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You can also drill down by genre, so if you have a Thriller script and you are looking for comapnies with a recent penchant then you can find these.
It's a little harder and starts with Google, so I search 'thrillers 2015 imdb' and go to the search results page, from there it's as per Dave's instructions, just drill down.
Oh... and where you have the name of a producer but the IMDB Pro lists the email address as info@pretendstudio.com or a similarly generic address, you can use a service like http://anymailfinder.com/ to try and get an actual address for the individual.
Now that would be a valuable collaboration project - a team of SS members working together to put together a database of relevant producers and production companies, perhaps listed by genre / type of project.
Updated with notes on success, etc. Could be an Excel spreadsheet that lived in a Dropbox or similar, not public but also shared freely between those in on it on the understanding that the construction and maintenance of it would be a team effort.
Actors have a similar model with what's known as a 'co op' - all the members essentially work as each other's agents. There's info on how that works in practice here: http://cpma.coop/questions-and-answers/
I guess what I'm suggesting is a writer co-op, whereby a group of members would agree to band together to support their own - and each other's - careers. Basically everyone is a client AND an agent. Probably there'd be a small financial input from each member to a central pot, from which would be funded joining fees to places like IMDB Pro - but with a shared log-in account, so all members would have access (and an expectation that they would contribute) - and overheads like a website. Writers would know and understand each other's strengths and portfolios, so if something came up that wasn't right for them, but there was a member they think might be good for it, they would be responsible for pursuing that on behalf of their 'client'. What's good for one is good for the group. As a 'business' (scary word, but there would be legal benefits to forming it that way) it would be non-profit making - the idea would be make money to keep it going, but profits (i.e. commissions? That I'm not yet clear about) would be reinvested back into the business.
As the article I've linked to says, there are obvious drawbacks - jealousy and self-interest probably being the most obvious, why would you put someone else in ahead of yourself? But some of us are better at horror than others, some at comedy. It would be a bit like a pub quiz team - you try to blend the right members, so you cover all bases. The continued existence of actor co-ops shows it CAN work.
Having been away from SS for a few years, one development I'm impressed with is the apparent swing towards more 'career-savvy' writers, many of whom are on this thread - people keen to understand how the industry works, and how writers can get ahead. There are lots of people strategising as well as writing, which is the other half of the battle. Maybe it's always been like that, but I don't remember members like Anthony Cawood last time round. It's a very positive thing.
So cards on the table: I want to start writing more of my own material, but I'm also looking for a project to get involved with in the new year outside of my day job. Something to help build. If there are UK members here (I feel it would be exponentially harder to do this internationally, and simply too difficult at least at first) who'd be interested in genuinely discussing the feasibility of some sort of writer co-op agency - just preliminarily, no commitment to anything at this stage, I'd definitely be up for that. I work for a publisher of playscripts and theatre books, so my company comes into contact with agents all the time. I also know and hang out with a great many actors, writers, comedians... I even applied for and didn't get an internship at the big agency Curtis Brown a few years ago (definitely not bitter). So I could ask around and try and learn more about how agencies work, also the co-op model from those that have done it and the experiences they're willing to share.
What does anyone think? New thread, which could be taken to another, more private forum if necessary?
(P.S. I'm totally aware there may be fatal flaws to this idea I haven't spotted, or a general lack of interest. So no offence taken whatsoever if it doesn't appeal. As I say, at first it might just be interesting to kick the idea around a little, even on a hypothetical level.
Mark - glad that tip is useful, sure I've picked it up from someone else... so won't take all the credit!
Hi Jonny - I've been around for two years, initially as an aspiring writer just happy to have found SS and a place where I could learn, I wrote the articles, suggested screenwriting leads sub forum etc because the business side of things seemed harder to get useful info on... and figured paying it forward a little couldn't do any harm.
Re a writers co-op, well I'm in the UK and happy to discuss how this might work and see if it has any legs... probably best to get festive season out of the way first though
Mark - glad that tip is useful, sure I've picked it up from someone else... so won't take all the credit!
