Hollywood Fantasy Draft
Imagine that you are a Hollywood producer and want to make a movie, who would you pick to be your director and actors?
Intrigued? Joel Burman introduced the idea of an “actors and directors draft” in the Open Bar last week and some of you asked us to implement the concept into some fun group activity. I would like to gauge the interest for a Hollywood Fantasy Draft as well as potentially gather more ideas with this post. Actually, Red and I have some extensive experience with this kind of things on message boards from all-time fantasy football teams to hottest chicks tournament, so you have come to the right guys to organize this. What I have in mind is relatively simple and is explained below.
What is a Fantasy Draft?
If you are familiar with fantasy sports, you should have no trouble understanding the concept and can skip this section. For the rest of you, let me briefly explain the concept of fantasy drafting. Everyone who signs up gets to pick an actor or director only when it’s their turn (randomly assigned before the draft starts). If someone has already picked a certain actor or director, he cannot be picked again.
For example, we have 4 players in this draft; Heather, Kai, Red and Ruth (let’s assume this is the draft order). A fictional draft would be:
- Heather drafts Sigourney Weaver
- Kai picks Marion Cotillard
- Red picks Nicole Kidman (notice that Red cannot pick Marion Cotillard because she is off the board!)
- Ruth drafts Gerard Butler
- Ruth picks Christian Bale (notice that the draft order reverses)
- Red drafts Christopher Nolan
- Kai takes Rob Schneider
- Heather takes Brad Pitt
- Heather picks etc…
Very simple right? You are now familiar with the concept of a fantasy draft!
Basic Structure
- Draft one director to direct your movie
- 6 to 10 actors (depending on how many sign up) to play characters in it
- 1 to 2 gender balance: This means that you have to pick at least 1 actress for every 2 actors (or the opposite). Red introduced this rule to prevent Heather from compiling her all-time badass “The Expendable”-type crew.
- Picks are made in the comments: Self-explanatory. Of course, give a brief or not-so brief explanation of why you picked so and so and post pictures if you’d like
- Time limit for picks (24 hours?): Obviously, because this is turn-based and we don’t want it to take 3 months to complete, there will be some type of time-limit for picks. If you miss your turn, simply make your pick when you come back or email us your draft board (the list of people you would like to select if available)
- 20-25 players: Time constraint oblige us to limit the number of people who can participate. More players means more waiting between picks. A reasonable time limit would still be something like 24 hours. Imagine if several players take a few days off and you can see that it could really slow down the progression of the draft.
At the end of the draft, those of you who are interested can blog about what type of movie you would make etc… The possibilities are endless there if you are into it. Most will probably be satisfied arguing about who has the most talented team or the hottest cast so it should also be blog-worthy.
In any case, if you have any more ideas that could be added to this, feel free to discuss those in the comments. One thing that Red and I discussed was adding a cinematographer and a composer to the mix but I’m not really sure… What do you think? Please make sure to spread this via Twitter and Facebook so we have enough people signing up. The sign-up period will be open until Friday, August 13.
Finally, make sure to sign up for this in the comments!
Signed-up (random draft order will be generated before the draft starts):
- Red
- Castor
- Kai
- Travis
- Anna
- Richard
- Joel
- Ripley
- Heather
- Red Beard
- This Guy Over Here
- Fitz
- Marc
- Chris
- Andrew
- Ruth
- Jonathan
- Corey
- Clarabella
- Novroz
- Dan
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71 Comments
“Kai drafts Rob Schneider”??? WTF??? I didn’t get to the top of the HSX league by drafting Rob Schneider!
I have a feeling this will be an awesome draft. Good luck and may the best man win.
Or lady Travis. That would disclude me, as I’m a Ninja, but we’ve got RTM and other lovely ladies out here playing as well.
Yes, let the best PERSON wins!
We need more ladies joining this!
Agreed Ruth! Agreed! Let us represent!
Of course I rocked Sigourney Weaver.
You should have drafted Jo-Go.
Two convo’s yesterday btw, and I annoyingly explained to each person who Jo-Go was as though they should already be privy to this bit of convo.
Are you in Kai?
He will be. Being his internet BFF I’m signing him up.
Oh I’m so in. As long as I get my director I’m good.
Great to have you TJ!
Sounds schweet. I’m in.
Glad to have you aboard Anna
I think cinematographer and composer would be good ideas as well. There are so many great cinematographers and composers that I think having the right one can make or break a movie.
COmposer yes. Cinematographer I can think of specifically three in the head and that’s it.
I like the idea of including cinematographers and such, but it might make it more difficult for some since everyone doesn’t go around following their names…but I like the idea (and YES composers should be included.)
And yeah I’m in.
Yea I think it’s going to be tough for people to grab a composer or a cinematographer. Let’s face it, the fun of it is in picking a director and the actors so I think we will limit ourselves to that.
Shucks. I’ll still pretend Marianelli and Desplat are doing all my scoring.
Agreed!
Count me in, even though I’m a bit dense and had to read the rules three times already, and still have a bemused look on my face. Might just be because it’s late.
