin is a moron and that his daughter, Trudy, is even more of a moron for marrying him.]
Rob: So tell me about it.
Justin: Well, it's kind of like Slaughterhouse Five meets Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. You know, the satire of Vonnegut meets the fantasy of Douglas Adams.
Rob: But those guys are novelists, not screenwriters.
Justin: EXACTLY! That's what makes this so exciting!
Rob: Story?
Justin: Aliens contact the United States. Turns out that the alien planet is very friendly and easy going. But the US President thinks he's missing something and authorizes an attack on the alien planet. There are some other side stories taking place on the alien planet, etc. The main character is an aide to the President. There's action, space travel, humorous subplots, it's a fun read, er, story.
Rob: Sounds more like a novel than a screenplay.
Justin: That's why this is so innovative.
Rob: Sounds like a winner. Let's make a movie!
Justin: Great, thanks!
Rob: I'll give you a call to network and talk about leads.
Justin: I'm thinking Brad Pitt.
[Justin departs. Rob throws the screenplay on the top of a pile three feet high and forgets about it. He never hears from Mr. Brooks who thinks Justin is a moron.]
First Contact is a fun read. If you like Vonnegut and Douglas Adams, you'll really enjoy First Contact. The satire is not nearly as biting as Vonnegut, but Vonnegut was, of course, brilliant. If you do not like Sci Fi, you will hate First Contact. If you want a "serious" read, you will hate First Contact. If you like short fun reads, give it a try.
Live long, read and prosper. We'll leave the lights on for you.
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