New website for screenwriters launched

If an industry professional sees an idea that they like they can request to read the script and perhaps make an offer for the material. Says founder Sean Inggs, "I'm hoping this will create more interest in screenwriting and boost film ideas as a whole, including pushing screenwriters to think 'marketable' screenplays instead of 'arty farty'. This will also hopefully create interest in financial institutes to fund films; South Africans need to see film as a business not just an art."

[SPEC] also stands apart from many other sites in the world by promoting the scripts held in its database by creating online adverts and "interactive trailers" to help create awareness and publicity on selected scripts whose writers have taken the initiative to place their info on the [SPEC] site.

All initial communications and monitoring of deals between the writers and the interested parties are handled through [SPEC] to help provide security and to also keep track of deals. At present the services are provided free though although, according to Inggs, this could change to a "finders fee" that gets paid to [SPEC] for their assistance when a deal is made. This would be done in order to help with the running and time put into the site.

Fresh from launch, the website is sending out a call to all screenwriters, both new and established, to submit their screenplays to build up the database. Producers and directors can leave their details with [SPEC] to be contacted once the database has been made available for browsing, and also leave requests for the type of screenplays that they are looking for.

In addition to the spec screenplay service the website is also developing an articles section (a call is going out for new articles to publish), as well as an informative links area and an entertainment area for people to let their hair down while learning about the current film world.

[SPEC] aims to show that good movie ideas aren't only found in LA. Ideas are an international commodity and know no boundaries. "It's time to help create a bit of Hollywood in SA," says Inggs.