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I am subscribed to the Creative Screenwriting Weekly newsletter which has an "Unsolicited Production Company of the Week" which accepts unsolicited query letters from screenwriters. Some will accept only mail, some only fax, and some only email, which others will do any combination of these. I tend to focus on the e-mail because that is easiest for me, and I thought I'd share these companies so others might benefit from this as well.
For info on Query Letters, there is a thread started here. Check that thread for info and if you have any questions, feel free to add to it. I'm working on keeping subjects consolidated on single threads.
Creative Screenwriting offers the following advice on contacting these companies:
Quoted from Creative Screenwriting
A few simple rules, please:
1. Please follow the instructions each company gives for sending them material. This means, if they say to email it, please don't call, fax, mail, or show up as a pizza delivery guy with a script under that large pepperoni. (Don't laugh, it's been tried before.) The main rule of all of this is, to make them your friends -- that is, make them like you enough to read your query -- give them the respect they deserve. If these folks are flooded with inappropriate or unwanted calls, it'll just shut the door in everyone's faces and they'll stop taking queries. And none of us want that.
2. Don't contact us looking for more information -- we don't have any. We don't have a secret handshake that will get your query read faster, or get a "send script" automatically, get your animated sea anemone one-hour legal drama pilot a put deal, or anything else. We're glad to help people get in the door, but if half of you 45,000 readers send us emails (or, God forbid, decide to drop by the office with your questions), we won't have time to put out any more CS Weeklys -- and that means no more listing of prodcos accepting unsolicited queries.
3. If you are a legitimate production company and would like to be listed? ?then please send all appropriate information - including your telephone number -- to letters@csdaily.net with "Prodco - Unsolicited Queries" in the Subject line. (If you click on the email link there, it's already included.) Please note that we will verify all listings before publicizing them, we reserve the right publish (or not) any and all submitted listings, and there are no implied warranties or guarantees involved. (Nor are there any fees -- we're doing this as a public service for our readers, plain and simple.)
4. Caveat emptor We've done the best we can to verify all these companies are legit, but as always, it falls upon you, the reader, to protect yourself at all times. Again, we offer no guarantees on any of this, and are not responsible for the actions of the companies listed below (or the readers who contact them, for that matter). If you have questions about a company's behavior, contact your attorney, agent or manager (if you have one), or the Writers Guild of America for assistance. And finally:
5. If you have a negative experience with one of the companies we list Please contact us via letters@csdaily.net with "Prodco - Negative Experience" in the Subject line. (Again, if you click on the email link there, it's already included.) Send us a note listing which prodco and a brief overview of what happened. (Note: "My check wasn't big enough" is not a valid reason for emailing us.) Depending on circumstances and number of complaints, it is possible we may de-list that production company from our database. Again, all decisions are at our discretion, we ain't responsible for nothing, we are acting in good faith on listing these companies and we expect both the companies and our readers to act in such faith, too.
Okay, kids, play nice and we'll see you next week. Happy querying!
KUSTOM ENTERTAINMENT Principal: Tom Lassally Credits: American Candidate In development: The Translator, Russian Brides, Town Creek Looking for: Features, reality TV, TV series. Query information: Email queries to reception@kustoment.com with "Query" in subject line.
I've been receiving this for awhile, so I thought I'd heand out some of the more recent e-mailable companies to really give everyone a kick start on this. I send out queries for one of my scripts ever so often. I wait for a response to it while sending others, and if I get no response to earlier queries, I rewrite the query letter from a different angle and send again.
Here's some past companies that you can still e-mail:
BURLEIGH FILMWORKS Principal: Steve Burleigh Credits: Execution of Justice In development: The Horse's Mouth, Heartstrings, Stretch Looking for: Good ideas. Query information: Email queries to steve@burleighfilmworks.com with "Query" in subject line.
OPEN ROAD FILMS Principals: Casey Suchan, Denis Henry Hennelly, Mary Pat Bentel Credits: Thug Angel, Beef 1 & 2, The Freshest Kids In development: Bold Native, Apron Memories,, La Milagrosa, Lucid Looking for: Commercials, documentaries, features, music videos, TV series. Query information: E-mail queries to openroadfilms@yahoo.com with "Query" in subject line.
BOXX COMMUNICATIONS, LLC Principal: Scott Noe Credits: Liquid News, The Jim Rose Twisted Tour In development: Traffic Jam, Elvis Has Not Left the Building, Eat This! Looking for: Mainly reality TV or made-for-TV. Query information: E-mail queries to markwalker@boxxcommunications.tv with "Query" in subject line.
CONCEPT ENTERTAINMENT Principals: David Faigenblum, Melissa Goddard Credits: The Big White In development: Sloppy, Dreary and Naughty, TAG, Crimes of Produce Looking for: Features, made-for-TV/cable movies, TV series. Query information: Email queries to enquiries@conceptentertainment.biz with "Query" in subject line.
LANCASTER GATE ENTERTAINMENT Principal: Richard C. Berman, Brian K. Schlichter Credits: Grumpy Old Men, Grumpier Old Men, Secret Cutting, December In development: Tough Cookie, Sumo Mouse Looking for: Documentaries, features, made-for-TV/cable movies. Query information: Email queries to bkslge@hotmail.com with "Query" in subject line.
