Deep Down

Since the script for this film was a runner up in the Nichol Fellowship in Screenwriting Competition (among eight chosen from 2,888 entries), it's too bad that the production values do not match the caliber of the writing. The film, however, should not go to waste for this; there are many lessons to be learned. Clearly, for example, aspiring writers and directors will want to avoid the producers of the film, who no doubt turned a good script into a rather raunchy Tanya Roberts fan club flick. It shows what Hollywood can do to good work. There are other lessons to be gleaned: the dialogue and character development do shine through, which is probably why the film won't work for those interested only in seeing Tanya in the raw. The film straddles the offbeat and the soft porn, probably to the point of turning off both of their respective audiences. The film is also a good study for aspiring writers and directors on creating a script for a low-budget first film.