Interesting read

[uncle_al]

I heard it called CAN'T STOP THE MOVIE...

Then there's the only movie I ever walked out of... The loser is:
<drumroll>
AMERICATHON

A serious waste of the talents of John Ritter, Peter Riegert, Harvey Korman, and Chief Dan George.

Cheers!

Al B.

[ScriptNurse]

Just remember ... 99% of stuff floating around truly is CRAP. Sometimes, in a cloudy, drug-induced haze said crap can look like something producible ... think Allan Carr's CAN'T STOP THE MUSIC ... known around the biz and CAN'T STAND THE MUSIC.

[seansshack]

Guess we what to work hard and learn to stand out from the rather large crowd...

[ScriptNurse]

From my experience ...

20% fail "The Rifle Test" (see below)
50% get dumped between page 5-10
29% more get dumped by page 20
.9% get read and are passed on ("it's not what we're looking for right now")
.1% get bought, some get made

The Rifle Test
Hollywood screenwriters know that a reader, agent or producer can tell instantly by fanning the pages back to front if your script is professionally written and in the proper format. Your script will not even get a read at an agency or get studio coverage if it doesn't look right. The typical development executive reads 35-50 scripts a week on their own time, away from the office. After reading hundreds and hundreds of scripts, they can see at a glance if it looks right. If it's not right, it's dumped. It's that simple. If you use a good screenwriting program, then this is an area you won't have to worry about. If you don't have one, at least follow the rules. They're relatively simple. They're also hard and fast and not meant to be deviated from, so don't "improve" upon the formula, just use it.

IMPROVING THE ODDS

• If it's GOOD (i.e. a writer told you so), consider a six-month subscription to the InkTip service. They do get results.
• Get a reputation around indie film circles ... start hobnobbing.

[uncle_al]

From the unproduced scripts I've read (and some of the produced ones, as well), the ninety percent figure quoted before has more to do with quality or the complete lack thereof than with formatting.

I just hope to Ghod that anything I've written recently isn't in that percentile.

If the story's a corker, and the characters grab you, minor formatting problems can be cleaned up easily enough.  That's what they have secretaries, or office assistants, or whatever, for.

My two rubles worth...

Cheers!

Al B.

"Ninety percent of science fiction is crud.  Then again, ninety percent of everything is crud."
                                --Theodore Sturgeon, award winning science fiction writer
                                   (The approximate quotation that became "Sturgeon's Law")

[seansshack]

I hope that 90% are of poor quality. From research and reading it looks like that a high amount are people "trying to hit the big time" with that one script/idea.

If that is the case. Looks like there are better odds with the lottery (well maybe not as high but...)

[ElPolloDiablo]

Hmmmm, an interesting/terrifying(*) read
(* delete as applicable)

Here's a random thought... I read somewhere that roughly 90% of spec scripts are rejected because they're incorrectly formatted e.g. wrong font, incorrect margin size, spelling mistakes or just a general disregard to the conventions.

I guess the moral of the story is that when you submit a script, make sure you dot the T's and cross the I's (or is that the other way round?)

[seansshack]

Good article on spec scripts and the percentage written and purchased:

http://fencingwiththefog.blogspot.com/2006/01/screenplay-sales-statistics.html