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Frequently Asked Questions
General
Security
Writers
Producers/Agents
Other Industry
Professionals
General
What do I need to do to lodge a script with SA?
You need to go to the Register page and register as a user. Once there you will
be asked to provide your contact details. You will be asked to download the
Writers Terms and Conditions form, sign it and fax it back to us. Even though
these terms and conditions apply to every time you use the site, you will only
need to complete this form once. Once we have received this we will then email
to you your Vault Key (password) which will allow you to log in to the site and
begin lodging scripts.
To lodge a script go to Submit a New Script. Once there you will need to
provide:
-Details of your script including type (film, theatre, TV and radio)
-A descriptive classification of your script, using Script Australia’s script
index.
-your selected combination of:
Log line (films & tv scripts only)
Synopsis (films, tv, plays and radio scripts)
Treatment (films & tv scripts only)
You will also need have an electronic copy (in Microsoft word format - .doc) of
your entire script ready to lodge on the Script Vault page.
-Payment to Scripts Australia for lodgement. This is done either by direct
debit or by cheque or money order.
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Will my script be immediately
lodged in the Script Vault?
No your script will not be immediately lodged in the Script Vault. It will
be held "pending payment". However once payment is received by Scripts
Australia, we will put it "live" in the Script Vault.
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Can anyone lodge a script with SA?
No, Only Australian writers of screenplays, plays, television and radio
scripts can lodge script with us. Scripts Australia exists to offer help to
Australian writers as we believe in home grown product, and have a passionate
desire to see Australian stories taken off the page and put onto the screens,
stages and airwaves of the world. Scripts Australia will allow overseas
producers to use its service however. First time writers are just as welcome to
lodge scripts in the Vault as established writers.
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I am a new writer and am feeling
unsure about spending the money to lodge my script. What should I do?
Get some advice. Before investing in lodging your script with us, discuss
your script with someone experienced in script writing and get their opinion.
It may be a better investment to hone your writing skills a bit more before you
lodge with us. At the same time, the writing business is full of examples of
first time writers who have made it - the choice is yours!
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Do you accept excerpts from a
script?
No, Scripts Australia only accepts completed scripts into the Script Vault.
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What will you use my logline,
synopsis and story summary for?
They will be made available for producers/ agents to read. Once
producers/agents have initiated a search in the Script Vault, they will be
asked what sort of script summary they would like to view. They have the option
of viewing any or all of these before downloading/ reading your script.
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Who will have access to the Script
Vault?
Producers and agents working in the industry. Before given access to the
Vault, producers are screened by Scripts Australia to ascertain their
professional standing in the industry.
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Can you guarantee that producers/
agents will read my script?
No. Whilst Scripts Australia spends a lot of time and effort in encouraging
producers and literary agents to use our service, we can't guarantee that your
script will be read by them. By taking care in categorising your script
accurately as well as spending time writing a high quality log-line or
synopsis, you will increase your chances of producers or agents reading your
entire script.
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What guarantees do you offer?
Whilst we can't guarantee that producers will definitely read your script,
by taking care when lodging your log-line, synopsis, treatment and script by
carefully categorising it and lodging as many of the documents as possible for
each script, you can ensure the greatest possible chance of it being read.
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Do you place our scripts on the
website?
No. That is something you will be doing yourself. You will be responsible
for submitting your script categorisation, logline, synopsis, treatment, entire
script and contact info onto the site. It can also be revised at any time.
Things change and you have full control to make these changes. Therefore, you
must put the work on the website yourself. Once you have made your submission
and Scripts Australia has received your payment, we will activate your
lodgement to go live on-line in the Script Vault.
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What types of scripts can I lodge
in the Script Vault?
Scripts Australia accepts scripts of any type (films, plays, television and
radio scripts) written by Australian writers.
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Do the scripts submitted have to be a certain length?
No, Scripts Australia accepts scripts
of any length.
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Are there any types of script that you won't
accept?
