Spec Scripts
Stumbled upon a site recently that charged directors to access a bank of spec scripts. It got me thinking about how the process works for most of you. Love to hear your thoughts on any of the below Qs.
Filmmakers
- Do you usually collaborate with writers or develop spec concepts yourself? - Which do you prefer?
- How difficult is it to find good spec concepts/ scripts?
- Where do you go to find them?
Writers
- Do you see value in getting your spec scripts shot?
Everyone
- What do you want out of your spec work?
- Is it for your portfolio/ reel? Are you trying to sell it?
Just wondering. If you're interested, maybe we can try to set up a mutually beneficial exchange here.
-Sean
Filmmakers
- Do you usually collaborate with writers or develop spec concepts yourself? - Which do you prefer?
- How difficult is it to find good spec concepts/ scripts?
- Where do you go to find them?
Writers
- Do you see value in getting your spec scripts shot?
Everyone
- What do you want out of your spec work?
- Is it for your portfolio/ reel? Are you trying to sell it?
Just wondering. If you're interested, maybe we can try to set up a mutually beneficial exchange here.
-Sean
Tags: Copywriter, Director, Filmmaker, Ideas, Scrips, Spec, Writers
Views: 8
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by john gaines on
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I'd worry about some hack picking it up, tweaking it just enough to dodge the copyright protections, and selling it as their own. Sure I could go to court, but why run the risk in the first place?
John
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Permalink Reply by Sean Hazell on -
What do you do with your spec & client-killed concepts John? I hate the thought of great ideas rotting away....
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When I go through old comps it's a red flag that I should work harder on doing things the right way. Everything in my dead file is so tightly focused on a specific job that it just won't work for anything else. Good ideas don't rot. They remain forever young, subtle, funny in a sly way, and altogether brilliant - but in the end reusing them never works for me.
John
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Permalink Reply by Dan Sorgen on -
Hi Sean,
Thanks for posting on this topic. You've mentioned my web site, SpecBank.com, and perhaps you (and others) would like to know why I started it.
I'm a copywriter here in LA, and it took me years to get a solid job. The fact is, scoring the opportunity to write broadcast campaigns is a Catch 22 – you need TV on your reel to get the work, and you can't get the reel without the work. The same goes for commercial directors. The alternative is spec spots, which, as you know, are "fake" spots you make yourself. Done well, they can look as good as the real thing. Many directors have been signed with spec reels, and I've gotten TV work with mine.
I discovered Group 101 Spots (the collaborative for aspiring commercial directors) and submitted dozens of scripts for them. I've had 6 made. But Group 101 is expensive (and on hiatus), and my concepts were only accessible by a handful of directors. So I started the site in order to reach more directors; I solicited scripts from hundreds of working copywriters; screened submissions for quality; and I've been posting scripts to the site every week.
I charge a $50 membership to pay for the site and also to ensure that I can keep track of the spots our member directors read and shoot. In other words, writers' scripts aren't just "out there" for anyone to use. There's a reservation system and directors are required to contact the writers before shooting. There's no reason for directors to "sell it as their own" since they're not competing with the writers.
Our members have expressed high satisfaction with the site, and many are making – or have made – spots they found there.
In response to what John said about scripts being specific to a promotion or product, in my experience that doesn't matter – if the spot looks good and has a great concept behind it, it works. We have lots of scripts at The Spec Bank that are very specific. They still work great.
If you have any questions, I'd love to answer them at info@specbank.com.
Dan
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Permalink Reply by Sean Hazell on
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Thanks Dan. Great to hear straight from the source.
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Permalink Reply by micky zilbershtein on -
As a director that did some commercials I can say that the problem with many directors (me included) coming from film school and wanting to do our stuff (art if you want) and not what a copywriter wrote. My latest creation (coke addict) was made out of wanting to do something for my soul. A video I will enjoy doing and will make me and my friends laugh. I never thought it will rich 30000 people around the world and I don't expect anything more out of it (ha ha ha). That's why viral video ads are so appealing to me. It is a field where you can almost be a one man show (writing directing shooting and editing) you can fool around and do something a regular client will never approve (not forgetting the budget is usually small as well). It is not to say it is a better way working alone but sometimes it is nicer to work without too many people having power on the project .in a way viral commercials are the purest Art, it is the only creation declaring upfront it's intention to sell a product (films, TV, radio news, are all commercialized but they hide it) and more then that the viewer knows it is a commercial and still send it to a friend and so on .to find a copywriter that’s is thinking like you is very hard and many times too expensive . So the website you are talking about is very interesting but why not make it for real commercials and not only spec?
micky z
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Permalink Reply by astral on
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Regarding your e-mail about spec spots: it comes
at an ironic time because I'm shooting two more
this weekend (all my commercials so far have been
spec). Initially, specs that I wrote/directed
helped me get notice and support of a very good
production company. But, the only reason I'm doing
any more specs is because I need to expand my reel
and hopefully get the agencies to take me more
seriously.
Ideally, I think specs should be done with an
agency - something they write and support. The
relationship is what matters now for me, and doing
more specs wouldn't be helpful unless they're with
an agency.
I'll upload the new spots in time for the new
year.... one is for Guitar Hero III about a
10-year old kid who's a rock-star (similar to the
Scope spot in theme).
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Permalink Reply by micky zilbershtein on
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Why not find a small or medium company and make them a real viral commercial for a small budget? Then you can show your talent (and you have one) and the affectivity of your talent. in this "new" world you don't need agency (I think).
miczi
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Hey Micky - I'm sorry, was that a question/statement for me? I'm not sure I understand what you mean.
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Permalink Reply by micky zilbershtein on
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yes Anton for you. forgive me for my english i think faster then i can write.any way it was a question. but maybe i did not understand your comment. so i will ask. do you get a budget from anyone to do your specs?after you will answer i will continue.
all the best micky
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Sure no problem. For the original 3 specs I did (on this site) my DP and I financed; for the two I just shot on the weekend, my production company financed. In my case it was a bit of a special thing because they just wanted to expand my reel in order to win my first job - they don't usually support specs because what seems to matter most is that the spot has aired.
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Permalink Reply by micky zilbershtein on
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Got it. What I meant is that if you were not that lucky (with someone supporting you) you can do viral commercials (for the net) for small shops or company's (with small budget) and make them lucky to use your talent. "What seems to matter most is that the spot has aired" if you get 1000000 views on youtube or somewhere else you can do more…I think (or it is just the" I have a dream" syndrome)
micky
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