Script writing conversation

Phil

Phil

Veteran
Hey people, just looking for opinions, noticed there wasn't too much in this section. Here's some questions:

What program do you use?
How much was it?
What else have you used? Likes/Dislikes?
Ever sold a script?
How much?
Did you have an agent?
Did you use a company (ex. soyouwannasellascript.com)?
Ever known anyone who has sold a script?

P.S. What's up! to anyone who knew me a while ago! Stop by say hi and let me know what you've been up to...

Peace
Phil
 
Phil said:
What program do you use?
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Final Draft

How much was it?
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Free - won it as a prize in a screenwriting contest. Prior to Final Draft I was using a template for Microsoft Word

Ever sold a script?
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A couple. Not really "sold", as in finished a spec and sold that, but I was hired and paid a couple of times to write scripts.
How much?
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$50k & $60k. They haven't been produced yet though.

Did you have an agent?
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Nope. Well, once, sort of -- an agent wanted to present one of my scripts to a certain production company, but that deal never went through.

Did you use a company (ex. soyouwannasellascript.com)?
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I listed one on www.writersscriptnetwork.com. Got lots of requests, some from companies you'd recognize (like Samuel Goldwyn).
 
I use Movie Magic screenwriter, it was free, as in i downloaded the demo and haven't yet shelled out for the full version. When i actually need to print something out, I guess I'll do it :)

"Ever sold a script?"... ;)
 
Cool thanks for the responses.
I use Sophocles, I've used all the other programs, I'm just used to it. I'm trying to sell a script now...SOOO many options...
The worst is...If you go to sell a script and they offer you money, do you take it? Because what if someone else will give you more?

so many questions...I'm about to buy 3 more books...just keep adding to the collection...Don't know where I'd be without all these authors' help...

Hey! This includes you Mr. Green!!! Thanks! :)
 
Phil said:
What program do you use?
How much was it?
What else have you used? Likes/Dislikes?
Ever sold a script?
How much?
Did you have an agent?
Did you use a company (ex. soyouwannasellascript.com)?
Ever known anyone who has sold a script?
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1. Final Draft 5
2. 100 bucks - ebay
3. Movie Maker- it was okay, I can still write script formats with Microsoft word or note pad.
4. Don't know, something like 20 bucks- computer show & sale
5. No need to spend money on something I can do. :cheesy: It's nice to have one, if you got the money.
6. Friends & families or anyone I know with connections.
7. Yes many! When I was in highschool, some softmore wrote a script title" WW3"- Basically some studio in Hollywood ended up buying this damn thing for $200 thousand dollars,. My reaction... Lucky bastard! To this day, I've never seen this script come to life. Hollywood will buy scripts just to have them just incase they run out of ideas.

I know one thing for sho, sometimes a badly written script can be made into a movie worth millions of dollars. It all depends....

*cough* Starwars 1,2,3,

:laugh:
 
Phil said:
If you go to sell a script and they offer you money, do you take it? Because what if someone else will give you more?
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The short answer is "take it and run" because it is nearly impossible to sell a script at any price.

The better answer is: if someone's offering you money for a script, get an agent, they'll be able to tell you whether you'll get more for it from somewhere else, etc. Don't have an agent? If you have an interested buyer, you'll be able to get an agent instantly. Call up just about any literary agency and say "I'm a writer with a firm offer for my script, and I need someone to represent me" and, presuming the offer is worth their time (i.e., WGA minimum or more) you'll definitely get an agent. Hey, free money for them with no work to scrounge up a buyer, right? If the script is "that good" that someone's trying to buy it, then a good agent should be able to parlay that into multiple offers.

And, even if they can't, at least now you have an agent...
 
I use Final Draft 6...
Moviemagic... just use it for breaking down a script... which I'm doing now...
Never sold a script... but of course have rewritten scenes or pieces of scripts that have been made...

My advice about selling your script is Barry's advice...

If its a good amount take the money and run. You can use that money towards a house, etc.
 
Barry_Green said:
If the script is "that good" that someone's trying to buy it, then a good agent should be able to parlay that into multiple offers.
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That's so true. Thanks!
 
redindian said:
Wow Barry! didnt know u wrote scripts too! any chance we can see some of ur work ? :wideeyed:
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Someday! :)

I have to win a national screenwriting contest before I'll feel confident in pushing one of my scripts into production. Haven't done that yet. Won "second place" in one (missed the top by 1.5 points... sigh.) So I keep working on the craft, sooner or later I'll take the top prize, at which point I'll produce it...
 
talking of screenwriting contests - just got notified that my short script (first ever) is on the top 300 in American Gem Contest (by Write Brothers)
yeah 300 out for 1200 is not so great... but i'm very excited.... hoping to make it to at least top 100! :)
It was an VERY experimental script - so im glad they didnt throw it out right away...
 
Yeah congrats! lol I tried to write this next sentence, but everything came out like a high school guidance counselor. "You got potential"... :)

Where do you find out about script contests? All I do is write, and features take so long, it would be nice to enter and see how they do.
 
That looks like a great link, Barry! Thanks.... the downside of it is when I start reading about all those first-timers selling their scripts, and I think about all the projects I want to do, I start thinking "How can I quit my job so I can focus on this?" haha!!!!!
 
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