Yes, pornographic material will not be accepted - see user guidelines for
details.
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What format must my script be in to
be accepted?
You must format your script following the industry accepted standards. For
more information on this you can contact numerous organisations that represent
writers for example The Australian Writers Guild. As industry professionals
will be viewing scripts, they will expect certain minimum standards of layout
etc. if they are to consider your work seriously.
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How do producers and agents search
for scripts on your site?
Using the same criteria and descriptive terms that writers use to
categorise/describe their scripts. They can also conduct searches according to
script type and date lodged. For film and TV scripts they can also search the
log lines that have been lodged on site.
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Will my script get sold or optioned
if I lodge it with Scripts Australia?
We certainly hope so! However in reality, we can't guarantee this will
happen. We can offer you genuine exposure to producers who are looking for
scripts to collaborate on.
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Is there any script assessment done
on scripts before they are lodged on site?
No. We prefer to make as much material as possible available for the
industry to have access to. Who knows what someone may be looking for? What one
producer thinks is terrible, another may have been looking for for months! We
prefer to allow the producers and agents to decide for themselves whether a
script is for them or not. What we aim to do is to make that process as
streamlined as possible for them.
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Can I lodge only my log-line and/or
synopsis?
Yes, you can. This is the minimum you can lodge. Treatments and entire
scripts are optional.
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How difficult is the lodgement
process?
First you need to register with Scripts Australia. Once you've registered,
the mechanics of getting your script lodged are fairly simple. It is spelt out
step by step. Where time and care should be spent is in the accurate
categorising of your script and in writing high quality log lines and synopses
to lodge - these will be the things that producers see first and upon which
they will bases their decision whether or not they go on to read your entire
script.
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Is there any where else in
Australia that I can lodge my script?
There are other Australian organisations that offer similar service to
Australian writers. However to our knowledge, Scripts Australia is the only
on-line script service catering specifically for Australian writers.
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Do overseas producers and agents
have access to the Script Vault?
Yes. Currently Scripts Australia is marketing itself to the Australian
Performing Arts industry, but will expand to invite recognised industry
professionals from overseas to discover the wealth of Australian scripts in the
Vault. Overseas producers and agents will undergo the same checks to make sure
they are bone fide professionals before they are given access to the site.
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Being a writer can be a financially
precarious lifestyle. Why do you have to charge writers? Why not producers and
agents?
Scripts Australia is a business - it needs money to survive. We aim to
offer writers a service which can help them get their scripts under producer's
noses that they may not normally have access to. Much time, energy and money
has gone into the development of the site as well as developing relationships
with producers and agents in the industry. For doing this work we feel it is
fair to ask writers to pay for access to these industry players. Producers will
simply not use the service if it costs them. Our market research has shown that
is the way this industry operates - unfortunately.
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Who are your contacts in the
industry?
The number of producers and agents registered with Scripts Australia is
growing steadily. Scripts Australia has made and is making contact with a large
number of film, theatre, television and radio producers and production houses.
We are expanding our network constantly.
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Will someone steal my idea if I
lodge my script with you?
We would be liars if we said this was impossible. However, consider this -
as soon as you hand your script to someone to read (be they from the industry
or not) you run this risk. By lodging your script with us this risk is
amplified due to the number of people who will have access to your script. The
only safe way to prevent your script idea being stolen is never to show it to
anyone and produce and finance it yourself. If, like most writers, you don't
have the resources to finance your own production, you are going to need
someone to support you financially. To do that you have to get your script out
there. That's what we do!
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What protection can you offer to
fight theft of scripts and ideas?
Each time sometime downloads a treatment or entire script the writer is
instantly informed. This information is stored and is available for future use
should needs arise.
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Are you a literary agent?
No. Scripts Australia offers a script service to Australian writers. We do
not represent writers. As such if a producer or agent wants to buy or option a
writer's script that transaction is entirely between the producer and the
writer. We do not take any percentage of successful transactions like this.
