2015 Spec Script Sales Analysis: Buyers
Yesterday we looked at 2015 spec script deals by genre. Today we break down the numbers per major studios, mini-majors, subsidiaries, production companies, and financiers to see which were the most and least active in the script acquisition market. The totals:
6
Universal
4
20th Century Fox
Relativity Media
Warner Bros.
3
Disney
New Line
2
Black Bear Pictures
CBS Films
Lotus Entertainment
MGM
Scott Free Productions
Sony
1
Alcon Entertainment
Amazon Studios
Bold Films
Erebus Pictures
Film House Germany
Focus Features
Fox Searchlight
Fubar Films
Lionsgate
Media Talent Group
Merced Media Partners
Millennium Films
OddLot Entertainment
PalmStar Media
Paramount
Parkes+MacDonald
Rumble Films
Studio 8
Vandal Entertainment
Victoria Films
Voltage Pictures
White Horse Pictures
Working Title
Look at these numbers from the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 per each major studio:
20th Century Fox 5 / 3 / 1 / 7 / 3 / 3 / 8 / 4
Disney 5 / 1 / 2 / 1 / 2 / 0 / 2 / 3
Paramount 1 / 5 / 4 / 4 / 12 / 3 / 2 / 1
Sony Pictures 8 / 4 / 1 / 7 / 9 / 3 / 10 / 2
Universal 6 / 6 / 1 / 6 / 9 / 6 / 4 / 6
Warner Bros. 8 / 8 / 8 / 15 / 7 / 4 / 2 / 4
Sharp declines at 20th Century Fox and Sony, nominal decrease at Paramount, nominal uptick at Disney, significant boost at Universal, and double the figure from the previous year at Warner Bros.
That said, the numbers are notably low which reflects the slack year 2015 was for the spec script market.
Of the 55 script deals last year, 20 involved the major studios. If we include CBS Films, Focus Features, Fox Searchlight, Lionsgate, MGM, and New Line , subsidiaries of the Big Six or mini-majors, we can add 10 more. That means of the total number of spec script deals by major or mini-major studios comprised 55% of all deals which is almost exactly on par with 2014 (56%) and considerably higher than 2013 (23%), the lowest figure since I’ve been hosting the blog starting in 2008.
What does that mean? While the spec market has definitely softened the last two years, at least percentage-wise, the major studios and mini-majors are more active than production companies and financiers.
Two other items of note:
* Relativity Media acquired 4 properties, then fell into bankruptcy. They are in the midst of attempting to get their financial house in order. What the status of those four scripted projects is, who knows. Hopefully Relativity comes back to life as they represent another buyer. Indeed if they do reemerge as a viable entity, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make a splash in the spec market in order to demonstrate to the town they are legitimate players again.
* The very last deal of 2015 was a deal by Amazon Studios. Coupled with the emergence of Netflix, it will be most interesting to see what their influence is on the spec market. As I write this, the town is still atwitter over the Netflix acquisition of the spec script “Bright” for a reported $3M as part of a $90M package involving actors Will Smith and Joel Edgerton, director David Ayer, and screenwriter Max Landis. Could Amazon and Netflix act as disruptors and provide a jolt to the spec market? More on that in a post later this week.
Here is a breakdown of acquisitions by genre at major, mini-major studios and subsidiaries:
Universal Pictures
A Meyers Thanksgiving
Bismarck
Free Fall
Desert Eagle
Humbug
White Boy Rick
20th Century Fox
A Shot in the Eye
Ascension
The Leviathan
Underwater
Warner Bros.
Hammerspace
Queen of the Air
The Infinite Horizon
The Libertine
Disney
Mulan
Prince Charming
The Water Man
Sony
Verona
Untitled aka Move That Body
Paramount
Bounty
CBS Films
Free Agent
Senior Year
Focus Features
Boomtown
Fox Searchlight
Pale Blue Dot
Lionsgate
Untitled aka Sarah
New Line
The House
The Virginian
What do you take away from this information?
Tomorrow: Agents and managers.