Is SS a popular scouting ground (site) for producers  / film makers looking for scripts to snatch-up - produce?

I read with interest...
- SS has 2,564 members. of which I'd say there around 50 ACTIVE posting members
- SS bottom page - I see a good few numbers of GUESTS
- One script post; PECKING ORDER (Shorts) got 197,053 Views

MY QUESTION IS: Of the members telling us they got their scripts OPTIONED - PICKED - FILMED... Is it from their scripts been viewed/found HERE on SS ?    

Short answer: Yes!

Members come and go, BarryJohn.

Plenty of deals for script Sales and Options are made on these boards on a regular basis. This is what makes SS supremo, amongst other things, it's great for learning and for exposure. Scripts can be downloaded without a person needing to be a member too.

Win-win. And Don has never (as far as I know) changed the formula, unlike a lot of other sites where you pay or must be a member to join and upload/ download scripts.

COOL....

Thanks for info LC.

And yes... So true to what you said about SS / Don - There is no other like It!

Quoted from BarryJohn Is SS a popular scouting ground (site) for producers  / film makers looking for scripts to snatch-up - produce?

Yes. Maybe not big Hollywood studios, but anything else from thereon. I know this personally for a fact.

Quoted from BarryJohn - SS has 2,564 members. of which I'd say there around 50 ACTIVE posting members

Yes, that doesn't mean they all feel a need to chit chat on the forum or even visit very often. Like Libby said, people come and go. Some members take brakes from writing an only show up every few years. Some give up on their writing altogether.

Quoted from BarryJohn - SS bottom page - I see a good few numbers of GUESTS

People that are perusing the site without being members.

Quoted from BarryJohn - One script post; PECKING ORDER (Shorts) got 197,053 Views

This is not how many people have read the script. This is the number of times someone has clicked on that thread. Big misconception of new members who often post a script and then whine about hundreds of people have read my script and no one has anything to say?????? I click on a lot of threads just to check on things. That doesn't mean I clicked on the script link. I you pick a thread and look and the "views" number and then reload the page, you'll see the number go up.

Quoted from BarryJohn MY QUESTION IS: Of the members telling us they got their scripts OPTIONED - PICKED - FILMED... Is it from their scripts been viewed/found HERE on SS ?

If they mention it here, it most likely is.

In Robert McKee's Story, he says," everyone (in Hollywood) is looking for a great script/story". I truly believe that. If you write a really great script, people will notice. Writing a really great script is hard and not very many people can do it. We all try, but very few writers manage to pull that off.

The short answer is YES.

Just keep in mind that they are always going to be young, start-up like productions. With rate exception, none of the big boys (or girls) pick scripts from these sites or any other of the script hosting sites.

I have had most of my success from this site and from Script Revolution

thank you both for the input / comments

Quoted from BarryJohn Is SS a popular scouting ground (site) for producers  / film makers looking for scripts to snatch-up - produce? I read with interest... - SS has 2,564 members. of which I'd say there around 50 ACTIVE posting members - SS bottom page - I see a good few numbers of GUESTS - One script post; PECKING ORDER (Shorts) got 197,053 Views MY QUESTION IS: Of the members telling us they got their scripts OPTIONED - PICKED - FILMED... Is it from their scripts been viewed/found HERE on SS ?

I can say that yes, professional filmmakers do browse these boards. I got my first sale two weeks after posting a script here on SS, with a Cannes award-winning director signing on to direct. The project eventually fell through (lol) but still, a sale is a sale, and it was a valuable learning experience working for the first time with a real director and the head of development.

But it's not like you're going to find Spielberg or Scorsese lurking about. If you're contacted by a filmmaker, chances are it's going to be either an upstart looking for their first project, or an indie looking for something they can get for cheap. Not that there's anything wrong with either. Plenty of people have launched great careers from such humble beginnings. I'm just saying don't go expecting to find a message from Universal in your SS in-box.

Thanks for sharing Lon.

And yeah.... a sale is a sale - humble beginnings...

Back on Lon...

...Strange thing is I've sent my 9 shorts to 33 SMALL PRODUCTION COMPANIES... the one's that concentrate mainly on shorts. And I got no reply - not even fuc-off your work sucks! Shit maybe it does... (Lol) Maybe just bad timeing to the wrong companies?

Maybe one day...  

I've sold or optioned about 50 shorts so far, I'd say 75% of them are due to SS in one way or another...

Quoted from BarryJohn Back on Lon... ...Strange thing is I've sent my 9 shorts to 33 SMALL PRODUCTION COMPANIES... the one's that concentrate mainly on shorts. And I got no reply - not even fuc-off your work sucks! Shit maybe it does... (Lol) Maybe just bad timeing to the wrong companies? Maybe one day...

Don't get disheartened, Barry - don't forget you are sending out your scripts and queries unsolicited, they haven't asked for them (unless they have put a general call out for scripts, or say they accept unsolicited scripts)

Think of the unsolicited emails you get saying "Hey, we think you might like this product, want to buy it?" - how many do you reply to with thanks, but no thanks?

Best to send out your queries and scripts and then forget about it - Maybe one day you will open your inbox to a surprise reply, maybe not. Don't think too much into not getting a reply as chances are it is not a reflection on your work or ability.

Thanks Matthew. I feel much better now...

Thanks Anthony. Now I feel shit again... YOU'VE SOLD / OPTIONED 50 !!! How many have you written? Holy shit! Well done.

Quoted from BarryJohn Back on Lon... ...Strange thing is I've sent my 9 shorts to 33 SMALL PRODUCTION COMPANIES... the one's that concentrate mainly on shorts. And I got no reply - not even fuc-off your work sucks! Shit maybe it does... (Lol) Maybe just bad timeing to the wrong companies? Maybe one day...

You may want to question whether or not you are writing in a strategic manner. MOST (not all), folks producing shorts are looking for low-budget, limited location, no expensive special affects stories.  For the most part, the shorts that I have sold/optioned fit that bill.  

Quoted from eldave1 You may want to question whether or not you are writing in a strategic manner. MOST (not all), folks producing shorts are looking for low-budget, limited location, no expensive special affects stories.  For the most part, the shorts that I have sold/optioned fit that bill.

Yep. That's true.

Generally speaking, sending your unsolicited work to production houses(big or small), is majorly straight-up ignored. Not even seen as a matter of fact. So basically it is fruitless.  

Keep your shorts - simple and contained. That usually attracts some kind of attention.

lol, Barry... sorry!

I've written c100 shorts, and the 50 includes some scripts that have been optioned multiple times... so not 50 individual  scripts... and when you get to the actual bit that counts of how many have been filmed... 10-12, something like that.

Hopefully that's a little better!