I try to read as many produced screenplays (in my genre) that are available online but most are later itterations during production, not the original spec script. Anyone have a list - or we can start one!?
Screenwriting : Available original spec scripts online by David Kurtz
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Sounds like a good idea. I feel your pain.
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I agree that it would be helpful, David. The only scripts I have read online are at http://www.imsdb.com/, which of course, is as you said, the edited versions of scripts that were made into movies.
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Very few scripts produced by the studios are written on spec.
I agree, unfortunately, about spec scripts ending up at studios.
If anyone has stumbled on a very early script, it would be great to share the URL. I will look thru my collection. As to the 'studio' issue, I for one, will try to write smaller-budget for small prod co's.
Try simplyscripts.com
Edward, I'm afraid simplyscripts is the same issue, but thanks
My point wasn't about which type of script a writer should write. Since very few scripts produced were written on spec there will be almost none available on line. What scripts written on spec would you like to find?
For example, if certain Happy Writers scripts have advanced to production, they should be available as well as some indie scripts ...
C:\Users\August 2014\Desktop\PETE CURRENT\OTHER SCRIPTS AND SEARCHES\Three Kings (Spoils of War), unproduced draft, by John Ridley.mht (supposedly unproduced draft)
http://www.moviescriptsandscreenplays.com/
http://www.screenplaydb.com/
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http://www.tracking-board.com/category/spec-market/?utm_source=contactol...
You aren't likely to find too many sales drafts online, because studios believe early drafts may have a negative impact on the success of any resulting film... so they sue people who post them or pass them around. A writer I know from online had this happen to her: http://collider.com/fox-scripts-lawsuit-pj-mcilvaine/ Best thing to do is just read the ones out there legally and take into account that they are the shooting scripts.
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No INDIANA JONES script was written on spec. ALIENS was not written on spec. Those were assignments.
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I agree, I like to read scripts for ideas, certainly not format since the format style had changed so much and very recently.
David, what format styes have changed recently?
Comic Sans is the new font of choice.
I have been told from several highly respected competitions and writing services that there is a growing trend toward simplyfied SPEC script formatting. One source to read about it is: http://www.writersstore.com/the-new-spec-style/ . I find that every reader has their own prejudices regarding format - some (and I believe the best of them) concentrate on your content - some seem obsessed with whatever their view of perfect formatting is. My own guess from all this is that whatever makes my script easier to read for an overworked reader is best. ONLY CAPITALIZING CHARACTERS NAMES WHEN FIRST INTRODUCED is an example I can see makes sense. When a gun goes off, wring BANG could be distracting and unnecessary. A few years ago I went to a workshop with Gordy Hoffman (BluCat) and several of the participants were asking format questions. I'll never forget his take on it - it was something like 'if the idea is great and written on a cocktail napkin' etc etc etc. One could always scan ones cocktail napkin and turn it into a PDF! Seriously, for myself, I find that when I'm stuck on a plot point, worrying about format keeps me busy and distracted - not very productive. Again, for myself as an unproduced writer, I am trying to concentrate on discovering great ideas (as great as I can, personally), and keeping those low to medium budget. I keep to the simplest formatting I can. I only enter contests from the top rated companies and ones that offer feedback, and ones that tell you who their readers are, and ones that offer quick turnaround, since if I send off a PDF on Monday, I've already done a rewrite by Thursday. Since my ego tells me I'm not about to win a major contest, I also try to spend more of my $ on script analysis from good people rather than contest feedback - you get more in depth stuff for the $ that way. I also take the advice that spelling and proper grammer counts (and you may have noticed I'm not a great speller) - sloppy work is a turnoff. I use the free Celtx (I love it), but the spellcheck is not very good and is tedious. I also pitch (online) occasionally, but have come to the conclusion that I fell into doing that way to early - not much sense having a great pitch that works if you're not 100% happy with the script. ANYWAY, I think I'm spending all this time pontificating as a distraction from getting back to work! After all, what do I know? I have high dreams and low expectations. Screenplaywriting is the joy of my life (beat) family aside -- and I watch movies differently than I used to which is great fun ...
I was joking about Comic Sans. Sorry.