How do you 'circulate a script' amongst producers?

J Davis

J Davis

Veteran
I've just finished a script that I would like to circulate amongst producers. How do I go about doing this?

(based in nyc, script is a short for festivals)
 
J Davis said:
I've just finished a script that I would like to circulate amongst producers. How do I go about doing this? (based in nyc, script is a short for festivals)
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I would think you would get hold of the Hollywood Creative Directory
http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Creative-Directory-63rd-Staff/dp/1928936644/ref=pd_sim_dbs_b_1
and then narrow down a targeted list of prodcos to contact based on your script's genre and perceived production budget.

There is also imdbpro.com but that costs a monthly fee. I think I might sign up at some point, to have access to extensive contact info of prodcos, etc.

There are also some nice books deep in the jungles of amazon.com about how to sell a script once it is done.
~good luck
randall

EDIT: Oh, I see now that your script is a short, not a feature. Disregard anything I said, see what Mattykins says. You do not sell your SHORT script to a Prodco; I thought you had a feature script to sell/produce, I did not read your orig post close enough.
 
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Randall_Oelerich said:
I would think you would get hold of the Hollywood Creative Directory
http://www.amazon.com/Hollywood-Creative-Directory-63rd-Staff/dp/1928936644/ref=pd_sim_dbs_b_1
and then narrow down a targeted list of prodcos to contact based on your script's genre and perceived production budget.

There is also imdbpro.com but that costs a monthly fee. I think I might sign up at some point, to have access to extensive contact info of prodcos, etc.

There are also some nice books deep in the jungles of amazon.com about how to sell a script once it is done.
~good luck
randall
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Wow ... thanks!
Since both options cost money, which would have a more comprehensive list do you think? imdbpro or the Hollywood Creative Directory?

I forgot to mention in my original post that I would be looking for a producer that could also secure funding. $5000 to $15000 is my estimated budget, with more than half the funds to be allocated to actors (cast of two).
 
Short answer...you don't.

Especially not a short. No one cares. Are you WGA? Do you have a manager? Or an agent?

If a combination of the above are true, then maybe.

Here's the thing people don't seem to understand. Not that I am making an example out of you by being harsh or anything, just speaking in general...99.8% of producers and production companies don't take unsolicited material.

If it comes in, and trust me, it does. The script ends up in the trash without ever being opened.

If you want to get it "circulating", make it, and win awards. Or submit the script to festivals. (there are some). If you have validated the work, people will come to you. Or call up, pitch the idea to the assistant, and maybe they will ask you to read it.

But I can assure you, no one will ever ask for a short that is "festival bound".
 
J Davis said:
Wow ... thanks! Since both options cost money, which would have a more comprehensive list do you think? imdbpro or the Hollywood Creative Directory? I forgot to mention in my original post that I would be looking for a producer that could also secure funding. $5000 to $15000 is my estimated budget, with more than half the funds to be allocated to actors (cast of two).
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I have yet to do what you plan to do, so I am only brainstorming here, others here likely have more experience and can comment. I have the HCD and it is very comprehensive. Advantage of imdbpro.com I think would be easy of copy and paste for addresses into letterhead, etc.

I am confused a bit (well more than a bit, in life, LOL, but that is another discussion). I thought you were looking to sell your script for $ to a prodco. Now it sounds like you want to produce your script, but yet you do not (you want a prodco to produce it). A prodco will decide on the director, cast, budget, not you. I could be wrong, but that is how I see it. If you want to control the cast, how much $ the cast gets, then you need to be the prodco-- secure funding from your rich aunt or else raise money from investors, etc. (See Dov S-S Simens's book From Reel to Deal if you are going that route, which is my plan for my indie feature screenplay I am writing; but I also plan to sell a feature script to a prodco and take their check and head for Disneyland, LOL).
 
Thanks Mattykins for catching that the OP is asking about a short, I did not catch that, I thought he had a feature to sell or produce.

But I am not so negative myself on contacting prodcos with a feature. I know of one writer here on dvxuser who sold his feature screenplay for over a million dollars and his method actually was to go directly to prodcos, not agents. So it can work. But at that point I think it would be critical to have a polished script and target a very focused group of prodcos the script is perfectly made for.
 
