I want to option a script for...

S

Screenplay Guru

Member
The company I work for is currently looking to option a feature length script that has a large or leading role for an 11-14 yr. old female. Please pm me for my e-mail address if you have such a screenplay. If you don't have one please tell all your friends in case they have one. Thanks everybody :-)
 
Last edited:
Screenplay Guru said:
The company I work for is currently looking to option a feature length script that has a large or leading role for an 11-14 yr. old female. Please pm me for my e-mail address if you have such a screenplay. If you don't have one please tell all your friends in case they have one. Thanks everybody :-)
Click to expand...

Genre?

Budget?

Any other useful info?
 
We are not looking for a specific genre. We are looking for the best film that contains that part. Can I ask a serious question? And I am not trying to single out chapel as several people keep asking me. Why do people keep asking me what the budget of the film is? As a writer I have never asked that question and as a producer I would never disclose that information to a writer and certainly not before we read the screenplay and decided to produce it.
 
I thought that was a strange question too considering you won't know the budget until you select a script. I've come to notice over the years that most new writers are misinformed and believe the paranoid hype that they must be fully knowledgeable of all production details before sending off a script, it's a strange phenomenon started by writers that think everyone is out to either steal their material or somehow fraud them.

In the end they end up missing more opportunities than gaining ground. It's a shame, once you register your script, get it into any hands that will read it, period! Do a basic inquiry about the prodco or agency but don't get too nosy, it's a total turn-off and leads you nowhere as a writer. Just send the damn script in, you have nothing to lose. When you become a Towne or Kaufman you can become as discerning as you want, but as a newb you need to keep your ego in check and send it to anyone that will read it.

Weird.
 
I think it's a really logical question. Because if I have an amazing script, I might not be inclined to send it off to you for a $50,000 movie. I'd just shoot it myself. But if it were a $10 million+ movie, that might change things. Knowing the ballpark of the budget gives some context. After all, the Internet is such a wild and woolly place, you could be sending your hard work to unscrupulous characters. Or it could be the break of a lifetime. Who knows.

Alvaraz does mention doing some research on the agency or prodco first. But since we don't know either of those details, the budget question seems to make sense. If you were at CAA I certainly wouldn't be asking.
 
Did you bother to research the OP? His info is on his profile and through a little research you should feel just fine sending your script to him. But in all honesty, you should send it to anyone, anywhere, anytime that will read it. Paranoia is invalid in screenwriting, especially when talking about specs.
 
Last edited:
Screenplay Guru said:
We are not looking for a specific genre. We are looking for the best film that contains that part. Can I ask a serious question? And I am not trying to single out chapel as several people keep asking me. Why do people keep asking me what the budget of the film is? As a writer I have never asked that question and as a producer I would never disclose that information to a writer and certainly not before we read the screenplay and decided to produce it.
Click to expand...
Is it really that hard to understand why people are asking for more information about what you are looking for, or what the specifics of the project are going to be? They want to know that you are not wasting their time.

The only information that you have given is that you are looking for a "feature length script that has a large or leading role for an 11-14 year old female." That is not very specific.
 
The only information that you have given is that you are looking for a "feature length script that has a large or leading role for an 11-14 year old female."
Click to expand...

That is because my company needs a feature length script that has a large or leading role for an 11-14 year old female. I am not being coy... it doesn't matter what genre or if it is an edgy drama or a silly comedy. This piece is for a specific actress we are trying to find a vehicle for. You don't start with a budget and then go find a script. It is the other way around ussually. In this specific case there is some money attached depending on how quickly we can get the project off the ground. Is it more than 50,000 bucks as someone suggested... yes... is it more than 5 times that much... yes... is it more than 10 times that... I wont have a clue untill I see the freakin script.

Between posting on forums, craigslist, and my ussual contacts... do you want to know how many good scripts I have read that fit this bill ZERO! That's right. If your a writer banking 300k a script god bless you and by no means send your script to an independent production company... but anyone else ... get real... nobody needs to steal a writers script... there are hundreds of thousands of them out there and most of them suck. Big time stinky. When people find a writer who can actually write with a script they can actually use they fall on their knees and thank god almighty that they can begin preproduction. And they pay the writer. Because an idea for a script isn't enough. The execution of that idea is what makes a script fly or not.
 
Screenplay Guru said:
That is because my company needs a feature length script that has a large or leading role for an 11-14 year old female. I am not being coy... it doesn't matter what genre or if it is an edgy drama or a silly comedy. This piece is for a specific actress we are trying to find a vehicle for. You don't start with a budget and then go find a script. It is the other way around ussually. In this specific case there is some money attached depending on how quickly we can get the project off the ground. Is it more than 50,000 bucks as someone suggested... yes... is it more than 5 times that much... yes... is it more than 10 times that... I wont have a clue untill I see the freakin script.

Between posting on forums, craigslist, and my ussual contacts... do you want to know how many good scripts I have read that fit this bill ZERO! That's right. If your a writer banking 300k a script god bless you and by no means send your script to an independent production company... but anyone else ... get real... nobody needs to steal a writers script... there are hundreds of thousands of them out there and most of them suck. Big time stinky. When people find a writer who can actually write with a script they can actually use they fall on their knees and thank god almighty that they can begin preproduction. And they pay the writer. Because an idea for a script isn't enough. The execution of that idea is what makes a script fly or not.
Click to expand...
All I can say is that it is no wonder that you haven't found what you are looking for. What's with the attitude?
 
