Script Shark

Okay...I've read a couple things on this board, but I'd really like some sound testimonials on Script Shark. $150 may not seem like a lot, but I sure don't want to throw it away. I'd like to hear both positives and negatives. I'm very much considering using them, but I need to be sure this isn't like paying a literary agent to read your manuscript (a definite no-no). Right now 4 very legitimate managers have requested and received my screenplay. It's been about a month and I haven't heard from any of them. I'm wondering if I should be doing more in the meantime. This is my fourth script I'm sending out, but I really LOVE this one (as opposed to just loving the other ones) and am willing to do what it takes. This was really a long winded request for some opinions.

Thanks,
Charley

There was just a thread about this lower in this forum.

The question is, what you you want from the service?

If you want a good set of notes that will help you improve your script, opinions may vary about it being worth the $150. Opinions seem to vary about 50/50 in favor of DD shark customers being satisfied.

I and a lot of DDers have used Ext's Good Coverage Cheap service from this forum (I've learned since the last thread, the service does remain $25 cheaper than Scriptshark.) The customer satisfaction rate seems very high with his notes.


However, if all you're really paying for is for the service to pass your script on to Hollywood insiders, I think it's a crap shoot at best, and not the right way to go about your goal.

If you were a film company exec, how seriously would you take scripts from a company that gets paid to pass them around?

Anyway, if you passed a script around a month ago, the managers may all have been out of town. Since you've basically laid out your cards, why not wait out at least one response from a manager before you get a set of professional notes?

I started the thread "Calling All ScriptShark 'considers'" lower in the forum. Like you, I wanted to hear testimonials about users of the service. I focused my call on "considers" or "recommends" b/c I had just received a consider and wanted to hear a preview of what to expect next...

Take a look at the thread; there's some good info. from a few DDers who responded.

I agree with Orpheus that if your script's being read by legit management, I'd wait to hear what they have to say before submitting to ScriptShark. After all, if SS gets you a manager and/or agent and he sells the script, SS takes 10%.

However, Orpheus' speculation about how seriously film company execs will take an SS submission might be off the mark. If you get a "consider" or better, SS will try to find you representation first, a manager or agent who will work with you in taking the script to the buyers. The execs will be getting the script from them--not directly from SS.

Here's how it worked for us: We got a consider from the SS reader in April. SS started ending our script to prospective reps in early June. One manager--an independent with several studio sales within the last year--responded the next day. About four weeks later, he attached an up-and-coming young black actor to play the story's lead: a star about the stature of an Omar Epps or Don Cheadle say. (once the "letter of attachment" has been signed, sealed, and delivered we'll be at liberty to give the name...)

A week after that, my partner and I met with the actor's manager to discuss their plans for further packaging the script...

That' where it stands now. We've optioned one script before, but this is the first time we've had recognizable talent attached to a project...

So we're very happy with the SS experience so far--and the coverage notes were remarkably good too!

boski62, congrats on your success with Script Shark, but please explain this...

After all, if SS gets you a manager and/or agent and he sells the script, SS takes 10%.

I remember checking out the SS site and very carefully reading through the downloadable release form, etc., and nowhere is there any mention of the Shark taking 10%. In fact, when a FAQ asks "What's the catch?" The reply is, "There is none."

Did you perhaps mean to state, if a sale comes as a result of SS coverage, the manager/agent takes ten per cent? Because that, of course, is quite normal. SS taking another ten per cent on top of that sounds questionable, particularly once they've already collected a coverage fee and their taking an additional cut of potential profits is not advertised up front.

I believe you're right, Hair. I believe Scriptshark does take a percentage of a sale, which as it was explained to me anyway is why they're not eligible for the Inktip script consultants list. (No service there is listed unless they take NO fee from any prospective sale based on the notes they gave a script.)

Of course, given Boski's pretty much 100% rate of posts concerning how golly gee dandy script shark is, I'm not so sure he's the one to go to for shark gripes.

If you've got time to do a little digging, maybe even multiple pages down in this forum's archive, there have been plentiful posts about all the services. Recents posts are dominated by software queries, but there used to be plenty of shark talk and pimp talk from plenty of dd old timers.

Thanks, Buzz. I did dig back thru and read some of those earlier threads. Though I couldn't find a reference to SS taking ten.

To me, if this is true (and I know it's still yet to be proven), this seems not only duplicitous, but also legally unenforceable, if no mention of such is made in the release form signed by the writer.

Of course, it's possible there is a second agreement offered to those receiving "considers" or "recommends" which more clearly states this. But there've been several posts from those folks here with no mention of the 10% fee.

Just wondering what gives.

I have to say that script shark notes from the coverage where worth the money for me. Their suggestions made the story tighter and a better read. And as a result, I think much more likely for an agent to take me on, once I can get one of them to read my script.

Just my experience. I would certainly use them again.

Grace

Hey Hair,

You're right about the current release form on the SS site! Doesn't mention the 10%. Not sure what's the skinny on that. I'll have to call SS and find out.

But check this out--this is the language on the release form I signed back about six months ago, so it looks like they've revised the form:

"In the event that you (ScriptShark) promote, aid or otherwise enable the eventual sale or option for sale of the Material (in either case a "Sale"), and your efforts lead to a Sale, I agree to pay you a brokerage fee of 10% (Ten Percent) of the Sale price within 30 days of receipt of Sale payment(s)."

Don't know what gives. My guess is maybe prospective customers were finding this verbiage a bit off-putting. But I doubt if they've backed off their 10% claim on sales they orchestrate. Maybe now you have to sign a second form at the time you agree to let them send the script out. Just speculating...

Dunno...

hey boski,

congratulations! i'm glad you found out for yourself that scriptshark is legit.

write on,
grace m (not to be confused w/the other grace)

p.s. re: the 10%. i'll gladly pay SS their 10% if they aid in the sale of my script. i'd rather pay them 10% of something than keep 100% of nothing. besides, i truly believe in the service they provide and am happy to contribute to their long-term success so other aspiring writers can benefit from their service.

"I truly believe in the service they provide and am happy to contribute to their long-term success so other aspiring writers can benefit from their service."

What kind of mind control experiment are they working on you people?

This is even creepier than that old "Much better than cats. I'm going to see it again and again." line from the old SNL hypnotist sketch from a few years back.