Script Pipeline discovers and develops writers for film and television, connecting them to producers, agents, and managers. Since 1999, several produced films and over $8 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 in addition to continuous, one-on-one development assistance.

Success stories include:

Tripper Clancy, winner of the Screenwriting Contest, sold the comedy The Ambassadors to 20th Century Fox and the pitch Winter Break, before writing Stranded for Sony and Hacker Camp for Hasbro. In development: High Five with Amazon, an adaptation of the bestselling novel The Art of Fielding for Mandalay / IMG, and a Kevin Hart series for Quibi, Die Hart. His action-comedy Stuber sold to Fox for the mid-six figures and starred Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy) and Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick) star. Tripper was also staffed on the Netflix series I am Not Okay With This (2020).

Contest winner The Standoff at Sparrow Creek, written by Henry Dunham, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Henry made his directorial debut with the crime-thriller starring James Badge Dale (Iron Man). Lit Entertainment Group and UTA signed Henry a few weeks after he was announced as the winner of the competition.

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 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 most recent project is the upcoming Anaconda reimagining for Sony. The contest-winning script Killing Season was produced and starred Academy Award-winner Robert De Niro and John Travolta.

Finalist Jen Goldson had her romantic comedy Off the Menu produced, 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.

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. He later joined the writing staff on Netflix’s Family Reunion and another CBS sitcom, The Unicorn, in 2019, and followed that up with Bigger on BET in 2020.

Screenwriter Brian Watanabe had his Script Pipeline “Recommend” action-comedy 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.

Most recently, Screenwriting Competition winner Helen Gaughran signed with UTA, and several other finalists and winners landed management, such as First Look Project winner Nick Roth and TV Writing finalist JP Estes getting representation from Zero Gravity (Ozark).

And in one of the biggest spec sales of all-time from an unproduced writer: 2020 Screenwriting finalist Crosby Selander sold his script Bring Me Back to Legendary for seven figures. Crosby was signed by Kaplan/Perrone in September 2020 after Pipeline introductions.

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.

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 and writers on a daily basis–and an anticipated 20,000 screenplays, pilots, and original pitches will be reviewed for 2020.

*Industry requests to review material from Script Pipeline writers can be made here.

Writer Success Stories

Script Pipeline Workshop: Submit for Notes

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 been involved with the Big Brother program since 2002.

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 for production companies, managers, writing competitions, and filmmakers for almost two decades. He started at Pipeline Media in 2006 and has since helped a number of writers break into the industry, including contest winners Evan Daugherty (Snow White and the Huntsman, Rose Red), Tripper Clancy (Stuber, The Art of Fielding), Henry Dunham (The Standoff at Sparrow Creek), and several more discovered through Script Pipeline. Across that span, he’s reviewed over 20,000 pitches, books, screenplays, pilots, and short films.

    With a prowess in finding 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 Pipeline's network of execs. Other primary roles include establishing new relationships with partners in film, TV, and publishing, and further expanding the company's role as a platform for emerging creatives.