Scott at 2011-05-21 23:47:05:

I'm aware of those numbers. The term 'spec script' is a squishy one. I've talked with Jason Scoggins, who runs IOTG, about this and we are more in communication about deals this year than in previous years. The fact is some deals are announced as "spec script sales" when no actual dollars are involved (free option). Other times when a packaging deal gets announced, the trades say it's a spec deal when the dollars involved are all tied to the movie getting produced. So "spec script" is not a black and white thing, and it requires some interpretation.

The numbers I have in 2008, 2009, and 2010 are my numbers, as are those in 2011. Therefore the comparison between this year and other years has value in comparing [my] apples to [my] apples.

That is especially true when you note, as I have here, how some studios who basically laid out of the spec market last year, have been active this year. Here are the studio totals for 2008, 2009, 2010 [again my numbers]:

Disney 5 / 1 / 2
DreamWorks 6 / 4 / 1
Paramount 1 / 5 / 4
Sony Pictures 8 / 4 / 1
Twentieth Century Fox 5 / 3 / 1
Universal 6 / 6 / 1
Warner Bros. 8 / 8 / 8

Here are totals for some of the studios in 2011:

Sony: 5 [up from 1]
Twentieth Century Fox: 3 [up from 1]
Universal: 3 [up from 1]
DreamWorks: 2 [up from 1]

Note: These figures for 2011 are through today. Chances are excellent these studios will acquire even more specs in the remaining 6 months of the year.

Throw in the fact that Sundance deals were up this year. And the recently completed Cannes festival was the most active in several years. Put all that together, I don't think there's anybody who isn't willing to say that the acquisition market is on the rebound.

Setting aside my numbers and IOTG's numbers, that is the big takeaway.