Uncle Phil has an official announcement. The Los Angeles Times, a well-respected newspaper, has declared the spec script deceased. Thanks to guys like William Goldman, specs had a good run; but that run is officially over. Yep, the LA Times say it's so. So it must be so. Therefore, anyone out there trying to sell spec screenplays should hang it up. In other words, don't quit your day job or night shift gig for that matter. If you get a job in Hollywood, it'll probably be as a janitor cleaning out bathrooms for greedy executives planning the next comic book adaption or reboot.
But wait, there is a silver lining to this dark cloud. Let me provide a personal story. I've recently received two options where I received small payments. One was a work-for-hire type gig, and the other for a previously optioned script I wrote on spec for another producer. So, if you can figure out clever ways to get your foot in the door, I'd give them a try.
What say you? Will you be mourning the death of the spec?
http://beta.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-st-spec-scripts-20171219-htm...
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In the natural evolution of filmmaking - things do indeed change (entropy at its finest.) The skyrocketing costs of movie making (primarily labor) is driving more & more nails into the Hollywood casket; bad for LA/Hollywood but good for everybody else. Movie making is becoming more decentralized and is becoming ever more dependant on fresh material (spec scripts) along with new cast & crew (jobs). The spec market in Hollyworld may be drying up but don't count the overall spec market down & out.
I guess I'll have to tell the two producers trying to sell two different scripts of mine to just knock it off. :)
Spec script consulting business is booming.
The author of the article has two wrong facts. Goldman's quote "nobody knows anything" is on movie BO success, and Shane Black was already a studio produced Screenwriter when he sold "The Last Boy Scout."