Script Pipeline discovers and develops writers for film and television, connecting them to producers, agents, and managers. Since 1999, several produced films and over $7 million in screenplay and TV pilot spec sales are credited to Script Pipeline’s unique, intensive process of long-term writer-to-industry facilitation. Contest finalists and “Recommend” writers work with Script Pipeline executives year-round, getting broader exposure for their work in addition to continuous, one-on-one development assistance.
Success stories include:
Tripper Clancy, winner of the Screenwriting Contest, sold the road comedy The Ambassadors to 20th Century Fox and the pitch Winter Break, and was previously on board the comedy Stranded for Sony. Tripper is writing Hacker Camp for Hasbro and an adaptation of the bestselling novel The Art of Fielding. His action-comedy Stuber sold to Fox for the mid-six figures. Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) starring. Release date set for mid-2019.
In 2018, Script Pipeline contest winner The Standoff at Sparrow Creek (formerly Militia), written by Henry Dunham, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Henry makes his directorial debut with the crime-thriller starring James Badge Dale (Iron Man, Rubicon). Standoff will be released in January 2019. Madhouse Entertainment signed Henry a few weeks after he was announced as the winner of the competition, with UTA following suit.
Screenwriting Competition winner Evan Daugherty selling Snow White and the Huntsman to Universal for $3 million and later taking the lead on studio films Divergent, Ninja Turtles, and the upcoming Rose Red from Disney. Evan was previously attached to write the limited series Esmeralda for ABC Studios, GI Joe 3 for Paramount, an adaptation of Myst for Hulu, and the Tomb Raider reboot. His contest-winning script Killing Season (formerly Shrapnel) was produced and starred Academy Award-winner Robert De Niro and John Travolta.
Screenwriting Contest finalist Jen Goldson saw her romantic comedy Off the Menu produced and released in 2018, starring Santino Fontana (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend) and Dania Ramirez (Devious Maids). Jen was introduced to director Jay Silverman at a Script Pipeline event—the screenplay went into production in less than a year. She has two other features in production, including her contest-placing dramedy Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, Andy Tennant (Hitch) set to direct.
Micah Barnett, whose work was developed through Script Pipeline’s Workshop, sold The Rabbit to Warner Bros. for six-figures and a TV pilot, Ricochet, to NBC. Screenwriter Brian Watanabe had his Script Pipeline “Recommend” action-comedy Rogue’s Gallery (later titled Operation: Endgame), also initially developed by Script Pipeline, produced by Script Pipeline’s Chad Clough and Sean McKittrick (Get Out). The film starred Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Adam Scott (Parks and Rec), Maggie Q, Ellen Barkin, Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), and an ensemble cast.
The Devil in Evelyn, winner of the First Look Project (Teleplay), was picked up for development by Mandalay Pictures. Script Pipeline set up the co-writers, Ben and Tyler Soper, with meetings after extensive circulation to industry. From 2017-2018, Howard Jordan Jr., runner-up in the Script Pipeline TV Writing Competition with the comedy Family Be Like, was staffed on the CBS series Superior Donuts. His first solo-written episode aired in January 2018.
Outside of its own writer successes, Script Pipeline’s first produced film, The Living Wake, starring Academy Award-nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network) and comedian Mike O’Connell (Dr. Ken), received high praise when it made its festival debut in 2010.
In conjunction with Film Pipeline, Script Pipeline plans on financing and producing more work in the future, both short-form content and feature films.
A number of original feature and TV projects are in various stages of development, and over 150 writers have found representation, had their scripts optioned and produced, and seen their careers launched as a result of facilitation. With a constantly expanding industry network, Script Pipeline searches for new material on a daily basis–and is on pace to review over 15,000 screenplays, pilots, and original pitches in 2018.
*Industry requests to review material from Script Pipeline writers can be made here.
Recent Success Stories | Open Com
Chad Clough
CEO / Executive Director
In 1999, while working in feature film development, Chad saw a flaw in the process: hundreds of spec scripts would be left unread in production company and studio offices. He envisioned a matchmaking service between up-and-coming writers and film executives to better serve both parties. For the writer, their material could be reviewed by an impartial third party, while the industry could receive quality projects via a trusted filter. In 2000, Pipeline Media Group (formerly Script Pipeline Into Motion Pictures) was formed and has since offered annual writing competitions and other services to discover new writers for film and television.
Chad played a critical role in the funding of two independent features. The Living Wake, starring Academy Award-winner Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network), garnered Script Pipeline's first production company credit and received critical praise, with Variety calling it a "stunning feature debut. . . . Eisenberg is note-perfect." A year later, Chad produced the action/comedy Operation Endgame, a screenplay originally submitted through Script Pipeline and later produced on a $5 million budget. The film featured an A-list cast including Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover), Adam Scott (Parks and Rec), Ellen Barkin, and Bob Odenkirk (Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul). Chad has also served as a creative consultant on other independent films.
Over the last several years, Chad has been instrumental in creating a synergy between writers with proper representation and production contacts, such as Robert Nelms on the film Between and connecting Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsman, Divergent) with manager Jake Wagner (Good Fear Film + Management). In total, Chad has assisted over 100 writers sign with agents, finds reps, and sell their scripts.
Beyond overseeing Pipeline Media Group, Chad wrote Creative Screenwriting's "Production Spotlight" article for six years. He has led seminars at the Screenwriting Expo in Los Angeles, lectured on screenwriting and entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California and UCLA, acted as a USC mentor, and has taken part in the Big Brothers LA mentorship program for past eight years.
Through the Circus of Joy at the Hollywood Improv and other venues, Chad has promoted comedy shows across Los Angeles, which have featured Drew Carey, Daniel Tosh, Natasha Leggero, Chris Fairbanks, Brian Keith Etheridge, and actor/comic Craig Robinson (The Office). Circus of Joy was later rated one of the top monthly comedy shows in Los Angeles by LA Weekly.
With Script Pipeline, Chad's goal to assist the budding writer with an array of resources on how to improve their craft and give them exposure in a highly competitive marketplace continues, as the company is one of the leading outlets for writers to connect with Hollywood.
Matt Joseph Misetich
Senior Executive
Matt has worked in development as a script analyst and story consultant for production companies, managers, writing competitions, and filmmakers for the past 16 years. He has been an executive at Script Pipeline since 2008 and has helped a number of writers break into the industry, including contest winners Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsman, Rose Red), Tripper Clancy (Henry the Second, The Art of Fielding), Henry Dunham (Militia), and several more discovered through Script Pipeline. Across that span, it's estimated he has reviewed over 20,000 pitches and scripts, which has allowed him to gain valued insight into every style and genre of writing.
With a prowess in finding emerging writing talent, Matt often fosters projects from concept to final draft. In addition, he plays a critical role in matching material with the proper companies in Script Pipeline's network of execs. Other primary roles include establishing new relationships with partners in film and TV and further expanding Script Pipeline's role as a writer-to-industry facilitator.