Didn't mean to have an attitude... Just been up a very long time and am trying to find a good sript before we lose our finacing... my spelling is probaly getting worse as well.

I just dont understand why a writer wouldn't want to send a script to anybody who would read it. If it is already registered with the WGA I just think it is silly not to send it to as many people as possible.
 
Screenplay Guru said:
Didn't mean to have an attitude... Just been up a very long time and am trying to find a good sript before we lose our finacing... my spelling is probaly getting worse as well.

I just dont understand why a writer wouldn't want to send a script to anybody who would read it. If it is already registered with the WGA I just think it is silly not to send it to as many people as possible.
Click to expand...

1. Because you really haven't stated who you are...

2. Who you work for etc...

3. Its how you presented yourself...

Maybe this would have worked better...

Hi, I work for a production company that is looking for a script for a young actress in the age range of 11-14, please pm and I'll send you more details...
 
Screenplay Guru said:
Didn't mean to have an attitude... Just been up a very long time and am trying to find a good sript before we lose our finacing... my spelling is probaly getting worse as well.

I just dont understand why a writer wouldn't want to send a script to anybody who would read it. If it is already registered with the WGA I just think it is silly not to send it to as many people as possible.
Click to expand...
I know that you said that you've only received 2 scripts from people on this site, but in general, is the problem that you haven't been receiving submissions, or that the submissions haven't fit what you are looking for?

I think part of the problem will be that most newish screenwriters (who populate Craiglist and forums like this) are not writing a lot of scripts with lead roles for 11 to 14 year-old girls. Most new screenwriters tend to be guys in their late teens to early twenties, and they're either writing scripts with characters their own age, or they're trying to write the next Pulp Fiction or James Bond.

I know that in my particular case, it would be a stretch to say that any of my scripts fit what you are looking for. Only 2 would even come close, but neither are lead roles. One is a Christmas themed script that has a large supporting role for a young girl of maybe 8-10 years old. The other is a family adventure script with a romantic interest who is around 15, but that script needs a ton of work.
 
Though I do think Guru is a being a tad unprofessional, I still understand his frustration and have to agree with him even though his point is being lost on paranoid screenwiters. Instead of probing so much and losing any chance of being read why not ask yourself why all those questions need to be answered. The only things I would personally need to know is the name of the prodco and maybe a producers name. I can then do the searching on my own and make an informed decision which will always be, here you go, enjoy!

You NEVER know what's going to happen. Worse case scenario, you never hear from him, best case you're offered a deal. NO ONE WILL STEAL YOU SCRIPT! I can't re-emphasize that point enough, it's a misnomer that's circulated the screenwriting world unjustly and is completely unfounded. You will find maybe, maybe a handful of stolen scripts in the past decade. Considering the thousands upon thousands of specs circulating Hollywood, the chances of someone wanting to steal YOUR un-produced spec is next to impossible, seriously. Not to mention I'm sure the prodco doing the "stealing" would be looking for a more advanced stable of writers then found in a Digital Video forum (no offense).

Producers would rather find an original script and produce it than deal with the lawsuits that will eventually come from the writer that registered his script. Think about it, you're golden either way, in fact I hope someone does steal my script, I could use the money! And before you come back with, "but he may be a writer that steals my idea!" Well, then it's safe to assume he's a crappy writer that can't devise his own work and will fortunately write a super-crappy script based on your gem, in which case no one will want to see his and everyone will want yours. And, as mentioned you'll be able to sue his butt the second he sells his junk based on the papertrail, emails, communications and registration information.

Again, the paranoia is ridiculous. If anyone here has a script within his 11-14 year old guidelines, just relax and send it to him :) One final note for the poster that "needs more info on you", you could easily have checked him out a little with the information he has in his profile which leads to more info about him and the companies he works for.
 
Last edited:
My name is Sean Ryan Valinoti don't bother to IMDB me all you will find is that I am in an upcomming Spike Lee movie. Most of my work is Doctoring other peoples work and you do not recieve a writing credit for that unless you have re-worked over 50% of the script. Like my user profile says I am currently VP of Independent Together, Ltd. www.independenttogether.net and to quote jack black in tropic thunder if you send me a script with a female lead of 11 -14 I will literally suck your dick, right now. I'll cradle the balls, stroke the shaft, work the pipes, and swallow the gravy.
 
Guru, you're making my case for you a little difficult when you throw out sentences like the last one. Stay professional if possible and you'll get a stronger response in here. If you are that desperate for that specific script you'll do a little research yourself and find several avenues you can explore over dvxuser which will yield little to no results as this is not a screenwriting website. First idea is to head over to inktip.com, you'll be able to enter in your needs and find several if not hundreds that meet your criteria.
 
I apreciate all the support alveraz... but if you didn't see the brilliant performance by Robert Downy Jr. it my duty to point it out to everyone anywhere I can. I ussually hate Ben Stiller movies and that one should have been crap too but it wasn't. It was a simple stroke of Genius. However I will try and do my best to act like a pro - but sometimes I still gotta be me.
 
"Be you" whenever you want, just not when trying to solicit scripts from screenwriters who already distrust trolling producers. Like I said tho, hit up inktip, you'll do much better there for starters, then start the usual circuit of other screenwriting forums and websites. Good luck :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top