Breaking into Hollywood is notoriously difficult, and it infuriates me to see websites that exploit aspiring writers. Recently, a writer reached out to me about a site called GET IT MADE.
Why You Should Be Wary of Shady Screenwriting Websites
Breaking into Hollywood is notoriously difficult, and it infuriates me to see websites that exploit aspiring writers. Recently, a writer reached out to me about a site called GET IT MADE.
This site has a name strikingly similar to a consulting service I previously reviewed, GET MADE. However, these two platforms are fundamentally different. I believe Get It Made has a dubious terms and conditions page that could potentially harm writers.
Today, I want to discuss why websites like this one are incredibly exploitative.
Always Read the Fine Print
After receiving the email, I decided to investigate Get It Made. I was surprised by the similarities to the other site I had reviewed. Sometimes, I can be nice, I promise.
The writer requested that I look into a few other sites, but I got so frustrated with Get It Made that I needed to take a walk.
Here are the basics: Get It Made is a pay-to-play platform that charges writers a one-time fee of $149 for a work review. If deemed worthy, they then request $99 a month.
This totals around $1350 for a year of service. But what do you actually get?
There are no guarantees. You might gain access to producers who could read your script, but you’re paying a hefty sum for that chance.
They claim to offer development services and hands-on assistance with writers, yet the details are vague. All you find is a FAQ page suggesting that if you pay for access, they might help.
Theoretically, you could receive notes on your drafts.
On their homepage, they boast about a project they set up—possibly with Sean Baker—but there’s no solid proof, and it’s unclear if he even knows they’re using his name.
The Worst Part
I delved into the terms and conditions, the section that most people overlook. The emailer prompted me to check there, and I felt like a detective uncovering a scandal.
Here’s what I found in the third bullet point under “OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS; RESTRICTIONS”:
"1. For so long as you are a user and for two (2) years after you cease to be a user, you hereby agree to refrain from soliciting, initiating, facilitating, or engaging in a professional association or interaction with an Industry Professional or other user with respect to any project or endeavor with which GIM would normally be involved as part of its usual business operations (i.e. an independent film, series, or other creative projects) without GIM’s involvement. An 'Industry Professional or other user' is herein defined as any contributor to or user of GIM to whom you were introduced via GIM or with whom you worked while a user on a GIM project; for the avoidance of doubt, Industry Professionals are also users for purposes of these Terms. You agree that such associations and/or interactions during such period shall occur with GIM’s meaningful involvement on no less favorable terms than GIM would have with a similar creative project. Furthermore, you expressly undertake not to engage in data scraping, extraction, or any other methodologies aimed at procuring contact information for the explicit purpose of initiating communication with an Industry Professional outside the confines of GIM."This may seem tedious, but after consulting with a lawyer (who prefers to remain anonymous), I learned it resembles a two-year blanket first-look/non-compete agreement.
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This means you’re paying them to own the work you created.
How does that make sense?
If you attempt to set up your script independently or meet a producer at a party, you can’t, because you’ve legally made Get It Made the producers of your project by paying them.
This is exploitative and feels like a scam.
Hollywood is Tough, but This is Worse
As I mentioned earlier, breaking into Hollywood is challenging. They call it breaking in because you should network and work your way in, not buy your way in.
Get a job, make connections, and do it the traditional way. If you’re older or this is a side gig, attend a film festival annually to meet people. Consider The Black List; at least you can track what you receive for your payment.
What I see from Get It Made is typical charlatan behavior. Paying for access is fundamentally wrong. It’s shady and exploitative. Essentially, someone saying, “I think you’re close—just keep giving me money, and I’ll help you get this project made,” is one of the most disgusting tactics I’ve seen preying on dreamers.
If they truly believed in your project, they would work on it for free or even pay you.
This is the standard Hope Machine cycle that frustrates me and prompts me to call out these scams.
This journey is challenging enough. Save your money.
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
