Screenwriting : InkTip.com website is it helpful? by Lendell Wallace

InkTip is another great way to market your script and it's affordable. I was able to option my first script through that site within 5 months. I'd also suggest signing up for their preferred weekly newsletter. They'll email leads to you every week. My latest script has been up for 6 months now and I've had very little activity. Just goes to show that you can't rely solely on the site for exposure. You still gotta cold query and make phone calls to get your work out there. S32 is also a great way to network. But as far as InkTip...yeah, I'd recommend it. They're good people.

Agreed, they are good people at InkTip.

Thanks Jason & CJ for the info on Ink Tip, I was just trying to do research on them. I may check them out and see if I get some bites.

Two friends of mine received representation through Ink Tip. Admittedly their screenplay won their category in Page last year but it was through Ink Tip that they were approached.

Thanks CJ, I will post my Logline on their ASAP.

Lendell, if you follow the link and use that code I think you can submit your script to that prodco for free.

Thanks again CJ, if my screenplay makes it, I will get you some free movie tix. LOL

I'll be first in line, Lendell :)

Let me know if you get any more Christian based companies CJ looking for christian screenplays.

I've used INKTIP many times before. Have had my loglines and synopses read but no luck yet, however they offer some great links and tips in screenwriting, loglines ect. Bit pricey $$$ but if you can afford it try it for a while. Good luck.

I too have used InkTip a couple of times, and have had several logline views, but only one script download. Kind of disappointing response with InkTip lately. There are many other options to use that seem better. Good luck Lendell with your script.

Thanks you too Ron.

The thing about InkTip is it's honest, you know exactly how many people are looking and who. The response is always going to be subject to the material you upload.

I would have to agree with CJ. Bob

I've had a handful of views for my logline but no requests for my script which tells me a lot about how my logline is doing (not that great). This info forces me to re-evaluate my logline and create a new one every six weeks so that it goes back to the top of the heap. This is extremely helpful for teaching me how to write better loglines and to get to the real core of my story. I highly recommend InkTips not just as a vehicle for being discovered but as a unstructured course in how to be a better writer.

You should listen to Ashley Scott Meyers latest podcast, he interviews Brian Young, and he talks about how he got started, and to date he has sold or optioned 30-40 scripts through InkTip alone. So I'd say it is really worth it, if you have the right material. He also talks about how even when people request his scripts - you can start building a database, and keep in contact with them. Making connections and keeping those relationships, even if this time it didn't work, they may need you for something in the future.

How can I listen to the podcast Ami?

Lendell, Here is a link to The SYS #32 on YouTube. http://youtu.be/A8VtDNbps_M You might also want to listen to episode #28. Another InkTip success story. http://youtu.be/VbE3QgAd8Ws Otherwise, you can find all the podcasts on ITunes.

Thx Jason.

Jason when your script on Inktip got optioned, did you put your full script on there or just the first 15 pages?

I uploaded the full script. There's no reason not to. Be sure to follow the suggestions that the site gives you on attracting attention. Basically, if you're not getting enough logline views, change it up. Logline views but little synopsis views, change it up. The tutorials are all in there. Best of luck!

Thanks for the info Jason, this is good to know. I will post any good future good news for me.

Also worth pointing out that you can list short scripts on InkTip for free, I've had a couple picked up this year via this route.

I have used Ink Tip to find script that fit my needs for a project, so far I have used 5 writers, , of course Im a Director/Producer but I can be very nerror and still find work I may want to use, Great Place, I go often,

That is good to know Tony, thanks for the info.

Basically, InkTip = good people. I’ve moved a couple of scripts through them. Be careful with posting your shorts though. I’ve had so many requests for short scripts from an awful lot of inexperienced students – I really hate to see an award winning script go to waste.

Don't be too quick to dismiss those students, Doug. They can have some remarkable backgrounds.

And who know's what today's student could do tomorrow?

