Screenwriting : IMDb Pro. Worth it? by Ian Rodney Lazarus

Personal opinion only: Ain't worth it.

This is something I've been wondering about for some time too, is IMDb Pro worth it? I guess it would be worth it depending on often you use it?

Doug Nelson do you mean the service isnt worth it for this purpose? Have you tried to reach screenwriters through it?

I use it and like it. I pay the $20 when I need it - then pause it when I don't so not charged, then, start it up again when I need it. It's good! I like Cinando too!

I use it occassionally, but I don't keep the subscription every month. I wait until I need a bunch of contact info that I can't get through someone with their own IMDbPro or StudioSystem account or need to update my info, and then I'll get a subscription for that one month.

Can anyone speak to my intended purpose? To shop my novel to screenwriters of big budget films?

Ian Rodney Lazarus yes, that contact info I got was for when I was working in development at production companies and we'd put writer lists together with contact info that we wanted to work with on a project that was an adaptation, a rewrite, or putting together a package. It's almost always the rep's info and not the writer's direct info. I still wouldn't keep it month-to-month. If I can't find out who their rep is, I'll search their names in the trades, then find out the email format at the company for reps and their assistants (always CC the assistant, they read every email, reps usually only read the ones from people they know)

Emily J Thank you!

Dan Guardino I've posted an opportunity for a screenwriter on this platform for converting my novel, Con & Consequence (see Jobs). Shortcut to the book is at www.tinyurl.com/the-consequence I wanted to also see if IMDb could be a resource.

Hi Ian, Unless your intention is to contact talent strictly via their representatives, No, this is not a good idea. A. they will ignore you (most likely) B. you would be making a nuisance of yourself C. imdbpro is a resource for industry people to view credits, and to contact talent via their agents, managers, etc. -not directly (unless they list a personal contact, and if they do it is for work opportunities to contact them. If you are not offering payment for their services it is unlikely they will welcome the personal contact in that manner. However, you can give it a shot if they list a contact.

@Jack Binder, thanks for your feedback. I am not sure why you presumed I would not be offering payment to a screenwriter. I paid my editor probably 2x the industry average for editing my novel because I did not want to settle for a mediocre product. Would I expect the writer of IDK, Pulp Fiction, to work for free? I wouldn't. Also, one outreach followed by one rejection hardly makes me a nuisance to that screenwriter or his/her agent. For novelists, we have a platform called querytracker where we can outreach literary agents one time, and get a one time response ("please send more chapters," or "no thank you"). I am simply looking for a way to reach top talent for converting my screenplay and reaching out to screenwriters (or their agents) via IMDb seems an effective way to do so. I am new to this business,, and trying to understand the unwritten rules while breaking through the barriers that naturally exist in this crowded space.

The second best answer I can get is "looks interesting but no thank you."

I use it about twice a year. Each time I do I think it has value.

Dan MaxXx never said I would not spend for the service. Not at all the issue. Was asking if the approach made sense to others.

Ian, in that case (contacting their agents, paid gigs) yes. That's partially what it's for. You might be surprised there are people approaching professionals in this industry with this not being the case. (ie., daily).

Depends on context.

Pro screenwriter who wants to control what it shows = essential

Producer looking up who's repped by who = essential

Amateur screenwriter hoping it will give them insider access = debatable

There are walls around certain parts of the industry and those walls are there for a reason.

WGA minimum, non-original screenplay, first draft only: ~30K.

High end for delivered final draft: ~ 87K.

You've got that kind of money? If you do, connecting with a director with solid credits is a better way to go. Make sure you mention you've got that money in hand.

Maybe at the high end of the fee schedule a screenwriter's agent might talk to you. Other than that, IMDbPro, Cinando, Craig's List - nothing's going to get you a response.

My advice, let your publisher's rights dept. handle the reaching out. If self-pubbed, 100,000 copies sold, might - might - get you some meetings.

I hope you hear this.

Trying to shortcut the relationship side of this biz never works - unless you've got some serious cash. Even then, anyone who talks to you is going to be mercenary about it, certainly not passionate about the story.

I hope you hear this.

IMDb Pro is worth it... as CJ says, in context. Your post reads like you need a writer. Odds are any writer of big budget films will not be "recruited," as they do work-for-hire work mostly. In reality, there are heaps of excellent writers available who can craft your book into a production-worthy script. Then the fun of getting it into development commences.

What kind of budget do you have for a writer? A million? Reach our to Sorkin's agent. $100K? Check out WGA writers. Roughly $15K - $50K, you can find a top tier writer with a job post on here.

If you want someone to write on spec, you either have to make some sort of personal contact and wow the writer. You can get people to do that... but not often in the high quality writer tier. To write on deferred payment or backend, you are asking a writer to dedicate months (maybe years) of their life to your project with the hope that the project flies. That's a huge ask and about the same odds of success as some sort of lottery.

And what John wrote, too!

Worth noting that, if you reach out to an individual's agent with a financial offer of any kind, they are legally obliged to forward it on to their client and you are obliged to wait for an answer before approaching anybody else.

Credited big budget film writers are well into the six figure range.

Nobody will touch a book on spec unless it's a genuine best seller (not an Amazon best seller).

Hey Everyone I appreciate this feedback and John Ellis, I hear you! I agree there are many talented screenwriters available on this platform and I am in touch with them. Thanks again. Lots of great advice that I'll take to heart.

Ian, I actually DO use IMDb Pro.

The two main things I do with it are (1) gaining access to performer resumes to find out all the skills each performer has and (2) getting email addresses for performer representatives.

I'm heavily into screenwriter tools such as ScriptHop and Prewrite...both of which entice you to figure out who you'd like to cast should you get the chance to produce your own movie/TV scripts. (And IMDb Pro helps me make more informed casting decisions!)

Pro has led to my emailing queries to three agents (two rep actors and one agent works with a director) and two directors-actors (Elizabeth Banks and Gia Carter!).

I'm batting 0-for-4, but...I'm glad for the experience.

Me, I'm happy with Pro as long as it remains a valuable research tool...and if you go with IMDb Pro, I hope it works out great for you.

Glad you're here on Stage 32, Ian...and all the VERY BEST to you!

Oops...I'm 0-for-5. (Still, it's a chance to put skin in the game.)

Dan Guardino and others, thanks again for the great advice, much appreciated. I am learning alot.

It depends on what you want to use it for. There is a lot of information on the free version (some of it requires some digging to find), but if you want more company information and company contact information some of these can be found on pro.

Ian - 'alot' is not a word. As to your earlier question about finding screenwriters: I don't look for screenwriters but they find me any way.

Doug Nelson wow, I guess 30 yrs of writing professionally and working with editors and my grammar still sucks. Thanks alot.