It’s year-end list-making time and we’re itching to make our Top 5 Sellers and Top 5 Buyers lists. But here’s the thing: Last year, half a dozen scripts sold in the week following the release of the Black List, and we think the same thing is going to happen this year. The 2011 Black List came out just a few days ago, and by our count 14 screenplays on the list are still available.
So since the No. 1 slots among sellers and buyers are set but the races for Nos. 2 and 3 are still up for grabs, we’re reining ourselves in for a couple more weeks. Here are a few of our favorite items from the below grids; we’ll do a proper 2011 year-end review once the year actually ends.
• Even if no additional specs sell this year, 2011’s total number of sales (115 by our count, all-in) damn near doubled 2010’s total (62). Anyone who’s been saying “the spec market is dead!” this year hasn’t been paying attention.
• The studios, led by the ever-dominant Warner Bros., have bought 62 specs so far this year, also damn near double last year’s total (34).
• CAA is poised to be the No. 1 seller for the third year in a row.
Happy holidays, everyone. Keep an eye on your inboxes during the break — we’ll publish our December roundup on the 30th as usual.
2011 Overall Spec Numbers (through Dec. 9)
The below grid shows sales of scripts in the month they originally went out. In addition to the below, there have been 12 sales of scripts so far this year that originally went out prior to 2011.
Specs by Genre (sold/total)
Spec Sales by Buyer – Studios
Spec Sales by Buyer – Other Buyers
Each of the following production companies has been attached to at least one spec sale so far this year. Companies in bold are new since the last scorecard.
Spec Sales by Seller – Agencies (sold/total)
Spec Sales by Seller – Management Companies (sold/total)
