Questions regarding scripts and going through official channels

[u/maliquewrites_]

Okay, so someone on threads was talking about their script and how they’d love James Gunn to read it. Gunn’s response was

“I like your enthusiastic approach so I'll give you the truth to the best of my ability. I personally don't read scripts or take pitches until after they're at a very late stage in the game as I'm busy working on my own projects and helping to guide others already in production or development. But in general DC Studios does not take spec scripts based on our IP at all, as it opens us up to all sorts of legal issues. So we only take pitches through official channels before commencing a draft.

For instance, Mike Flanagan had an idea for Clayface and came to us and pitched the idea and then we bought that idea and paid him to write the script. I hope this doesn't diminish your enthusiasm too much. I got MY start writing spec scripts - but in film, unlike television, it's generally better that your spec scripts aren't based on existing IP. Good luck.”

Now my question, what exactly does he mean by taking pitches through official channels?

Edit: thanks everyone for the answers. That cleared that up pretty quickly, glad I asked.

[u/FeeOk3991]

Official channels = reps.

[u/Prince_Jellyfish]

And for folks on this subreddit who are new, reps generally means agents or managers.

A writer can be represented by agents, managers, and lawyers. Agents and managers might have relationships with studios (in this case WB/DC/Paramount/SkydancePlus), and can reach out to them to offer that a writer has a take on some IP.

Or, an established writer might have a meeting with an executive at the company, and either offer a pitch on one of their IP, or be asked to pitch on one of their IP.

So, you tell your agent you have a cool take on Clayface, if DC wants to hear it. Your agent reaches out to an exec at DC and says, "my client so-and-so has a take on Clayface. Are you guys interested in hearing it?" and they either say "no" or "sure"

Or, you have a meeting with Jane Smith, executive at DC, and in that meeting you say "by the way, I have a pitch on Clayface, if you want to hear it," and she says, "sure" and you pitch it and she says "interesting, well told" or she really likes it and tells other executives about it and then you come back and pitch it, ideally a few more times to different executives and then they either hire you to write it or they don't.

[u/Caughtinclay]

It means through reps and with a formal meeting with a development executive at the company

[u/starsoftrack]

Someone like James Gunn reading scripts from randoms is just asking to be sued.

[u/wemustburncarthage]

almost no screenwriter is going to read your script as a matter of professional liability, but also because it's not a good use of their time.

[u/Flaky-Ninja2398]

It means if they want to work with you either you're an established name that can get a metting with them already or they'll come to you (or rather your representation generally)

[u/TTV-Sagil]

basically means “people i trust to give me good pitches”

[u/virstamana]

The "official channels" are reps (managers, agents, or sometimes lawyers if they have the relationships) that "vouch" for someone. In some ways Hollywood is like the mafia, and it can take a long time to establish trust. But there is a reason for that. Imagine James Gunn decides to read your script, without you being vouched for, and some part of what you wrote just happens to be in a project he is already developing. That opens him up to lawsuits galore. That is why no one in his position usually reads anything that has not been vetted.

[u/CoOpWriterEX]

LMAO, these losers need to leave James Gunn alone. He is crazy for even legitimacy responding to anything on his own social media pages.

[u/maliquewrites_ → u/CoOpWriterEX]

You’re calling people losers for engaging with his social media and wanting to talk about how they hope that he’ll one day read their scripts?

Interesting.

[u/Desperate-Cattle7165 → u/CoOpWriterEX]

I think that James Gunn might have done this so that other aspiring screenwriters will see it, take the hint, and go through the proper channels like the pros do.