Spec Script Sale: “Vanish Man

Lionsgate acquires thriller spec script “Vanish Man” from first-timer Denison Hatch. From Variety:

Lionsgate has bought international thriller spec “Vanish Man” from the scribe, who most recently worked as an assistant at Original Film. Before that, he tapped away on screenplays in his spare time while working as a writer’s assistant to “American Bullshit” scribe Eric Singer.

“I built up a network of people who liked my stuff,” the Cornell grad said of his three years with Singer, when he’d ask friends and acquaintances to read his unrepresented material. “When I was done with ‘Vanish Man,’ I sent it out to everyone who had liked my stuff in the past.”

Script was forwarded on to enough managers to nab Hatch nearly a dozen meetings with reps.

Is it possible to sell a spec script if you don’t live in L.A.? Yes. Can it help if you live in L.A.? Yes. Is it important to network? Yes. But the single most important thing: Write a damn good spec script.

Hatch is repped by Circle of Confusion.

By my count, this is the 76th spec script sale in 2012.

There were 66 spec script sales by this time last year.

The 76th spec script didn’t sell last year until October 11th.

Spec script sales are up 13% year-to-date compared to 2011.

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