CIRCLE OF CONFUSION 8548 Washington Boulevard Culver City, CA 90232 Company founded: 2004 Principals: Lawrence Mattis, David Alpert, David Engel, Jason Lust Studio deal: Sony Pictures Entertainment Awaiting release: Bounty, Hammer of the Gods, The House at Awful End, Jinx, The Psycho Looking for: Smart genre films, especially comic book, science fiction, and horror. Website: http://www.circleofconfusion.com Query information: Send via mail, attention Story Department. Or via email at queries@circleofconfusion.com
BOXX COMMUNICATIONS, LLC Principal: Scott Noe Credits: Liquid News, The Jim Rose Twisted Tour In development: Traffic Jam, Elvis Has Not Left the Building, Eat This! Looking for: Mainly reality TV or made-for-TV. Query information: E-mail queries to markwalker@boxxcommunications.tv with "Query" in subject line.
ARCHER ENTERTAINMENT 140 W. 22nd St., Ste. 7-B New York, NY 10011 Website: http://www.archerent.com Principal: Rachel Peters Credits: Boys Don't Cry, Dark Harbor, Nola, You Can Count on Me Upcoming: The Warrior Class, Gray Matters, American Widow Looking for: Documentaries, Features, Made-for-TV/Cable Movies, TV Series Query information: Via mail, include SASE, synopsis and bio.
BACK LOT PICTURES 1351 N. Genesee Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046 Principal: Glenn Williamson Credits: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Ice Harvest Upcoming: Truth, Justice, and the American Way, Sunshine Cleaning Looking for: Features Query information: Letters via mail with "query" on the envelope
THE ASYLUM Website: http://www.theasylum.cc Principal: David Michael Latt, David Rimawi, Sherri Strain Credits: Frankenstein, Beast of Bray Road, Bram Stoker's Way of the Vampire, King of the Ants Upcoming: Dead Men Walking, King of the Lost World, Exorcism of Gail Byers, Vampire Wars Looking for: Direct-to-Video/DVD, Features Query information: Via email at productions@theasylum.cc, with "Query" in the subject line
BARRACUDA PRODUCTIONS Principal: Marc B. Lorber Credits: The Chris Isaak Show, A Tale of Two Wives, Off Season, Rough Air, Shake Rattle & Roll Upcoming: Danger Beneath the Sea, Same As It Never Was, Tsar and Country Looking for: Made-for-TV/Cable Movies, TV Series Query information: By email only at tvmovies@aol.com -- should be less than a page.
Hey, I heard back from Brian Schlichter at Lancaster Entertainment. He said they're currently looking for low budget (under $2 million) thriller and action pieces. If anyone has something, now's a good time. Fempiror sure as hell don't fit that bill.
CATAPULT FILMS 832 Third Street, Ste. 303 Santa Monica, CA 90403 Principals: Lawrence Levy, Lisa Josefsberg Credits: Inferno, Bride of the Wind, Love Object Upcoming: The Inventors of Sex, Outerberlin, Laundry, Traces Looking for: Documentaries, Features Query information: Via mail, addressed "Attn: Query"
COBBLESTONE FILMS Principals: Ben Adler, Jacqui Adler Credits: One Against the Wind, Dalva, A Home for the Holidays Upcoming: Wings of an Angel, The Bone Yard, Northern Lights, The House That Had a Heart, Lucy Fairchild Looking for: Features, Made-for-TV/Cable Movies, TV Series Query information: By email only at development@cstonefilms.com
CRAZYDREAMS ENTERTAINMENT 774 Mays Blvd. #10-231 Incline Village, NV 89451 Website: http://www.crazydreams.com Principal: Randy Holleschau Credits: Confession, All You Need, Changing Hearts Upcoming: Hunt for Justice, The Sasquatch Dumpling Gang, Stillwater Looking for: Animation, Commercials, Features, Made-for-TV/Cable Movies Query information: Either by mail or by email at info@crazydreams.com
Just wanted to say this is a very cool service you've decided to extend to your fellow members, George. And I swear to God, if I had more than two pennies to rub together I'd follow your example. But I don't, so I can't lol
Incidentally, I emailed loglines to a couple of those companies after first seeing this thread last night. Thanks again for looking out for the rest of us!
Yeah, I appreciate you sharing these leads, George. I got a call from Brian Schlichter at Lancaster Gate. He's forwarding my script to another production/distribution company. Here's hoping...
Sounds great, Dr. Mabuse. Maybe if you make it in, you could put in a good word for the rest of us...
Here's the new one.
ENSEMBLE ENTERTAINMENT Principals: Jon Brown, Jeffrey Thal Credits: The Ties That Bind, Slaves to the Underground Upcoming: The Poseidon Adventure, The Snow Goose, Party Animals, Cola Wars, Above Kansas Looking for: Animation, Direct-to-Video/DVD, Documentaries, Features, Made-for-TV/Cable Movies, Miniseries, TV Series Query information: Faxes only to 310-882-8900