Spec Script Deal: “I Can See You’re Angry”

Miramax acquires comedy spec script “I Can See You’re Angry” written by Brandon Cohen. Via Deadline:

In a competitive situation, Miramax has landed the hot spec I Can See You’re Angry from writer Brandon Cohen. Barbarian producer BoulderLight Pictures will produce the comedy. The studio beat out several suitors for the spec.

Plot details being kept under wraps, but the spec is described as a high-concept R-rated comedy in the vein of Wedding Crashers and There’s Something About Mary.

This deal has a special meaning for me. In 2012, I ran something called The Quest Initiative:

I will be looking to work with up to four writers in a 24-week Screenwriting Master Class intensive [The Quest] in which they will learn my comprehensive theoretical approach to the craft, then put that knowledge to use prepping and writing a full-length screenplay.

The cost? Nothing.

That’s right, a 6-month deep immersion in screenwriting theory and scriptwriting workshop where you end up with an original screenplay with me as your mentor for the entire process, and you don’t have to spend even a dime.

And if at the end of the process you have written a great script… you will have direct access to industry insiders.

I ended up working with six writers and one of them was Brandon Cohen! Over the years, we stayed in touch during his journey in the film and television business. Writing gigs on Disney Channel sitcoms. An indie film Fade to Black based on a script Brandon wrote discovered on the Black List website. Through all the peaks and valleys of Brandon’s foray into the entertainment business, he demonstrated one of the most important screenwriter qualities: persistence. He kept writing … and writing … and writing.

And fully 13 years after we worked together in The Quest, Brandon hit it big with his spec script “I Can See You’re Angry.”

As soon as I saw the Deadline article, I emailed Brandon and he got right back to me. We had a nice email exchange catching up on his career. Brandon wrote to say I could reference his Quest experience. Here is what he wrote to me yesterday:

Funny enough, I was actually just mentioning The Quest two weeks ago when I got lunch with a production guy from Fade To Black who’s trying to be a writer. The guy asked me how I learned to write scripts since I didn’t go to film school and I spent my first few years out of college working regular desk jobs, and I told him about The Quest and how it was basically my crash course film school. So, I’m definitely grateful to you and that experience for giving me my foundation as a screenwriter, and I haven’t looked back since.

Apart from me landing a gig or selling a spec, the thing which brings me the most creative joy is when one of my students, blog followers, writer, actor, director, or producer clients has success in the business as a result of their writing. It’s gratifying to know I have contributed in some small way to their career accomplishments.

So, congratulations, Brandon, 2013 Quest Alumnus!

Brandon is repped by Ranged Media Partners.

By my count, this is the 2nd spec script deal in 2025.

There was 1 spec script deal year-to-date in 2024.

For more information on The Quest, go here.