Why aren't Spec Scripts Selling?

[Brennan Keller]

I'm doing a speech on the state of the spec script market for class and i'm trying to find some specific reasons on why spec scripts aren't really selling this year.

As of August 15th only 36 specs had sold. WHY?

-Is it the economy?
-Are the scripts just extra sucky this year?
-What is it?

Thanks GITS CLUB,
BK

[atb]

They're certainly not "extra sucky," so that leaves the economic state of the country.

People are pinching pennies in a way they haven't in a long time. This means one of the first things to cut back on is... entertainment. Movies being possibly the largest subcategory in that.

If moviegoers aren't seeing as many movies then studios are going to be verrrrry careful about which projects they greenlight. And specs are only one type of screenplay. Studios are drooling over pre-branded material, sequel-worthy characters, comic book and graphic novel adaptations, etc etc etc.

All of this piles up to create a drought of spec buying in today's industry.

There's not a sudden influx of "sucky" material. The specs are the same as always, if not better. The atmosphere has changed.

It's cloudy and studio execs are not looking to make it rain.

[mscherer]

Brennan,

I believe the lack of spec sales has more to do with fear than anything else.

Studio executives have decided to play things safe rather than take any risks. Why put your job/career on the line for an unknown commodity (spec script) when known commodities are available (comic books, remakes, sequels, TV shows and book adaptations)?

Until the stink of fear lifts from those Hollywood hills, don’t expect any original thinking or risk taking -- only expect more of the tried and true.

And even though the spec market is almost nonexistent,

Keep Writing!

[zz]

www.indiewire.com/article/first_person_film_departments_mark_gill_yes_the_sky_really_is_falling/#

Link to a really great speech from Mark Gill about the state of the film business.