Nope, just means that you pay to be protected. Which is why a combination of those options make it possible. In fact, you don't have to be WGA to have an agent or a manager. A friend of mine has a manager now, and she is a screenwriter. Not WGA.

Ryan Paige said:
And being in the WGA doesn't usually make any difference to anyone. Being in the WGA doesn't mean anything in and of itself.
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As for the short. 5,000 - 15,000 is probably too much to be spending on a short. But if you do spend that money, you have to realize there is zero ROI.
 
I've sold my share of shorts when I first started screenwriting. It's a completely different animal from selling features. I would still pick up that HCD book but then supplement your options by posting it over at Ink Tip. I sold a few there. Also, use Craigslist (that was hard to suggest), it does work for shorts believe it or not. There's a few other places such as Mandy and other filmmaking forums such as this one you should try as well.

I remember going into the members section and filtering filmmakers one by one in various forums (such as this one), checking their links, finding out if we were compatible, then emailing them. Pimp a solid, concise logline and have a clear, short query letter ready to email anyone that will listen. Don't start emailing big prodcos, as others mentioned, that's for the feature game.

Also, don't expect a windfall of dough for a short. I never sold a short for more that a grand. Most of my shorts were differed pay and other nefarious "rates". Selling shorts it's a way to network with filmmakers and to get your feet wet, nothing more. It's not a realistic or viable avenue to make money. For that, you need to write features, original, marketable features ;)

Good luck.
 
Awesome advice Randall and Alveraz.

I just want to clear up a misconception for all and that is I am not 'selling' the script. per se. Unless it is sold with the condition that I am director. Either way I am not looking for money out of this. What I am looking for is a producer who can secure funding and produce the short. My requirement is that I am on board as director (paid or unpaid, I don't mind).

I am no stranger to making short films, this being my eleventh. However, nearly all of my other shorts have been 'do everything yourself' efforts and even if I were to make this one myself with unknown actors, I am still fairly confident it will make it to a festival – my last film did (see my signature) and this new script is just as strong, if not stronger.

I am also confident in my estimations of production costs. This is a cast of two, 11-15 minute film, one location (that I have already), two day RED cam shoot with costs sans actors fees at $2500-$3000. Extra money goes to enticing name actors.

@Randall - I will probably go cold calling with the HCD book or imdbpro. Can anyone recommend one over the other?

@alveraz - mandy and craigslist are two I knew about as crew/post work job boards but I have never thought to advertise for a producer there. Good call. Craigslist similarly can't hurt. The InkTip reference is new to me. I plan to check this out later today. Is there an option to attach conditions to scripts for sale? ie that I am the director?

Finally. I also intend to start circulating the script amongst actors agents and casting agencies. I have been unsure whether to do this before or after I have secured funds. I say this as I have seen shorts at festivals where a name actor secured the funding because they liked the script. Can anyone advise on going down this road?
 
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Oh .. when I say 'name' actor I don't mean A-list !!!
(I am being realistic here, just the best actor who is interested and within budget)
 
Short films can be powerful, even attract known actors. This short film really inspired me as to the power of short films. "The Youth in Us". I highly recommend watching this short film if you have not seen it. Stars Lukas Haas (the kid from the hit movie Witness), now a young adult.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct2wIB4KAk0
Sounds like what you need are benefactors or a grant. Not sure if a typical prodco would have any interest at all in a short film. Or find a some up and coming talent looking to help fund it just to get their face on a great short film.
 
I think you're trying to be clever by "selling my short script" and slipping in the caveat that you must direct it. That's not going to happen. Let's break this down to reality. You want someone to pay for your short film. I mean, that's what you're really saying beyond all these responses, right?

Well, that's what everyone around here is trying to do, not in the screenwriting area but in the filmmaking forums. I think you're in the wrong forum. You are a director that wrote a short and wants it produced. For some reason you weren't very clear about this up-front. Anyway, you're no different than a million others trying to do the same thing.

I would go search the forums for other filmmakers in your boat. Doing this in the screenwriting area won't yield much help. You can buy a hundred books out there on this topic, funding your short film. You don't necessarily need a producer, what you need is investors. The rest you can do yourself. I mean, sure, you can bring on a producer for the logistics and pre-production help, but it's a short film and will most likely be low/no budget anyway, so do your homework, find investors and go make your film.

