As many of you know, I’ve been sharing the results of my investigations exposing many of the unethical businesses and services in the screenwriting industry, chief among them are “screenwriting job” newsletters (and there are several) that charge $100 per annual subscription. They promise “paid” writing jobs, and if you have any interest in these jobs, you MUST pay $100 for the “contact information”.
Recently, one such ad was quoted as follows:
“This will be our 2nd job advertisement with (paid jobs newsletter). Back in March/April 2014 we found 2 (paid jobs newsletter) writers. I am looking to collaborate with a screenwriter who would be passionate about creating brilliant scripts based on actual historical facts and accounts. We can negotiate a suitable pay option that will be based on an agreed payment within 7 days of the production being financed. Pay will be structured on an overall basis of producing a script with revisions, but it will be under agreement signed by both of us to ensure we work together to create an outstanding script. Contact (name withheld)…”
Well, we contacted the original poster of this ad to find out the truth. The fact is, this ad was NOT exclusive to this (paid jobs newsletter) as it was found on Mandy.com. While he admits to granting (paid job newsletter) permission to post an ad in their newsletter, this was his response:
“It’s not exactly correct…what does puzzle me is why they would place the Facebook links, but that said, I have more faith in the applicants from Mandy.com, they’re always my first option anyway…The charge of $100, though, that is extreme, I’m against anything like that and if this is true, I would be honest enough to say “screw (paid jobs newsletter)”! Why post to a site like that when Mandy.com is free unless I have more posts within a specified time, so again, cannot thank you enough for the info.”
So, it’s apparent; not only are the cutting and pasting jobs ads, without accreditation to the original site, but they also alter the ad to make it appear that they are in exclusive contact with the client (they are not), while also making up a fake endorsement by the unsuspecting client, promoting their services! Little did they know, charging money for ads that are FREE on other websites happens to be a major pet peeve of this client- and he admonishes them for doing it. Not exactly a “praise-worthy” endorsement!
The client DID add, that his company gave them permission to re-post the ad, as they feel the more people know about the search the better- and we couldn’t agree more with them on that point.
Still, if there is ANY doubt about the validity of such claims against (paid jobs newsletter), we took a moment to trace back a few of their posted jobs leads. The asterisk signifies that, as of 2/06/15, these jobs are “less than 1 week old”:
Newsletter Posting Charging $100:
* COMPELLING FEATURE SCRIPTS. We will read ANY and ALL feature scripts, but we are MOST interested in strong female lead scripts. We are a collective group of film-makers, so you must be willing to see your script revised to fit our needs – this is crucial. We will discuss a reasonable fee for your script, if we choose to move forward. Send us your pitch (no scripts yet). SIGN UP FOR PREMIUM FOR DIRECT CONTACT.
Script Jobs FREE Posting: (02/06)
Employer: Ok Films
Salary: Fully-Paid
Apply to: Obaid
We are an International production company looking for full length feature film scripts. If we like your script we can pretty much guarantee that it will be made in a cost effective way. Your name will be attached and we can assure you it will open up new doors. The screenplay should be non-culturally specific. It should contain strong female protagonists and the story must be a romantic comedy.
Serious inquiries only.
Ad: http://www.mandy.com/1/jobs3.cfm?v=62727828
Newsletter Posting Charging $100:
* HIRING SCREENWRITER(S) TWF has over 15 feature, episodic and animation projects in need of writing . We know what it’s like to be a great talent and not have a resume that reflects your skill level so we are open to hear from all writers despite your level of expertise, experience or resume and are willing to pay according to skill level. Genre: Comedy, Drama, Thriller. SIGN UP FOR PREMIUM FOR DIRECT CONTACT.
Script Jobs FREE Posting: (02/06)
Screen Writer Jobs
Employer: TFW Endeavors
Salary: 680
Apply to: TEHANA F WEEKS
I am producing a feature film in the vein of Juno, Napoleon Dynamite, Moonrise Kingdom etc. and need the help of an experienced screenwriter. Compensation will be fair (at or around the average rate for such a project). The time frame is flexible and will depend on the writing process.
