Adam Scott Thompson at 2013-11-26 19:00:38:

This is very true, Scott. It was John Truby who, when asked about the importance of concept -- and his answer was like a face-slap -- he said [paraphrasing] "Most screenplays fail at the conceptual level. People send me their scripts and I think, 'You should've sent me the logline first; you could've saved yourself a lot of wasted time and energy.'" Writers don't spend enough time developing or vetting their concept, and testing its possibilities and appeal. I told a fellow writer that I can only write something that bothers me. It can't excite me for just a day or a week, because it's going to take months (or years?) to write and re-write. It's a lot like marriage: Can you still find reasons to get excited about this person after the "honeymoon" is over? And... is there a personal question in the story that you *have* to explore (and answer?) for your own sake? It's analogous to being the hot chick at a party. You don't have to choose the first guy who asks for a dance. You're in a position to choose -- so BE CHOOSY!!!

Malibo Jackk at 2013-11-27 06:30:46:

Lindsay Doran (producer, former studio COO) once mentioned that Dawn Steele (former head of Columbia) told her -- if they buy a script without a great concept, they have nothing. But if they buy a script with a great concept -- even if it has poor execution, it can always be rewritten.

Adam Scott Thompson at 2013-11-27 11:26:43:

I've heard that as well. I guess the reasoning is, even if a script (let's say "Liar, Liar") isn't exceptionally written and yet the concept screams "BOFFO!!!" then you can just keep shoveling different writers' drafts against the barn wall until one sticks.