Wscripted Introduces a Platform to Elevate Female Writers
Female writers represent just 20% of scripts being produced in a $113 billion industry.
How can an underrepresented gender in Hollywood make strides toward 50% instead of making up only about 20% of produced screenplays? That was the goal Ellie Jamen, Founder and CEO of Wscripted aimed to accomplish.
The solution she came up with it was to launch Wscripted. It is a membership-based marketplace featuring a keyword database of member profiles and project details that aims to connect female storytellers (writers, screenwriters, novelists, and playwrights) with decision-makers (agents, executives, producers, and directors).
Think of it as the Black List website, but aimed only at female creators.
The platform offers free access while in the beta phase before switching to paid memberships for all members in January 2021, when it will cost $20 a month to host your screenplay. Unlike other platforms, only the first 10 pages will be hosted. If people like them, they can reach out to read the rest.
“We want to open the barriers to broader collaborations in the entertainment industry to increase the number of films and TV series written by women we produce and finance for the screen”, says Ellie Jamen. “Stories by women are universal and Wscripted will support the development of female writers globally”.
How can people tell which scripts are good?
There will be a script rating system added to the platform later in 2021, as well as a script evaluation extra service, in-app messaging, and call for applications for producers. They also hope to start evaluating scripts on their platform via their Production Fund application starting next year.
Who would use this type of service?
The marketplace welcomes two types of members: Women Storytellers and Decision-Makers.
The list of scripts and details posted by Storytellers are only visible by decision-makers on the platform, while adaptions lists/details (as books or plays available for option to be adapted for the screen) are visible by all members. For now, Storytellers are able to add their private email to their profile, but thanks to our 2021 release of the in-app messaging feature, they will enable storytellers to send their full script via direct message to interested decision-makers.
This feature will be developed in response to the "not accepting unsolicited material" disclaimer from entertainment executives because of the fear of legal repercussions.
Finally, they will be collaborating with women script consultants to evaluate scripts and offer the service in different languages.
This seems like an interesting option right now to try and get representation, especially while it's free.
If any of our readers have success on the site, we'd love to know about it.
Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source: Wscripted
