Hi, I may have asked this question before, but the question remains - which film production companies accept unsolicited script queries and can pay for scripts?
I have a few scripts of different genres and will sell one or two to get things going, so I can start making my movies.
There has to be some money out there for screenwriters without representation - where is it?
And please, don't suggest I pay for people's opinions of my scripts... Really not necessary or useful.
Thanks!
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Here's the poster for my horror movie, She Lives Again.
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Hello, Lauran!
When I was looking recently I found these interesting lists. Maybe you will find them useful.
1) https://www.unsolicitedscripts.com/companies-accepting-unsolicited-scrip...
2) https://freshmenscreenplay.com/production-companies-accepting-screenplays/
( For the second, scroll down to the "Unsolicited Queries Welcome" section )
Incidentally, if you type "production companies accepting unsolicited submissions" into the search engine you might actually find a couple. Many of those mostly deal with reality television, but among them, you can find a couple that makes actual movies and even scripted TV shows.
Don't forget to double-check them though, I've stumbled across ones that had to close submissions, for example.
I hope this helps!
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"which film production companies accept unsolicited script queries" - The answer is simple - NONE. This is for a very specific legal reason. If you email a script to ANYONE unsolicited, then there is no legal recourse to give you credit and/or money for what you've submitted because giving it freely is constituted as a "gift". Thus most production companies' policies are "no unsolicited material" 1) because they don't have the time to read anything that isn't promising (and they have no evidence that it's promising - awards help, but pitching it is better) and 2) they don't want to deal with the legal battle of who owns the material because there was no documentation to distinguish between a "gift" and a "submission". The best way to entice people to read your script? Win awards or pitch - to everyone and anyone, although the most direct route is to pitch to development executives, producers, and managers (you can sign up to do so on Stage 32 here: https://www.stage32.com/scriptservices/pitch-sessions).
The suggested strategy, however, is send an email - short and to the point - that says you have a script that you think would work well with their company and why, and then ASK if they would be interested in learning more. At which point, they can tell you what they would like to know - they may only want a one-page pitch or a treatment or maybe they could agree to a general meeting - but let them respond in kind and be sure to keep it short so they know you value their time. But to approach a company with a script asking them to read it is a HUGE time commitment (ask anyone who has had to read them professionally - there's a reason we charge), so to ask anyone to do that when they don't know you is, well... at best naive, and at worst rude. Selling a script sounds simple enough, but it can take time. Take The Queen's Gambit - it took 30 years to make. I don't say this to dissuade you, but rather to encourage you to keep writing and keep pitching. You say you have a few scripts? You may have to write 10 or 20 before you sell one, so keep writing and keep pitching. As RB likes to say, "Be a script factory, not a warehouse."
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Start by making your own film. If you can't afford a feature, do a short.
Here's how Beck/Woods (A Quiet Place) did it:
https://www.stage32.com/profile/606955/photos/2341233848324464662#275723...
This biz is a marathon, not a sprint.
There are alternatives to shooting your film...it will be more difficult, but you have the freedom to express your creativity any way you wish. To compliment my pilot screenplay, I''ve started putting out 4-5 mins clips adapted from scenes within the script. I build 3D sets with Blender (free software), use Character Creator 3 and iClone 7 (paid), and shoot scenes in Unreal Engine. The results are horrid, but it shows concept - see at www.theanukchronicles.com or my profile for example.
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I have to agree with Karen "Kay" Ross with one exception. Small, independent filmmakers or first time filmmakers would probably accept an unsolicited script but you’ll have to research them yourself. Start with your local community and then research production companies that have produced projects similar to yours.
I also want to add that paying for your script to be read is very necessary if you plan to do business with established production companies. Producers, managers, and agents rely on professional Script Readers who have worked for studios and are vetted by the industry.
Please keep us updated on your progress!
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i know a few owners of cheap ass low budget straight to video/streaming and they dont pay more than $1000 to $2500 for feature scripts and they own full rights. The finished movies look like crap. It's far from glamourous Hollywood productions but it is work.
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Agreed @DanMaxXx! I have heard of some companies paying as low as a few hundred dollars for a feature script-though I didn’t want to believe it. That is far below the WGA rate and even a non-union rate. I guess it works if you don’t mind turning over the full rights to your work for a smaller sum.
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Am I missing something here? I know pro writers in Skopje would sell their work even below a grand...wanna live on a prayer, buckle up a dayjob pronto
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@KirilMaksimoski, please don’t think we are being greedy, lol! $1000 is still a significant sum of money but the problem is that the production company usually gets full rights to the script and story which they can resell BUT the writer can’t. Writers need to be fairly compensated because producers have so much more power.
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Good Lauran in the process! I can see the benefit of selling a script that you don't have a strong attachment to and the value the sale and the credit could give you. Keep making the calls, the meetings and have your best pitch deck ready with the clause for contract that you receive writing credit, and negotiate for a type of producer credit if possible.
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Colette, If some guys produce junk, just write 'em junk...I'd guess professional writer would have no trouble leveling up...guy that wrote B class splatter "Vacancy" also wrote "Revenant", happens all the time within the industry...can't throw WGA rules on them guys, it's like Manchester United attacker come playing for Vardar and then calling up on UEFA rules over salary level, accommodations, etc...It just ain't same league...
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Very good advice @Cherelynn. I guess if you don’t have a strong attachment to the script, you could sell it below market rate and still benefit.
this dude carved his own niche; starring known stars and decent/modest budgets. Whatever his street reputation, RE makes movies. Not sure if his company accepts unsolicited scripts.
https://www.vulture.com/article/randall-emmett-movies.html?utm_campaign=...
I think small indie companies who have limited budgets might be interested.. Sometimes on fb funders and investors groups Producer’s call out for scripts but it’s very rare. I think winning awards for your scripts brings attention too. Someone may then approach you or you can pitch to indie producers better by saying my script with 6 awards is about blah blah.