Update: Spec Script Sales
2013 got off to a slow start. During the first 10 weeks, only 13 spec script sales.
By comparison, there were 21 spec script sales in the first 10 weeks of 2012.
Since 2012’s sales total (99) declined from 2011 (110), I began to wonder if we were seeing a retraction in the spec market.
Then this happened:
14. Title: Marching Band Logline: [Gina] Rodriguez… will star as a single mother of a high school trumpet player… When the boy’s estranged musician father turns up, he bonds with his son as he begins teaching traditional Mexican regional music to the school’s marching band. Writer: Victor Teran Genre: Drama Agency: Verve Management: Generate Management Buyer: CIMA Productions Date: 3/12/13.
15. Title: One Night on the Hudson Logline: Rookie cop and the criminal he caught go on the lam from crooked cops. Writer: T.J. Fixman Genre: Comedy Agency: WME Buyer: Universal Date: 3/14/13. Notes: Director: Seth Gordon. Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis to star.
16. Title: All the Good Ones Get Away Logline: A Perfect Murder meets Hard Candy Writer: Elliot San Genre: Contained Thriller Agency: WME Management: Energy Entertainment Buyer: 1984 Private Defense Contractors Date: 3/15/13. Notes: Deal includes a progress-to-production component that requires the project to go into production in 2013.
17. Title: Caught in the Act Logline: Story follows an actor who is confused with a thief he is playing on a crime re-enactment show. His mistaken identity thrusts him into the spotlight of law enforcement and the underworld as he attempts to clear his name. Writer: Steve Klayman Genre: Action Comedy Management: Anthem Entertainment Buyer: Atmosphere Entertainment Date: 3/20/13.
18. Title: The Making of Rock Hudson Logline: The transformation of Hudson from a shy kid into a sex symbol with rugged good looks was a tricky bit of business, in that he was forced to keep secret his homosexuality. The script tells the story from the vantage point of Henry Willson, the agent who discovered Hudson. Beyond changing the actor’s name, Willson became adept at keeping secrets. Writer: Tyler Ruggeri Genre: Biopic Agency: Gersh Management: Anonymous Content Buyer: Maven Pictures Date: 3/19/13.
19. Title: Incinerator Logline: N/A Writer: Jay Eden Genre: Thriller Management: Jeff Ross Entertainment Buyer: Boies/Schiller Film Group Date: 3/19/13.
20. Title: Eden Logline: “Eden” has an alien component to it as it is described as a modern day science fiction take on the Underground Railroad legend. In the case of “Eden,” rather than humans enslaving other humans, the plot sees aliens oppressing humanity. The story follows a family on the run, risking their lives to get to a free city via something called the Rail. Writer: Olatunde Osunsanmi Genre: Science Fiction Agency: CAA Management: Caliber Media Buyer: Gold Circle Films Date: 3/26/13.
21. Title: Ink and Bone Logline: The horror thriller concerns a female book editor who is assigned to help a reclusive horror writer finish his latest book only to discover the writer is being held prisoner in his home by everything he’s ever written. Writer: Zak Olcewicz Genre: Thriller Agency: WME Management: Prolific Entertainment Buyer: Dimension Films Date: 3/27/13. Notes: Preemptive purchase.
22. Title: Camden Logline: When domestic terrorists take over an Ivy League campus, a young Secret Service agent must do everything he can to protect his charge: The First Daughter. Writer: Lucas Carter Genre: Thriller Management: Energy Entertainment Buyer: The Exchange Date: 4/2/13.
23. Title: Broken Cove Logline: The crime thriller follows a half-Irish half-British man who lives in London but moves back home after discovering his brother has been killed. Writer: Declan O’Dwyer Genre: Crime Thriller Management: Energy Entertainment Buyer: Thunder Road Date: 4/3/13. Notes: Manager Brooklyn Weaver discovered the script on the Black List site. O’Dwyer lives in Ireland. First-timer.
24. Title: Omega Point Logline: The story centers on a young man who comes across a mysterious crash site in the woods where he discovers and befriends a god-like artificial intelligence desperate to escape earth. Writer: Cameron Alexander Genre: Science Fiction Agency: Resolution Management: Rosa Entertainment Buyer: CBS Films Date: 4/8/13. Notes: Alexander is a first-timer.
25. Title: House Arrest Logline: Two high-end bond traders whose plan to end their marriage hits a snag when they are forced to live together for six months of house arrest. Writer: Justin Adler Genre: Comedy Agency: UTA Management: Kapital Entertainment Buyer: Relativity Media Date: 4/9/13.
26. Title: Bermuda Triangle Logline: The logline is being kept under wraps, but the ambition is to use the Bermuda Triangle mythology–planes and ships go missing–and turn it into a tent pole action franchise. Writer: Daniel Kunka Genre: Action Agency: ICM Management: Madhouse Entertainment Buyer: Warner Bros. Date: 4/9/13.
27. Title: Highrise Logline: Described as a lush 21st century thriller inspired by the 1960’s classic, The Collector. Writer: Peter Dowling Genre: Thriller Agency: APA Management: Industry Entertainment Buyer: Fox 2000 Date: 4/11/13.
14 spec script sales in the last 4 weeks, more than doubling the deals in the first 10 weeks of the year.
Moreover where there were times this year where sales were nearly 50% off the pace of 2012, but that gap has closed considerably. Year-to-date comparison: 27 (2013) / 34 (2012).
The world of acquisitions and development is a cyclical thing: Up. Down. Stagnant. Active. This genre is hot. Then it’s not. Thus it wouldn’t be surprising if there was a retrenchment in sales considering how 2011 doubled the sales of 2010. But at least with the flurry of activity in the last 4 weeks, it looks like we still have a strong spec script market.
Finally while our goal with a spec is to sell it, there are so many other ways a spec script can pay off for a writer. I’m going to talk about in an upcoming Business of Screenwriting post.
Congratulations to all the writers, agents and managers who were involved in the sales listed above!
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