Hi Jonny - I've been around for two years, initially as an aspiring writer just happy to have found SS and a place where I could learn, I wrote the articles, suggested screenwriting leads sub forum etc because the business side of things seemed harder to get useful info on... and figured paying it forward a little couldn't do any harm.
Re a writers co-op, well I'm in the UK and happy to discuss how this might work and see if it has any legs... probably best to get festive season out of the way first though
Anthony
Agreed, I'm in the fortunate position of being about to break up from work for two weeks, no kids or anything (plus my girlfriend is away with her family) but obviously what's leisure time for me isn't for everyone else! Maybe I should spend the time actually writing instead, sigh...
Impressed by what you're doing, though. Thought that was worth putting 'on the record', so to speak. Keep it up!
Thank you Jonny, really appreciated... my Xmas was going to be okay but now decided to try and write a script for the competition I posted in the other thread, closing date is 31st Jan ;-(
My email is anthony at anthonycawood.co.uk if you want to kick stuff around...
Hey guys, I think I can be a part of this. I have a full paid membership for ISA announcements and I can list them on here.
What we should try to do is to pool all of our resources and ideas on "the next stage" even though I'm nowhere near ready to take that step.
Instead of having 3 or 4 people pay for the same service (unless they want to of course) we should list what we belong to and that way, people can join other services to have more coverage for each other and the site (and ourselves of course).
So, I can help with ISA stuff.
Even with me being so ill right now, it doesn't take a lot to cut and paste a link...
I'm interested in reading animation, horror, sci fy, suspense, fantasy, and anything that is good. I enjoy writing the same. Looking to team with anyone!
Dan - I already publish all the ISA job announcements on the Opportunities forum, the only advantage paid membershup gives you is 5 days early application priveledge... but once that's up anyone can apply.,, not sure if there are other ISA advantages for paid members that are worth sharing?
For anyone interested, I just want to add that my 4 months on Inktip is up. During that time I had quite a few companies view my logline and a handful downloaded my script.
For the ones who looked at the script, I waited the 3-6 weeks the website asked and then contacted them direct as instructed as none of them came to me. So far, only one has replied with a polite pass.
Now it could be that my logline/script is no good, after all it’s my first attempt at writing a feature and this whole exercise an experiment. But what I can say is, I did pay extra to be included in their email newsletter blast and when they went out, there was no noticeable increases in logline or script viewings. Statistically speaking this should have resulted in an increase in views at least, if not downloads.
So all I can surmise from this is I need to get better at writing loglines and feature scripts lol, plus paying extra for the listing doesn’t seem worth it.
-Mark
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
I didn't used to think InkTip was very good at all and decided my The Hit (female lead thriller heist) would be my last one there. Lo and behold, the last week of the four month posting Minds Entertainment optioned it. Two days ago, I put another script up there. We'll see if anyone bites. I do need a better logline though, not to mention synopsis. Maybe I can talk someone from SS into giving me a hand with that. I truly suck at these things.
I didn't used to think InkTip was very good at all and decided my The Hit (female lead thriller heist) would be my last one there. Lo and behold, the last week of the four month posting Minds Entertainment optioned it. Two days ago, I put another script up there. We'll see if anyone bites. I do need a better logline though, not to mention synopsis. Maybe I can talk someone from SS into giving me a hand with that. I truly suck at these things.
Congratulations on the option! That's great news! My script needed a lot of development, I knew that and just hoped someone could see the potential but alas it is not meant to be.
As for the logline, there's a logline review thread somehwere on these boards. I used it for mine and it helped improve it...I think. I too suck at loglines, synopsis and treatments. I just can't generate the same enthusiasm when writing those as I do the script.
For more of my scripts, stories, produced movies and the ocassional blog, check out my new website. CLICK
I did InkTip for about 6 months years ago and finally though in the towel. Little reads and no requests. I don't necessarily blame them, just didn't seem to generate anything for me.
On Stage32 - still a free member but finally had to move them to my junk folder as I was getting 4 to 5 marketing emails a day - it became a turnoff.