where to send a script!

[wiggy]

i thought i would start a topic on script writing as there are probably a few people out there who love films, have the imagination but aren't very good with a camera or PC. i have started script writing and i think it is a lot of fun, i have started by writing about what i know! and now i have developed it on further. i started off really with my film tash force, i mentioned it in another post that i made the film as a rough pilot and because of all the great feedback i had i then was asked to do a full version in the same format but obviously more professional (hd for rendering purposes) and so i wrote a full script, i managed 92 pages which is about average for a final draft i think. i am at the moment well on the way through another which i am really excited about as it is coming together great. so i just thought of this thread and of any advice people might be able to offer.
my bit is to make sure it is in a proper format, final draft has some good templates, company's will not even look at a script if it isn't in the correct format. there are some good places to test the water with them such as baby cow productions and the BBC writers room. so come on folks if any one has any good links to script writing advice or anything bang them on here!!!!

[flashpointharry]

wiggy said:

i started off really with my film tash force

Is that a spin-off of The Bill featuring Tosh? ;D

I'm not too sure about sending your script off to Baby Cow - they've got a disclaimer on their site that basically says if you send them a screenplay and they reject it, then in the future you see some ideas "similar to" the ones you submitted featured in a Baby Cow production, you haven't got a leg to stand on legally.

I'd say your best bet is Mandy.com - it's a list of open industry positions, and there's often directors on there looking for scripts. Usually it's blokes who've shot a load of adverts and now want to get into features, so most of 'em are happy to have a look at what you've got to offer (or at least give your synopsis the once-over).

You're right about the format thing too. Most people won't look at a script unless it's laid out in the proper way (size twelve Courier and all that). There's a program you can get somewhere that does it all for you, plus there's plenty of well-known screenplays on line you can read (IMSDb, anyone?)

Like with most things though, it helps if you've already got a contact in the industry who can get a foot in the door for ya. Even if that contact's relationship with a production company is as tenuous as Bez's claim to talent, it's better than nothing! I'd imagine it also pays to have some film-related achievements you can shoehorn into your CV to get people interested (any shorts you've made, any writing work you've had published - things like that). I've wrote a script for a fifteen-minute feature that I know I couldn't shoot myself and would love someone with a bit more industry clout/savvy to have a crack at, but lack of appropriate qualifications (I'm an electrician's mate by trade) means it doesn't really go anywhere. Mind you I've got a shedload of DVDs... does that make me a video playback operative? Main thing though is: keep trying, and if you know your stuff's up to scratch and as good as you can get it then it shouldn't be too long before you get a bite!

Hope that helps. My fingers ache.

[wiggy]

cheers for the reply, didn't know that about babycow, i thought steve coogan had a similiar comic taste to myself!!! maybe i should read dissclaimers

[flashpointharry]

wiggy said:

i thought steve coogan had a similiar comic taste to myself!!!

My advice is mate: never trust a man who puts money into a programme called Director's Commentary, then doesn't turn up for his own

[Dave]

flashpointharry said:

wiggy said:

I'm not too sure about sending your script off to Baby Cow - they've got a disclaimer on their site that basically says if you send them a screenplay and they reject it, then in the future you see some ideas "similar to" the ones you submitted featured in a Baby Cow production, you haven't got a leg to stand on legally.

I'm pretty sure that's standard for any production company. They have to cover themselves against coincidental similarities that may occur in the future. They are not implying that they rifle through all rejected screenplays to pilfer ideas for free. Of course, it does seem that way from an outsider trying to get a foot on the ladder.

[wiggy]

well just as long i dont see steve coogan in his first oscar nominated film about an american cop named chaz mcdermott who infiltrates a bunch of american football hooligans...actually that sounds good...i could crack hollywood with that!!!

[flashpointharry]

admin said:

I'm pretty sure that's standard for any production company. They have to cover themselves against coincidental similarities that may occur in the future. They are not implying that they rifle through all rejected screenplays to pilfer ideas for free. Of course, it does seem that way from an outsider trying to get a foot on the ladder.

True, it just seemed very aggressively worded on the Baby Cow site. Then again...

= +

On the plus side though, it looks like Coogan's got something interesting in the pipeline:

Saxondale

[Dave]

Yeah, I read about that Saxondale character a while back. Apparently the series is on BBC2 at the end of the month! Or was it early July? Either way, he seems to have sneaked this one out.
Hopefully it's not another Dr Terrible. Not sure who he co-wrote it with, but it wasn't good.

[flashpointharry]

Saxondale was co-written with Neil Maclennan, who's a newcomer (maybe that should be n00b) to comedy writing. He's worked with Coogan in the past though, and done an episode of Doctors, which is like the Beeb new writers' test-bed.

Dr Terrible... ah, the title says it all Though apparently this one is script-edited by Ben (Armstrong &) Miller. Now THERE was a sketch show that badly wants a DVD!

[PatrickCoyle]

The BBC Writersroom website has got tons of stuff on it. I always go looking for information and advice and stuff, and never do anything with it. Are there any film groups near you, wiggy? It's not that hard to make a contact in the industry. I've got a couple of minor ones, but never use them as I've got nothing worth putting out there yet, and I don't want to pre-ruin my reputation by giving them something that isn't ready.

[wiggy]

writers room is good i have submitted some work and got a card back from them saying i should hear something within five months. i have a contact who owns pleased sheep productions and he had my film tash force looked at by wysiwyg films who are distributing his first film to over 100 cinemas all over the country. they said they where interested in a re-make which i am told by my contact is a fantastic response as having your work looked at is a great achievment in itself.

[flashpointharry]

Come on then mate - are you gonna stick a teeny bit of your script up on t'web for us to look at? Must be pretty top bollock if you've got interest, plus it'd be interesting to see how you've got set your screenplay out...

I promise I won't nick none of your ideas

[Dave]

flashpointharry said:

I promise I won't nick none of your ideas

But that means that you will!

[wiggy]

i can put up my 10 page sample of my Tash force script for you to see how it is set out, it is from the full lengh version that i did which is 92 pages long but how do i post it or will i have to mail it to you?

[flashpointharry]

admin said:

flashpointharry said:

I promise I won't nick none of your ideas

But that means that you will!

Sussed!

Wig, I only meant stick up part of a scene or something like that. Don't bust your knackers typing out ten odd pages! Though if you want to email a bit over, then feel free (address should be on my profile)

92 pages?! I had a hard job with 23! I know the rule of thumb is a page a minute, but I was sort of relying on a lot of ad breaks...