Thanks for joining us
I’m of course in and I am expecting to get the first pick since I came up wit the idea =)
Cool, after re-reading your comment, I thought you were a little sarcastic about the idea so glad to have you join in!
I, sir, would like in.
Great!
Consider me a contender, especially since there was a rule created just to prohibit me from my ultimate bad ass action flick.
Don’t you worry, I know enough female action heroines to rock this out!
Oh and thanks for pretend picking Pitt and Weaver. Made my heart smile at this early hour.
Awesome! This wouldn’t have been fun without you
I’m really excited about this. I feel like we’re all giant kids and it makes me so happy!
Can I jump in on this? (Are we limited to actors and directors that are still alive?)
I was thinking about that this morning. What do you think? Glad to have you aboard!
Well, I’m all about bringing people back to life and putting them to work, so I’m for it, but that expands the perimeters so much, that the “reality” of the situation is lost. Fantasy sports leagues are still grounded in the real, which makes them more successful I think, but this is for fun so…
Basically I just argued for both sides. So I’m pretty much useless.
I say bring on the dead though.
There’s enough zombie movies out there that I’d say actor and director regeneration should be plausible.
I can’t promise that I won’t hire a hitman for anybody who drafts Cotillard before me….just saying…
And I say we stick with people still alive. Being able to choose any actor/director in history would make drafting an All-Star cast that much easier.
Or me if someone takes Cameron or Sigourney.
That’s a valid point too though. It does make it a lot more challenging for the living. I take back my former comment and agree with Red now. Sorry Joel.
Yea, I think we will go with living people only. It will allow us to dig deeper and maybe get people to grab some character actors instead of trying to get a bunch of A and B-list personalities.
Of course, you can trade your people after you drafted them
I know because of my obsessive nature I’m gonna regret this, (in the best way possible). But I’m in. Though I’ll admit, I’ve never played a fantasy draft before so someone needs to hold my hand!
Nice! Thanks for joining us TG
Would love to take part in this.
I’m assuming there will be another post outlining the rules and regulations… but do we get to pick people who are only alive, or alive OR dead? Second part: if my actor is alive when we start and dies before its over, do I also get disqualified in the midst of my tears of mourning?
Alive only, as for that unlikely scenario you described, we would assume the actor is still alive
Damn. There go my dreams of a Don Knotts space romance!
Well I pretty much failed in the HSX…This seems easier (I think) I’m game for this one though! Go,See,Talk – read any waiting.
I’m totally on for this!
@ Marc & Chris: Sweet, I added you to the list of participants
I’m flattered that you use me as an example, Castor! I can’t ever play Fantasy Football, but THIS I can do. Sorry I’m so lacking in the HSX thing, sooo much going on lately, but I promise not to drop the ball on this game. For sure I know who won’t be picking GB for his movie… if he joins that is
Me using you as an example was my strategy to get you involved in this muahahahah
Well it worked! Though you really don’t have to do that, no way in heck am I not participating! Then I can brag to my sports-enthusiast colleagues that I have my own fantasy game thing going on!
I know Heather’s representing the Mobsters, but is there any chance I can play too? I promise I’ll be nice, and by promise, I mean LIE.
Absolutely Jonathan, we would be happy to have you! Consider yourself signed up
Yeah Jon!
I think once we get to 20-22 participants, we will get going. The more producers we have, the longer the draft could take and from personal experience, you want this to move rather quickly
This is such a great idea….count me in.
this sounds great Castor….sign me in please
I bet Ruth knows which actor I will use for sure
Count me in.
Oh…I pick JJ Abrams as the director for my ‘untitled’ project.
youve seen him as The Animal. youve seen him as The Hot Chick. youve seen him as The Stapler. Now.. Rob Scheidner is getting drafted by Kai B Parker
Kai B Parker is about to find out…
that this comment sucks
Yes…I’d like to join in the fun Castor!
@ Clarabella, Novroz, Dan: I have you down. We now have 21 players! We will get started shortly. If you are interested in joining, let us know very soon
I just got really nervous.
New post. The draft order has been revealed. The draft starts on Thursday evening!
sign me up… I have to start thinking abt my movie… I wonder if I’ll be hated for doing a modern day recast of Casablanca
Awesome! Thanks for joining us
You will have the 22nd pick.
I would like to sign up if it is not too late. Sounds like fun.
Cheers
Sounds good CS, you will have the 23rd pick. Make sure to check back often
I’d love to join the draft!!!!
Cool Michael, you have the 24th pick
Yaaiii I’m already in the draft. Thank you Castor
Thursday evening is friday morning in my country…assuming that you’re from US
Awesome idea! Combines concepts from my two favorite things… sports and film!
If you’re still willing to accept any more participants, I’d love to be a part of this too! If it’s too late or there’s too may people, I understand. I’ll still enjoy watching how it all unfolds. But if you’re just worried about time issues, I’m off and on the computer pretty often throughout the day and I don’t sleep as much as I should, so my activity level shouldn’t be a problem
We would be happy to have you Ben. You have the 26th pick!
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