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I already have a literary agent
representing me. Can I use Scripts Australia's service?
As long as you are an Australian writer, of course!
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Security
Can writers download other writer's scripts?
No, only approved industry professionals (producers and literary agents)
registered with Scripts Australia can search for scripts in the Script Vault.
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What steps do you take to protect
scripts lodged on your site?
Firstly, only industry professionals who have been assessed by Scripts
Australia to be bona fide producers and/or agents are permitted to search for
scripts in the Script Vault. Writers do not. All downloads of material are
monitored and recorded by Scripts Australia. As additional protection we
suggest you register your script with a recognised script registration body
such as the Australian Writers Guild.
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What if a user lends or gives their
password (Vault Key) to someone else?
Scripts Australia will randomly check the validity of user ID's and
passwords. If someone is found to be violating the terms of use of the site we
will suspend their access to the site pending investigation.
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What do I do if I lose or forget my
password (Vault Key)?
Contact us by email and we will help you.
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Writers
What does it cost writers?
Please see our Costs page
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How long should I make my log line?
60 words or less and preferably only one simple sentence.
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How long should I make my synopsis?
One page or less as an industry standard
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How long should I make my
treatment?
Somewhere between 10 and 30 pages
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Why do I need to sign and fax back
to you your disclaimer/release form?
It details the extent of the service that Scripts Australia offers and
offers protection for all parties involved.
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Do I need to register my script
with a script registration body before I can lodge my script with you?
No, you don’t have to register your script with a script registration body,
although we do recommend you do so for added protection.
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What file type do I need to submit
my script as?
You can
upload the following file types: WORD(.DOC),
RTF, PDF and HTM
If you submit your script as a Microsoft Word (.doc)
document we suggest using a password to prevent MODIFICATIONS to your
documents, but please ensure that you do not activate the Password To Open
feature, as this will prevent industry professionals from reading your work.
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How long will it take to activate
my script once I have submitted it?
Your script will go live on line as soon as we receive your payment.
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How long will my script be lodged?
Your script will be lodged for 6 months from the date of activation.
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Once I have lodged a script in the Script Vault, can
I update it?
Yes. You are able to update at any time any of the documents you lodge for
your scripts as well as updating the categorisation of your script. This means
you can replace older drafts with newer ones. You cannot change the title or
type of script however. The date of expiry will not change with any updating.
It will remain as six months from the date of initial lodgement.
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How do update my script in
the Vault?
Go to the My Active Scripts page.
Select which script you want to update and make the necessary changes. If you
want to upload a new synopsis, treatment or entire script (eg a new draft) -
upload the new document using the browse boxes and click on "Update". If you
wish to change the categorisation (descriptive terms) of your script - make the
changes using the 'category' and 'term' boxes as you did when you first lodged
your script and click on "Update". Please note if you click on "Delete", you
will remove your script from the Vault permanently.
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How do I permanently remove my script from the Vault?
Go to the My Active Scripts page. Select the script you want to
permanently remove from the Vault. Click on "Delete". By doing this you will
remove all documents lodged relating to this script and it will no longer be
able to be found by any Vault search.
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Producers/Agents
How do I contact a writer to discuss their script?
The writer’s or writer’s representative’s contact details will be visible
to you when you download their script or treatment.
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Can writers contact me?
Once you have downloaded a script or treatment, your name will immediately
be sent to the writer informing them that you have downloaded their material.
Under the terms of use of Script Australia’s site, unrepresented writers may
not contact you for a period of at least 21 days after the download has
occurred. This contact with you must only be by letter (snail mail). Scripts
Australia will provide your mailing address to the writer only after this 21
day period has expired.
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Other
Industry Professionals
I am not a writer, producer or literary agent but am
an industry professional intrinsically involved in new Australian performance
texts. Am I able to use your service?
Go to the Register page,
register with Scripts Australia as an "agent/other industry professional",
submit your professional details to us and we will consider your application
and get back to you.
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