Getting a script in front of production companies

Hi

About a year ago I wrote a sitcom script and spent several months trying to get it read by various production companies. I used every route I could think of; I sent the full hardcopy unsolicited, I emailed some sample pages, I wrote letters asking for permission to send and I even rang up companies looking for viable names to contact. After a long and rather frustrating period of not being sure where my script was, if it had been read or if it had just been shredded, I decided to see if it was possible to change the way that writers submit their work and also change the way that production companies and publishers look for new talent.

Rather than me as a writer sending my script to numerous production companies, wouldn't it be better if all the production companies came to me?

As a result I set up Literary Showcase. This is a website that enables writers to upload a sample of their work, along with a synopsis of their concept. This is then made available to the publishers and production companies registered with the site. I have a number of companies registered now including talkbackTHAMES, Endemol and Hartswood Films to name a few, and some of the companies registered will not otherwise accept unsolicited mail.

There is a cost to this service which is usually £30. However, I am currently running a offer on the site and have reduced the cost of uploading work from £30 to £14.99 per upload until Friday 24 April.

If you are interested please visit www.literaryshowcase.com or feel free to ask me any questions you may have here.

Hi Rofl, assuming that's your real name.
You'll have to excuse my cynicism, but what incentive is there for producers to browse your site? The only difference between submissions to your site and their own slush pile is that we would have to pay you.
I'll keep an open mind - try and convince me . . .

Hi Rhubarb

The companies listed on the site are ones that have been contacted by me and have registered because they like the idea of looking on the site for new work. Many of them expressing verbally that they liked the idea as a way of looking for new talent.

When they search the site, the first thing they see is the synopsis that a writer uploads. This helps them find what they are looking for without trawling through a mound of scripts and lets them make a judgement based on the concept presented by the writer. If they like the concept they can then look at a more in depth synopsis and the sample of script uploaded by the writer.

The idea being that by saving them time and letting them search on their own terms the site becomes more useful than the traditional "slush pile", therefore giving them more reason to look. This in turn gives writers a better chance of getting their work seen.

Hope this helps.

ROFL (or David if you prefer)

Three of many, many similar:

http://www.inktip.com/index.php?cat=

http://www.screenwritersmarket.com/

http://www.scriptologist.com/Store/Loglines/loglines.html

Quote: ROFL @ April 17 2009, 6:11 PM BST

ROFL (or David if you prefer)

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Best of luck with the new money making idea David. Have you given up trying to sell scripts yourself?

Quote: Marc P @ April 17 2009, 10:53 PM BST

Best of luck with the new money making idea David.

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Ouch!

Quote: Marc P @ April 17 2009, 10:53 PM BST

Best of luck with the new money making idea David. Have you given up trying to sell scripts yourself?

View original

Nice idea, but as I have hardly any spare money to spend, I think I'll stick with stamps, a £1.08 rejection is better than a £14.99 one.

Best of luck with your venture David. You never know, it might work.

But IMO the best way to get your stuff noticed is still to write a good, funny script and incessantly hammer on doors until somebody opens one. It's murder trying to get producers to read stuff - and that can include material from experienced writers - so I personally doubt they'd be banging your door down for stuff, despite what they might say.

But that's just a personal (if slightly cynical) viewpoint. If I were you I'd make the service free until such time you can justify the membership fee.

Just a suggestion.