Selling Scripts in Cyber Space

By Jerrol LeBaron

"The writer needs to “break in,” but how can she/he do that when, sans agent, it’s a bit more than difficult to get a new screenplay into the hands of a 'talent'?"

Can an aspiring screenwriter sell her (or his) script on the Internet?  Five years ago, the answer would have been an emphatic “no.” To many of the “old school” industry professionals, the answer is still “no.” The good news, however, is that Hollywood is being pushed to embrace an inescapable part of modern technology--cyber promotion.

Before the advent of the Internet, screenwriters had a terrible time getting recognized.  Between the Writers Guild and Copyright Office, about 90,000 works for stage, television and film are registered annually in the US, and although a good percentage of these are screenplays, only a few hundred will ever make it to the silver screen each year. Why? Because Tinseltown is a tightly closed community that operates on the popular adage, “You’re only as good as your last film.”  As a result, many well-known artists share the same frustration as their lesser-known rivals in finding “the right project.”  Directors and producers, as well, share the wearying task of reading hundreds of treatments and scripts in their never-ending quest for the project that will make their careers (or at least keep them floating at the same level).

The writer needs to “break in,” but how can she/he do that when, sans agent, it’s a bit more than difficult to get a new screenplay into the hands of a “talent"? Short of moving to LA and parking on someone’s doorstep, aspiring screenwriters too often face the heartbreaking reality of spending months or years on a project, only to have it rejected or—which happens—never read at all.

With digital equipment and the Internet, however, the odds in favor of bringing authors, actors, and film companies together have increased dramatically.  For one thing, the entertainment industry is gearing itself to start showing full-length features on the Internet 24 hours a day.  There are now scores of companies, such as Ifilm.com where you can view 30-second to 15-minute shorts. Such groups are aggressively soliciting produced material that can go on line immediately, which not only provides writers with credits but invaluable experience, too, and, sometimes, even money!  As an entry-level opportunity, the demand currently exceeds the supply.

But push your chair back and stare at your computer for a moment or two. Do you know how many marketing opportunities are available through that basic beige box?   Producers and studios worldwide use cyberspace, now, for future film projects, and, over time, we’ll see producers and directors produce micro-budget films and garner 3-10 picture deals as they look to this resource for original material. As an example, I recently had a working but unknown actor named Richard Cody visit my website (www.WritersScriptNetwork.com) 
in search of a character-driven script that could be produced for roughly $100,000.  Shortly after I provided Richard access to the site, and after I sent out notices to writers, he was contacted by a creative executive for Disney and an interview was set up.  Through our cooperative efforts, doors that had previously been closed tightly were beginning to open.  Richard not only has a budget of $1-3 million, but he’s found three promising projects to pursue.

Taking advantage of this burgeoning Internet marketplace requires lots of research and groundwork.  Because it’s still a relatively new field in terms of pitching scripts, the “rules” are still in gestation.  But the plus for writers is that the long-standing Catch-22 regarding credits and representation doesn’t really apply.  The sky is, indeed, the limit.

Whether you want to write shorts or features, you must know their idiosyncrasies and formats.   In either case, the lower the budget, the higher your chances of seeing your script sold and produced.   This means fewer characters, minimal special effects, and concentrating all of the events in the fewest number of locations (i.e., one house, a park, a cemetery, etc.)  Playwrights--who are accustomed to productions done on a shoestring--might find it especially easy to adapt their material for this new venue.

If you plan to post your synopsis or script on a web site for review, you’ll be happy to learn that there are several which specialize in making scripts available to industry professionals (www.storybay.com, 
www.scripteaser.com, and www.thesource.com.au, which originates in Australia).  Many of these organizations will require a release form and/or WGA registration.  A few warnings:

(1)   Don’t sign release forms that use the word “identical.”

(2)   Don’t post your entire script if the site isn’t password protected and doesn’t track records of who’s viewing your work.

(3)   Always protect your work, whether it’s a 2-minute short or a 2-hour feature. This is relatively easy, inexpensive and can even be done quickly online. 

This is the way the market is shaping up.  
Go for it !

***** 

--JL
Copyright (c) 2000, by Jerrol LeBaron

 Jerrol LeBaron is the creator/owner of WritersScriptNetwork.com, a web site that specializes in getting exposure for writers of screenplays and shorts.  Growing up in a construction background, but with entrepreneurial spirit, Jerrol purchased his first business at age 23.  Later on, he dabbled in acting and writing, which inspired him to create WritersScriptNetwork.com.