I don’t dismiss students at all. I give local students on set experience on all my productions. One example is a young man with no experience who is now one of the better steady-cam operators in the NW. I’ve brought on student directors; some good, some not so good. I teach screenwriting and mentor students all the time. I have scripts that I’ve written for student production and I have award winning scripts that call for greater production experience. I freely share scripts with students and I will freely share the award winning scripts with those a bit more capable but I will not waste a more complex script with those who have not yet become capable filmmakers (unless they’re local & I can work with ‘em.) I have no idea what the present day students will be capable of tomorrow – I just teach, encourage, guide and mentor those that I can today.

Doug, I am aware of your dedication to students. I wouldn't want to imply otherwise :) I was just rather shocked when I researched a student that came to me via InkTip.

Hello Lendell, I had a couple of scripts posted on Inktip and got a few reads myself. They are good people and provide a lot of helpful resources on their website. They seem to have more Independent producers synced in to their website, which didn't really fit with what I generally wrote. I suggest giving them a few months try and see what turns up. I also suggest VPF as well. I bought some pitches from them and got two reads instantly.

I saw some of the success stories on the Inktip website, I saw that Cube vision Ice Cube's company used them to get a script.

Three company's viewed my logline, two said freelance, not sure what that's about?

Remember, those are just logline hits. Doesn't mean much until you get synopsis hits and script readings. It's exciting, I know but the logline hits are just companies browsing around.

I appreciate the info Jason, I have not had any synopsis hits and script readings yet, of course, I have six months left to go so I will have to be patient. If I don't get any, then at least I tried.

Jason when your script got optioned, did you put a logline on Inktip?

Yes, along with the synopsis and complete screenplay.

Thanks Jason this is encouraging.

John, I think that’s absolutely the case. Every producer I know (including me) is looking for stories/scripts that have wide audience appeal and are economically producible. If your script falls into that category – InkTip is one of the better places to expose it.

I agree w/doug. I had script requested twice by INKTIP. Contained, horror only, but thats as far as it went. I kind lost faith in INKTIP. I'm going to start blasting QUERY LETTERS to different producers and agents. Lets see how that works out. LENDELL, sign up for IMDBpro, it's free for 15 days. There you can copy and paste lots of names and address of production comapany's. Thanks to JOEY (HAppy Writers) I found Ashley Scott from Selling YourScreenplay.com and I've received great (FREE) advice. Check him out and good luck to ALL STAGERS-Screenwriters !!!

Lendell, I did Inktip (logline, synopsis, full script) for a couple of years on varied projects. As Jason mentioned, logline and synopsis viewings are exciting, but not forward-advancing. Karen noted correctly that if your logline is consistently not leading to a synopsis viewing, you should tweak. If your synopsis is not leading to a download, then there is some disconnect between your marketing materials, as they were already interested enough to make that 2nd step, so why didn't they download ..? I did have some contact with folk, but I have since found that contests have been the best tools, for me. -- Winning the Bronze in PAGE last year got me much more interest than any site. I have a new contained Horror script that has had 2 Finalist standings this season (and just got Semi today at Shriekfest, tyverymuch), and each time it enables me to send out a subject line of "PAGE Award winner's new contained Horror script advances to ..." So, more e-mails opened there. Inktip is a very friendly source, however, and their newsletter is indeed, worthwhile. Best to you, and success, please.

Jeffrey, basically we’re singing the same tune. Producers seek scripts awarded winning/finalist standing because they feel confident that the contests have at least analyzed the script in terms of its format and technical layout – in other words, it’s at least readable. Not that many localized Indie Producers have the capability of following all the contests around the country/world and that’s where InkTip comes to the fore. It’s a one-stop-shopping source available to Indie Producers and that’s where mentioning that you have an award winning script available on opens a few eyes. If you really believe that your script is so good – then spend a few dollars to promote it (put your money where your mouth is.) I wish that InkTip could/would limit the scripts they post to only those having some laurel leaf medallions, but I realize that won’t happen.

You might want to listen to this latest podcast... Kraig Wenman has sold or optioned 48 scripts using InkTip... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1TsaUAo-oo