Screenplays on the internet publishing
 

I wrote a screenplay that I want to put up on the internet. Are there any sites that I can publish it on or do I have to create my own site?

I already WGAw registered the script.

I'm not sure if this is the right forum but I figured people in this forum would be more literary minded.

Any help would be appreciated. I'm not crazy. I know the odds of it being bought by any film company are nonexistent. No one will probably read it. I simply think it's an interesting story that people might find compelling.

For those curious
http://www.scriptfly.com/ww/wmarket/index.shtml
Baghdad Bodyguards

I'm not sure if anyone online sells scripts the way you're looking for, namely because there isn't that large of an audience in well... reading scripts in the general public.

I'm not even sure if I would use a service like scriptfly, it doesn't look very professional to me.

The ONLY real way to get a script produced is either to:
A) Know a producer
B) Write a novel that gets optioned
C) Get an agent.

You're probably best off with C.

Luckily I have a day job. I'm only looking to put it up on the net, not really sell it. If a miracle happened that would be nice.

A friend of mine are both actually writing scripts and we were discussing how to get them out there. First, how did you get yours registered sabre? I heard the SWG can do it but do you have any details for us? Thanks

On the Writers Guild of America site you can register your script for only $20.

http://www.wgawregistry.org/webrss/

Also on their main page there is a link to WGA registered agents.

Personally, I don't have the time to send out my script or query to every agent in an attempt to get an agent. People wonder why movies often stink, nearly every movie in Hollywood is written by about 25 people. Basically, you need to know someone to even get your script read. I'm an attorney so I don't need to fight an impossible battle, unless I'm getting paid by the hour to do so. I bought the Hollywood creative directory and sent out queries. Most of them came back unread, for "legal reasons".
Miracles happen, but rarely.
I only want to put my screenplay up on the internet so people can read it if they want. Almost no one will but I want to put it out there.

That's pretty true as far as movies... at least mainstream ones. But a lot of those people get their starts through indy films, but there is definately elitism in Hollywood. TV shows are probably a bit easier to get into, mainly because they have groups of people writing instead of one person (sans Studio 60 and a few others).

It's tough to say, as someone involved in production (at least... in training to be) I personally would never suggest someone post a script open to the public online. You do have coverage in terms of copywright due to WGA, but still... you may know the legal side of it better than I do, but it could be tough to prove if someone steals your idea.

As far as pitching (or sending your script to companies) most will not take scripts that are mailed to them for a variety of reasons as you found out. I don't really understand 100% of the legal issues with it, but there are some, and that's why nearly everyone requires you to have an agent before they even look at your script.

Back in the days of Usenet, I read a screenwriting forum. Most of the folks there were aspiring writers, with a few pros in there offering advice. One of the aspiring writers was a nobody who played the game, and shopped his script around. Eventually it was bought, and made into a film: American Pie. So, it can happen...but it's a lot of work, and a lot of rejection.

In terms of getting ripped off, I 've read several professional screen writers say that only non-pros worry about getting ripped off. They register their scripts with the wga and then don't worry about it. The cost to studios to buy a script is so small compared to the cost of a movie itself, it's not worth ripping off a writer. $100,000 plus shooting bonus for a new writers script compared to 25-70 million dollar movie. But one of the 25 working writers in Hollywoodland who has writer's block could always go on line and steal ideas from your script. It's a concern but odds of your script getting made are even less. I'm one viscious sob so I don't worry about it. Only kidding, slightly.

I'd look at:

http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/welcome.html

This site is great and has a lot of info for aspiring screenwriters. It's run by Terry Rossio & Ted Elliott, the screenwriting team behind the Pirates of the Carribean films.

http://www.zoetrope.com/join.cgi

Francis ford coppolla's site for inspiring screenwriters. I posted my script there. i think they keep it up for 30 days or so. I'm going to get killed by all the English majors. I'm sure there is some editing blunders. but it will be fun. I think it's an interesting story, but so did the guy who wrote Batman and Robin. In order to get full access to the other scipts on the site you have to review 4 other inspiring screenwriters scripts. To post your next script (2nd) you have to review 4 more screenplays (total of 8).

I think it's a cool site to check out, at least for anyone who has written a script or is thinking about writing one.

I was thinking about this desire to post a screenplay on the internet for everyone to read, and I have to say of the screenplays I've read online, all of them were either from writers I have heard of and liked, or were for projects that were already greenlighted as films. I don't know how many people in general surf the net looking for original screenplays from unknowns.

However, one thing I think could work is adapting the screenplay into another form for the internet. If you can draw, or know someone who can, you could possibly adapt the screenplay into a webcomic, with regular installments to keep readers coming back.

Another idea would be to adapt the script into a novel, or at least a short story. I'm much more likely to read a short story by an unknown than a screenplay. If you wrote a novel-length adaptation and wanted to post it online, you could serialize it in a blog or somesuch. Also, getting the novel or short story published could increase the credibility of your script, since producers would already know it's saleable.