You know the drill. You grinded out that script. It’s got a killer premise, sharp dialogue, and a structure you could set your watch to. You paid for coverage, and it came back glowing. "Strongly recommend." "8/10."
You send it out, your chest puffed out, ready for the bidding war.
And then... crickets.
You pace, you get a drink, you rub that lucky rabbit's foot. Still nada.
Maybe even your rep sends it out, and no one is really engaging. Well, I got one of those calls yesterday, and the producer—a smart, straight-shooter—said something that hit me like a bullet:
"Jason, you wrote a great script. But you didn’t write anyone’s favorite script."
This truth is simple, but it's essential for me to grow as a writer, so I am sharing it here with you today.
Let's dive in.
What Does "A Great Script" Really Mean?
When a producer or executive says your script is "great," they usually mean it hits all the measurable, objective benchmarks like:
- Pacing: It moves.
- Characters: They are distinct and serve the plot.
- Structure: The beats are there. The stakes escalate.
- Craft: The formatting is clean, the grammar is solid, the action lines are evocative.
In short, it’s a Professional Piece of Work. It’s a B+. A Strong A-. It’s good enough to be produced. It’s not an embarrassment. It’s great.
But it's not great enough for them to stake their career on it or to work really hard to put it together.
That's because it's not their favorite script of the year.
What Does "Anyone's Favorite Script" Mean?
This is where the cold, complex reality of the business kicks in. A producer isn't just looking for a film; they are looking for their next three years of their life.
They have to see themself living in this world with these characters and staying up late making calls and getting up early to get to set.
They need a project that will make them:
1. Obsessed
A favorite script gives an executive or producer an adrenaline rush. It makes them think, I have to be the one who gets this made. It scratches an itch they didn't know they had. It's the one they are willing to stay up all night fighting for in a development meeting. It's the one they'll bet their reputation on and be okay telling anyone in any room that they have to read it.
2. Pitchable
A "great" script is easy to pitch. "It's a sci-fi thriller about X." A favorite script is one the producer can't wait to pitch. It gives them a unique, visceral hook they can use to sell it up the chain, or to a major star. It’s a concept that makes the person they’re pitching to lean forward and engage with them in loving the script.
3. Uniquely Themselves
The scripts that get bought aren't usually middle-of-the-road. They have a distinct, often idiosyncratic voice. They are singular. They are risky. They are weird. They are you, unfiltered. We want to hear your voice! That's what will make someone say this is their favorite script.
'Trumbo' Credit: Fox Searchlight
The Cruel Calculus of Spec Sales
Fewer and fewer specs have been selling. These original ideas are hard t put together and to get people to buy into. In order to stick out from the pile, you have to be noisy, and you have to have a passionate fan passing it around town.
In a given week, a mid-level studio executive might read 5 to 10 "great" scripts. They are competent, enjoyable reads. They’re fine.
But they probably only have the budget to buy one a year. Or maybe the bandwidth to jump on as a producer to one.
That means they're only going to chase something that gives them a genuine reaction.
If your script is great, but it falls into the category of "Yeah, that's really good. Someone will probably make that someday," it gets put on the 'Maybe' pile, which is Hollywood code for 'Never.'
Summing It All Up
Stop aiming for greatness. Greatness is the baseline requirement to even be considered. Aim to be someone's favorite script on the market.
Write the scene that makes people gasp. Give your main character a flaw that is so specific and weird it could only come from you. Don’t write the movie you think the market wants. Write the movie only you could write.
Hopefully, it becomes someone's favorite.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