Ad: http://www.mandy.com/1/jobs3.cfm?v=62676846
Newsletter Posting Charging $100:
* TV DRAMA PILOTS. PWFP is seeking completed, hour-long pilots ready for production. Pilots need to be DRAMA. Scripts that take play in WW11 are preferred. We will also look at web-series concepts too. Send pitches and/or online reels. Payment TBD. SIGN UP FOR PREMIUM FOR DIRECT CONTACT.
Script Jobs FREE Posting: (1/26)
ISO SCREENWRITER-FOR-HIRE; TV DRAMA SCREENPLAYS- PAID!
Script Writer Wanted
Compensation: TBD
Perry William Film Productions – Seeking TV Drama Pilot Scripts
We are looking for completed, hour-long television pilot scripts/Screenplay We are particularly interested in material that could be done as either a pilot or a web series. Submissions should be for material that has drama elements. please email us your RESUME or online REEL with your name on. Perry Munoz
Ad: http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/cwg/4859381063.html
Newsletter Posting Charging $100:
* CRIME/FILM NOIR SCRIPT. PM is seeking crime/film noir feature screenplays. Screenplays should be character-driven. We are keeping the budget low, so looking for scripts that ONLY feature a few characters and locations. Scripts where plot takes place in just a few hours or days are preferred. Principal photography will be done in Asia. SIGN UP FOR PREMIUM FOR DIRECT CONTACT.
Script Jobs FREE Posting: (1/26)
CRIME/ FILM NOIR SHORT SCRIPTS NEEDED!
Script Writer / Screenplay Writer Wanted
Status: Development
Type: Short film
Genre: Crime • Film-Noir
Plumeria Movies
About the job:
Script Writer / Screenplay Writer wanted for an upcoming Indie-Film project to be made of no-to-low budget. The script should be focused on less-number of characters and locations. No other requirements. The film will be made in India, with the help of few sponsors and donations.
If interested, contact at the earliest.
Thank You.
https://www.stage32.com/…/Script-Writer-Screenplay-Writer-W…
Newsletter Posting Charging $100:
* ANIMATION SCREENWRITER, ENGLAND. ONLY apply is you are have experience writing animation TV drama. The animation is a spoof of the characters based from a drama, taking a humorous and satirical angle on modern gang/youth culture. We are looking for experienced screenwriters for a two week period to write scripts for ten 26 minute episodes. Payment will be discussed with those we are interested in. SIGN UP FOR PREMIUM FOR DIRECT CONTACT.
Script Jobs FREE Posting: (1/22)
EXPERIENCED SCREENWRITER NEEDED; U.K. – PAID!
Experienced Screenwriter
Employer: SDMC Productions
Salary: TBC
More Info: http://http://www.sdmcproductions.com/
Apply to: Christopher Kenna
Payment is on a low paid basis.
SDMC Productions are looking for experienced screenwriters to be involved with the writing of a new animation series based on the popular drama series ‘The Endz’. The animation is a spoof of the characters based in the drama, taking a humorous and satirical angle on modern gang/youth culture. We are looking for experienced screenwriters based in Manchester for a two week period to write scripts for ten 26 minute episodes. Please get in touch if you feel interested in the project and you have experience that could contribute to the series.
Ad: http://www.mandy.com/1/jobs3.cfm?v=62581680
As you can see, some of these ads were posted by us over two weeks ago on “Script Jobs and Searches” (https://www.facebook.com/groups/scriptassignmentsandsearches/) and in our LinkedIn group of the same name. We also tweet these posting out to our Twitter followers @scriptjobs. So join and follow us today, and stay on top of the better PAID screenwriting jobs advertised. In doing so, you will eventually help force these newsletter companies to crawl back under the rocks where they came from.
02/07/15 Addendum:
It was brought to our attention that we failed to receive expressed permission to re-print portions of, what was believed to be, a private exchange between TSM and the client. The Script Mentor wishes to apologize for this oversight on our part. We’d also like to further explain that there was NO indication of the (paid jobs newsletter) having “lifted” this client’s particular ad, and no implication of such was done purposefully. We now understand that they were given permission to do so, although no permission was granted in the altering of the ad, or providing contact information through a Facebook page. The client’s feelings regarding the charging of $100 to obtain contact information readily available FREE through Mandy.com are accurate, as are their plans to continue to use Mandy.com as method of choice for advertising future script searches.
TSM apologizes for any confusion.
The Script Mentor
thescriptmentor 