Festival Genius Community

Featuring interviews with James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron, Carrie Fisher, and other screenwriting luminaries, “Dreams on Spec” takes an intimate look at how far people will go – and how much they will sacrifice – to pursue their dreams. This feature-length documentary follows three screenwriters as they struggle against overwhelming odds – and often their families’ disapproval – to turn their scripts into movies. David is a hip talent agent's assistant with three scripts circulating around town. He's plugged into "young Hollywood" - and when he's not working or writing, he's usually hanging out at the beach. Joe is a middle-aged family man who has split time over the last three years between caring for his autistic daughter and writing what he believes could be the Great American screenplay. And Deborah is trying to become one of the few African-American women to ever write and direct a feature film, though she's struggling just to pay her bills while she searches for money to produce her script. These poignant portraits are intercut with wisdom from a “Greek Chorus” of superstar screenwriters like James L. Brooks, Nora Ephron, Gary Ross, Carrie Fisher, Ed Solomon, Larry Karaszewski, Scott Alexander, Paul Guay, and Dennis Palumbo to forge a funny and compelling look at inspiration, creativity, and solitude in Hollywood.