No one is going to read your short, fully produce it and let you direct, it doesn't work that way, it's not profitable enough for a legitimate producer to invest this way. Go knock down doors and find investors, the way everyone else does. Read a few books and forums, there's tons of info out there on this topic.
 
Randall_Oelerich said:
Short films can be powerful, even attract known actors. This short film really inspired me as to the power of short films. "The Youth in Us". I highly recommend watching this short film if you have not seen it. Stars Lukas Haas (the kid from the hit movie Witness), now a young adult.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct2wIB4KAk0
Sounds like what you need are benefactors or a grant. Not sure if a typical prodco would have any interest at all in a short film. Or find a some up and coming talent looking to help fund it just to get their face on a great short film.
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A benefactor or grant would work and then I would hire a producer for a percentage. However I've seen producers locate funding for shorts before. Mostly in efforts to advance their careers by attaching projects they like to their name.

@ Alveraz, possibly you are right and this thread is in the wrong forum. If so, Mods, please feel free to move it. I was not trying to be clever and I did think carefully before posting as I do not want to play the 'look for funds myself' game - this is why I did not post in the Directing Forum. If it came to that I would lower the budget and make it like I did with my other films. I also considered the Business/Post Production forum but that seems to be concentrating on selling once the film is done.

If no one else has attempted to do what I am trying, I totally understand. Really I am hoping on strength of the script (which I believe in) and my past body of work to attract the right producer. The links and ideas you have offered so far are a great, and whether I am selling a script with conditions, or giving a script away with conditions, I thought I would start by asking here at the script writing forum first. ie. a script looking for a producer who can secure funds.
 
There's really not much of an upside for a producer when it comes to making a short unless it is being used for feature development. It's just not a good investment. Shorts can make good calling cards for directors, actors, DPs and writers.
 
Wow ... InkTip.com looks hot. Are there other sites like this?

EDIT:
now is a good time to mention another site I found massify.com which is pitch oriented. Treatments and ideas can be submitted as well as scripts but this is a fairly new site.
 
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J Davis said:
I forgot to mention in my original post that I would be looking for a producer that could also secure funding. $5000 to $15000 is my estimated budget, with more than half the funds to be allocated to actors (cast of two).
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Um, I know of about a dozen films on the shelf at Blockbuster - features - made for that budget range. Those are the ones where I know the film makers. I know there are many many more.

That's just insanity.

If you are directing as well, why not do what probably all of the rest of us did - fund it out of pocket? I made a stack of short films (and an ill-advised feature) by working a day job 40 hours a week and saving my money.

Hard to find an investor for a short when there is no real market for them. Just get a job and start saving... and if you plan on spending that much money, why not just make a feature (that you can sell)?

- Bill
 
wcmartell said:
Um, I know of about a dozen films on the shelf at Blockbuster - features - made for that budget range. Those are the ones where I know the film makers. I know there are many many more.

That's just insanity.

If you are directing as well, why not do what probably all of the rest of us did - fund it out of pocket? I made a stack of short films (and an ill-advised feature) by working a day job 40 hours a week and saving my money.

Hard to find an investor for a short when there is no real market for them. Just get a job and start saving... and if you plan on spending that much money, why not just make a feature (that you can sell)?

- Bill
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Bill - I already answered that one in my earlier posts. The point of the original question I posted is to do something different. I am tired of being on shoots where everyone is working for free or minimum pay. This script is written so it can be produced on or shoestring if necessary (also stated), but if I find the right producer with funding, the shoot would go ahead at a normal budget (~$1200/day) and the majority of the funds would go to attracting the best actors.

If you were to attend a major film festival and ask around, you would find that there are plenty of shorts screening there that were produced in this price range. My budget is right on the money.

As for saving for it and doing it myself, yes I could do that (already stated). But the purpose of this thread was to see if anyone knows of ways to locate or network amongst producers who can source funding.

So if you please, don't go over old ground but contribute a suggestion if you have it. So far the useful suggestions are Hollywood Creative Directory, imdbpro, mandy.com, craigslist, inktip.com, and massify.com
 
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