Insidious

The response to the script for Insidious (originally titled The Further) was one of those rare times when unanimous praise comes flowing back. Screenwriters are not used to this - one frustrating aspect of the job that anyone aspiring to do it needs to become accustomed to is the ritual of “notes” (sometimes called “thoughts”). The film industry is filled with people who believe it is their job to save the screenwriters work and will immediately flood you with their ideas on what’s wrong with your script and how their genius can fix it - these are the aforementioned “notes”. Insidious was one those unicorns where the notes were minimal and readers found it compelling. The first actors who were approached signed on quickly (another rarity) and the film came together at lightning speed. Unlike with the first Saw movie, I was able to enjoy the whole experience a bit more and see it for what it was. The first screening of the film at the Toronto Film Festival was a magical night and before the sun came up the next day, the film had sold to Sony. I still look back on this time in my life with fondness. I had just married Corbett and we had bought a home in Los Angeles that we had fallen in love with. Sometimes in life, we don’t know how good we have it until we look back later. I was able to enjoy minute of the Insidious experience.