There are more spec scripts written by Tom, Dick, and Harry then subsequently ignored by studios every year than there are feature films made by independent filmmakers that get no distribution.
In my research on how to write and construct a spec screenplay I noted how many films were written by established industry insiders and by those who knew someone already in the biz.
An exclusionary club, a cadre, nepotism, whathaveyou, it shouldn't be surprising - go with what you know, don't waste time looking for "the best".
It's all a crapshoot anyway in this industry.
Furthermore, I went and researched the beginnings of many many many screenwriters.
Most started out with little weenie projects.
Additionally I consistently noted the high frequency of writer directors there were for distributed films.
(If you can't get distribution... what's the point? Art for art's sake? Pfft. Yeah. Grow up).
So I went hunting for independent film sites and found IT with the intent & goal of learning the mechanics of HOW to get a film made and distributed myself because there's even less of a chance of selling a spec screenplay.
700 to 800 MPAA rated films annually
+
500 to 600 non-MPAA rated films annually
Page 13 -
http://www.mpaa.org/Resources/93bbeb16-0e4d-4b7e-b085-3f41c459f9ac.pdf
"There are an estimated 4,000 - 5,000 independent films made every single year. Here's the unfortunate truth: Less than 5% of all these movies end up with distribution."
http://www.distribution.la/
Probably not the most reliable source of intel, but it doesn't sound like complete BS.
Maybe this'll be better...
"Only about 40 of the 3,812 finished films that were submitted to Sundance this year will get any kind of distribution at all. That’s slightly over one percent. The other 98% you will never get to see – not even on Netflix."
http://www.culturalweekly.com/indie-films-state-of-the-union.html
Looks somewhat more credible.
And considering that not every indie film gets submitted to Sundance (on a lark) their 3,812 number suggests the previous distribution.la numbers were low balling the total number.
I bet it's closer to 8,000, give or take a thousand. Or two.
Lettuce move onto spec screenplays...
"I often see the figure that 40,000 (or more) scripts are written each year... " (2004 figure)
http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-7081.html
"According to the Writer's Guild of America, 55,000 pieces of literary material are registered annually, 30,00 of which are screenplays."
http://www.screenwritingtostandard.com/
(Ahem. This page specifically cites adhering to industry standards of spec screenplay formatting - as opposed to do whatever you want, standards be damned. But of course this is being presented by oppressive formatting zealots, I'm sure).
"An old adage in Hollywood is that in spite of the hundreds of thousands of rejected scripts every year, a good script will find an audience. Format properly, be professional, and write a killer script, and your chances are maximized for success."
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-spec-script.htm
Perhaps a little melodramatic, but point made - it's more than a few thousand.
Certainly
more than the number of never-to-be-seen feature films made.
A
LOT more.
If you want to get into the film industry to sell screenplays - the easiest route is be a writer/directer for the sole reason just to get a toehold in the film business.
People are MORE interested in your film than in your screenplay(s).
This is a industry built on networking and relationships - MUCH MORE - than producing a fine product.
Four monkeys that can get a chimp eating a banana on film will do better than a genius pounding out PC/Mac thespian gold.
No.
I haven't sold a thing.
Maralyn -
How many have you bought, produced, and had distributed by a third party?
BTW...
IMHOpine, but of course.
I see, so this is opinion, stated as fact.
That was tongue in cheek humor, Maralyn.
I was giving you a
back door to escape from.
And I'm not even irrirated by this quixotic quest.
Been there. Done that. Not even interested in the T-shirt.
Use proper grammar in your action lines.
Do WeTH you want in the dialog.
Argue w/ me. Don't argue w/ me. Whatever.