I know the likelyhood of getting somewhere on Spec Scripts alone is almost nil, but knowing that I understand that....these are my questions:

1. Do you guys accept spec scripts?

2. If so, where would one send them?

3. What would be the prefered shows that the Spec Scripts were for? (Would Veronica Mars be apropriate?)

Thanks guys...


OH...and Javi and Fury: "Stalk Stalk Stalk Stalk!"

-Andy "Speaker" Floyd

also - do you have to have an agent........sorry forgot that part!

speaker -

i can say with some degree of certainty that lost does not accept unsolicited spec material - the only show to ever do that - to my knowledge - is star trek (they had an open submission policy) - in its various post tng incarnations.*

per wga rules we have to assign at least one script to a freelancer, but usually those come from the pool of agency represented writers (there are always exceptions and dark horse success stories) - so the short answer is that to get through the door to any show, you have to get through an agent's door.* i don't know a single person working on primetime who does not have agency representation.

if you are serious about getting spec material together, the first thing to keep in mind is that you are doing it to give to an agent who will then help launch your career.* it's a longterm commitment.

second, you need more than one piece of material - some writers have up to four, five, six specs at any given time, for a variety of reasons a - it's hard to get it right the first time* - b - shows come and go and specs tend to get stale the longer they are out there.

the key to having spec material that will get you noticed is twofold.* you need several samples that show off your individual voice but which at the same time demonstrates your capacity to execute the format of a television series.* it's a tightrope walk - but the job of a writer on a primetime show is to deliver the show the executive producer wants to make - and delivering a writing sample that clucks like the show you are doing but also shows off your own ingenuity without compromising the format is the first step.

secondly, you need to focus your attention toward shows that have wide appeal - the reason why there are so many ER. law & order, and sopranos specs out there is that anyone can pick them up and know what the show is they are reading.* The rule of thumb tends to be that you don't write a spec for a show until it is on its second season - or until it has ended its first season and it is known that it is coming back.

so you have to choose wisely - a known show with a format you can execute that is nevertheless idiosyncratic enough to show off your own individual vision, and that has wide enough appeal that any reader may pick it up and know what you are going for -

- and those are only some of the many corridors of the escherian maze that is television.* the good news is it can be done - otherwise we wouldn't be here.

wow, thanks so much! Very detailed and informative...........

I guess my biggest problem is that I don't watch Law and Order and ER...>I guess it's good that Dead Like Me's just finished it's second season huh?

This is hard, but fun........i've never written a script before, but I have my software ready and ideas.........I'll write a couple after nanowrimo and see how they turn out and then agent search...............

Dang...I guess I might have to start watching "Mainstream" shows......

II guess theyy mean it when they say you suffer for your art!