I read something Decadence said earlier this week (I think) and it got me wondering. He said that no production company, especially not a Hollywood one would ever buy a script for production if it has already been on the internet. Then I read this yesterday http://johnaugust.com/archives.....gn=Feed:+johnaugust+(johnaugust.com  
and now I'm thinking, if someone is serious about selling their script, is it really such a good idea to post it here?  

Thoughts...

I think there is a difference between posting a script here so people can help you improve it than ScriptShadow ripping a new spec script to pieces on his site when a company is days away from buying it and investing a lot of money towards it.

I think here is ok.

I agree that a Hollywood company wouldn't buy one, but only because they're pretty much supplied with scripts via agents, and aren't exactly seeking them out.

Smaller independents, on the other hand...

I agree with Shel', and while they might not actually pick up the script, they might like the writer.

Interesting. August's blog is one of the best around, and always worth reading.

Speaking entirely for myself...

If I write a screenplay that I wish to sell, I will not post it on SS. I will send it to agents, maybe production companies. I will not expect or hope that posting it online will sell it for me or attract serious interest.

I posted the shorts because I have no serious interest in shorts - they were writing exercises, which broke a long period of inactivity, and I wanted reactions to them. I did not anticipate a Hollywood producer phoning me up and offering me money for it.

Similarly, I am writing the 7WC feature - I use writing in it's loosest sense here! - to get back to writing features, not primarily for any other purpose. (Though everything I write I write to the best of my ability, whatever the purpose).

But the next feature after that...well, it will be written for Geroge Willson to take a look at, and will not be posted here. Nor will any other features that I feel may be used to further my professional ambitions, not at least until I have exhausted any and all possibilities with them.

(Though I may share them privately with SS members)

This may sound harsh - but I seem to remember saying pretty much this in one of my first posts, regarding sharing ideas on the site. My first priority is my ambition to become a professional screenwriter. It would be silly of me to send a script to an agent with a note saying it has already been widely available online, which immediately devalues it.

Everyone who reads it needs to feel they are the first to do so (true or not) - and you don't get that if the entire surfing population of the globe has the opportunity to read your masterpiece, print it out and use it as bird cage liner!

I think August has a valid point.

By the way - this point is being addressed by mypdfscripts, who have removed a review of a not yet filmed script (though they did not post the script itself).

I think I agree with you Niles. If I had a script I thought was really really good, I probably would not post it here.

I'm not worried about my 7WC script however.  

But what would you do if Paramount phoned up and offered you $3,000,000 for it?

Well isn't this a depressing little thread...

So basically we're all here to read shorts and crappy features and beat on each other a bit?  

Quoted from ajr Well isn't this a depressing little thread... So basically we're all here to read shorts and crappy features and beat on each other a bit?

You're here to get feedback and learn.  Presumably when you do send off scripts to agents and production companies you will feel comfortable enough to do so without having to get feedback about your writing.

Also, if you are having trouble selling a feature, you might post it here to find out why.

But, personally, I think the paranoia about not selling a script if it's posted online here is just that - paranoia.    

I agree mcornetto - about the paranoia, and about the feedback and learning...

I had one thing - my feature - written before I came here. Now I've tried my hand at a couple of shorts, and I have an idea about how to turn one of them into a feature, plus ideas for four other features...

Now if I could only get a patron like they used to do for artists in Athens and Rome way back when...

Call me paranoid,

But I only ever post works in progress. I've never been tempted to post a completely finished script.

Quoted from Niles_Crane But what would you do if Paramount phoned up and offered you $3,000,000 for it?

I'd ask them "where the fuck did you get my phone number?"!  

One word for you - "Inktip".

Isn't that, like, two words, Ren?

Quoted from sniper Isn't that, like, two words, Ren?

Here's another two for ya "smartarse".

Nobody likes a smartarse Rob. But, that isn't true, is it?

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