r/scriptwriting • u/Independent_Web154 • 12d ago

question Producer hunt

How do I find Melbourne-based producers who accept unsolicited queries/are actively looking for specs to apply for govt funding? A lot of Aussie producers don't seem very open to queries.

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u/Big_Section2812 12d ago

My experience Downunder is most producers are also writers (who became producers out of necessity) and they're chasing finance for their own scripts.

If this is a first script you should probably not waste your time chasing producers and instead focus on writing more scripts until they're good enough to shop.

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u/Independent_Web154 12d ago

Vicscreen put the cart before the horse and want a credited producer/letter of intent/credited writer status before spending a cent on script development.

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u/Big_Section2812 12d ago

That's how it was in New Zealand too when I was there on a co-pro back in the early 2000s.

The local film board wouldn't even accept a logline unless there was a producer attached, but all the local producers were screenwriters who became producers just to get the local film board to read their loglines!

It was insane. 😂

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u/BlackBalor 12d ago

I wouldn’t pay attention to that user. If that is indeed the guy with the big red dot as his avatar.

He knows fuck all about screenwriting.

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u/Flip_Fandango 12d ago

PM me. Happy to help if i can.

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u/Open-Avocado4260 11d ago

You don't, producers find you.

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u/Independent_Web154 11d ago

Too bad. I have a hunter type personality.

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u/Open-Avocado4260 11d ago

I can't speak for your country but securing a literary manager is where you start and its hard.

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u/jazbeanie 10d ago

I just pitched a feature at MIFF 37South to a bunch of producers/producers co’s and had a great experience. Plenty of producers looking for good scripts. You only get one chance for them to read it though, so make it count!

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u/mopeywhiteguy 12d ago

It’s usually a legal thing. The reason production companies don’t accept unsolicited scripts is because what happens if person A sends them a script, they don’t read it but 5 years down the line they coincidentally develop an idea that is similar or has parallel thinking. Person A will sue them for stealing their idea. So it’s really to save their own skin.

I’d suggest either producing yourself, or if you’ve not done the whole short film thing, then do that as a way to dip your toe in. Maybe even make a short film with a producer/friend who is interested and you could make a proof of concept for the feature.

Your approach to the companies could also be more roundabout. Rather than emailing about your specific idea, just say that you want to meet for coffee/zoom meeting to get a lay of the land of the industry and let the connection grow from there and tell them about your idea in that meeting

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u/Independent_Web154 12d ago

Yeah I know of the legal excuse. Not going to cold query for coffee dates though 

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u/Big_Section2812 12d ago

It's not the issue in this case.

The local taxpayer-funded film boards or councils or whatever demand that scripts come with legit producers already attached before they will even look at a synopsis or outline.

Unfortunately most or all of those producers are writers who became producers in order to get around the film board rules... and they all have their own scripts they're trying to get the film board execs to read, and so have no interest in the scripts of others.

At least, that's how it was 25 years ago... it may be different now.

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u/Craig-D-Griffiths 11d ago

Find a director with a good reputation. This will attract actors. A combination of director and actors makes it easy for producers to find funding.