Seriously Wondering...

[Stephen Wegmann]

Where do you find production companies and their emails or addresses online? I'd imagine there'd be a database of sorts if they were really looking for sales - but does no such thing exist?

The current way I'm going about of finding production companies just isn't working. Google ain't what it's cracked up to be. Help?

[writerman]

IMDBpro - 14 day free trial with credit card
Done Deal Pro membership
Script Pimp membership

If you still can't find it...someone in here can.

[Stephen Wegmann]

Ahh. Money = Accessability.

True. Thanks though. I do have another question though - How does partnering up with local production companies (I'm in Atlanta) help you toward the advancement of you're work or credit, etc.? Is it through contests that you help enter?

[rockridesva]

filmtracker is good for that too.

And, Stephen this is NOT a knock on you in any way shape or form (because you simply asked, and I'm sure will pursue some of the sites of info)... but I have seen so many people come through here looking for info, etc. but when they find out it's only available by either purchasing a book, or getting an online membership they become agitated. And, hey I've given out my fair share of free info from my online membership sites, but it just amazes me at the amount of people who WANT A HOLLYWOOD CAREER... but won't spend $15 a month, or $50 for a book to get it. so, just as a small reminder, you have to give to receive. And I'm not pushing any of the sites out there, but I subscribe, and use some of them daily. The info is a necessity.

So please, if you're even 1/100th serious about trying to give this thing 'screenwriting' a go, then don't complain about the $15 a month it'll take to get the resources.

[TDWoj]

Except, as in my case, the $15 a month is the difference between having a roof over one's head, or not.... kind of hard to pursue a movie-writing career when living in a cardboard box under the Gardiner Expressway.

(Day job's dried up again.)

[Stephen Wegmann]

Regarding rockrides's post -

I understand you perfectly. Success does cost money, and I do intend on spending my money - just after I've honed my scripts and actually write one I consider "high concept" - I have many others that are not high concept.

I understand that getting production company info and such is a price but why do some contest cost so much to enter? Like 50 bucks - to possible not get noticed? But then again, if you do win that contest that 50 bucks could be an investment of millions.

I don't know - I just find it kind of pretentious that companies want to make the next big film but seemingly don't want it to be easy for anyone to get it to them. What's that?

I'm damn serious about screenwriting and would spend half my paycheck as an investment - which is what most thing entail - investments of time, money, creativity, whatever.

[Hamboogul]

Some contests like the Nicholl set up the entry fee... most likely as a deterrent from writers sending 100 scripts in. But their entry fee doesn't even pay for the reading costs (yes, you have to pay the wages of readers).

And some contests are set up by marginal production companies as a way to see what kind of scripts are out there.

Other contests are set up to promote an underrepresented group (such as Fox Diversity, CBS diversity, etc) to encourage minorities and women.

Finally, some contests are set up to make money for the contest organizers.

If you are looking to use the contest as a stepping stone for a career, stick to contests that are the most competitive and the most prestigious.

As far as rock's comments go, he's right. But it's also a practicality issue. Don't spend 10 hours to cull the web for info when you can spend $15 per month to have it be readily available.

[kidcharlemagne]

www.moviebytes.com (http://www.moviebytes.com) costs 20-30 bucks a year. Good site.

I agree with Rock. Writing is like setting up a small business - you've got to speculate to accumulate.

[writer0825]

I agree with rock too. Plus it's not just being able to get access to people's company info (emails, faxes etc) but you get other info out of them that the non-paying sites don't give you, like what they've produced and what they have in development, what scripts have sold recently and who's buying them, those kinds of things, and they're all invaluable to helping your career and finding the right people to contact about each of your projects.

[Hamboogul]

ironically, i don't subscribe to these services because, as Spider-Man says, "With great powers come great responsibilities." I wouldn't know what to do with all that info.

[dclary]

Am I the power or the responsibility part?

All I know is every 2-3 weeks Hammy is all "you still have your DDPro subscription? What up with so-and-so?"

[Hamboogul]

Listen, I really need to know about Ron Jeremy's film slate.

[BROUGHCUT]

Where do you find production companies and their emails or addresses online? I'd imagine there'd be a database of sorts if they were really looking for sales - but does no such thing exist?

The current way I'm going about of finding production companies just isn't working. Google ain't what it's cracked up to be. Help?

Use your imagination. How many ways are there to format a domain name? Whois it, then google it for email scheme (or guess: most email servers are setup to bounce misdelivered email, so trial and error).

btw anyone have the addy for fortis films? They don't seem to have an internet domain set-up for email.

[Gauchita]

http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=production+companies&sp-a=sp10023358&sp-f=ISO-8859-1

[Ukkonen]

My library here in Vancouver has the latest Hollywood Creative Directories. Maybe your library does as well, and even if they don't, you can always put in request after request for them to stock the HCD. :)

[ihavebiglips]

Fortis Films
8581 Santa Monica Blvd, Suite 1
West Hollywood , CA 90069
United States
310-659-4533
310-659-4373 fax


Staff Title
Sandra Bullock Producer/Actor
Gesine Bullock-Prado
Lillian Dean VP of Development

Type of Project(s): Features, TV Series
Will you accept queries?: (Query policy unknown)
Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romantic Comedy
Release Credits: Hope Floats, Miss Congeniality, Two Weeks' Notice

[glantern2814]

Or, you can spend some money and buy an HCD. I'm still using the one I have from 2003; any phone #s that are out of date I can usually find on the web.

You also don't need to enter every contest. Just pick a few of the big ones. Winning a contest here in Georgia (and I don't even know of any) will not help you a bit. But getting to the quarterfinals of the Nicholl or semis of Austin will bring you a lot of attention.

Some of the money you spend is also tax-deductible in certain cases (and don't ask me which ones), so save all your receipts.

If you're serious about writing, then you will have to bite the bullet and spend a bit of money.