In a shocking move, ScreenCraft, The Script Lab, and WeScreenplay have announced that they will end operation by the beginning of March.
In separate posts, the three mainstays of the screenwriting competition and coverage world announced their immediate departure, as all three have discontinued coverage and will cease competitions within the next week. The three were terminated by owner Cast & Crew, a company that oversees Industry Arts and Film Freeway, which houses screenwriting powerhouses such as Coverfly.
There is no official word for the reason behind the companies ceasing operations. The three companies provided similar services, and many believe that these are a way to get rid of competition within their own programs, as many didn’t realize they were a part of the same company.
There are several immediate effects for screenwriters and coverage. This gives writers fewer options for coverage, which eliminates a wide range of opinions and viewpoints that many amateur and rising screenwriters used to elevate their work. The remaining script coverage sites will likely experience a flood of writers wanting coverage. The competitions that have become a source of exposure will likely leave a lot of writers who’s works benefitted with a smaller pool to work with.
While the fate of other Industry Arts properties, namely Coverfly, is undetermined at this point, it should be noted that this move, regardless of reasons, impacts the jobs and futures of countless writers and script readers. As creatives, both want the chance to be a part of the film world, and do so through competitions and coverage is a way to grow and get experience.
Though the loss of these platforms are devastating for writers and workers, it is not the end. Your work can still be made, and coverage and work options will always exist. This is a harsh reality of the business, but the creative and work aspect will continue as long as you still work. Create the demand and you will grow, and maybe ScreenCraft, WeScreenplay, and the Script Lab will return.
Reece Taylor, MFA in Screenwriting | English Scholar
Instagram: @reecetaylorwrites13