Noticed a bunch of 2014 Black List scripts here, though not indicated in the comments.

Good point, Matthew. I should go through and add those to Notes.

To get into the big topic of conversation relative to last year's spec script deals -- that is the precipitous drop in transactions, at least those made public -- does this represent a contraction in the spec market or is it a temporary blip? Magic 8 ball says: "Future cloudy. Try again later." That is, we'd need to see what happens this year and maybe even 2016 to offer an assessment with any numerical heft. As you can see from the deals stretching back to 1991, the numbers fluctuate. Sometimes the spec market is hot, sometimes not so much. In part this is due to the financial means of the buyers, flush with cash or not. In part this is due to where they choose to spend their development dollars. If the major studios are focused on preexsting franchises, that would likely mean a decrease in purchase of original material. In part this is due to what type of projects they are buying: pitches, novels, memoirs, buyers go through phases. Sometimes they prefer pitches so they can get in on the ground floor of developing the material. Then maybe they'll flop to the other side focusing more on spec scripts so they can see the story laid out in a complete fashion. I will say this: Regime changes at the major studio level have led to some upheaval in the spec market. We'll see this on Wednesday when we break down the buyers, but Warner Bros., who for years bought more specs than any other studio, have pulled way back. That has had an impact in the spec market. On the other hand, there are a lot more buyers out there now, often referred to as 'financiers', however their deals are more typically option deals. The back end approximate the value of a major studio sale, but the writer and reps are banking on the project actually getting produced to see that money. That said, since financiers tend to buy less material for development, they are more likely to make what they buy, unlike major studios who have a pretty absurd rate of attrition. My gut tells me the number of deals will creep back up in 2015. How about you? What's your take on the spec market?

Thanks Scott for putting this together, great information here. I've been reading a lot of doomsday articles and information on the fall of the spec script, so it's nice to see some numbers behind it. Good or bad. I can't say whether there's a trend here, letting it play out a year or two will definitely shine a light on what's going on. I can say, as an aspiring writer, that I am saddened by every spec sale turned film that doesn't do well in the box office. The numbers behind a lot of specs that were made last year didn't seem help the spec market at all. What's even more frustrating is that it seems a lot of these spec scripts were really good when they were bought, but (as you've noted in a couple of posts) too many cooks in the kitchen knocked the script off kilter. Looking forward to seeing all of the numbers and breakdowns this week.

Matthew, I've asked someone at the Black List to provide that information. Should have it within a week. Thanks again for the suggestion.

Brooke, I've been around this business for nearly three decades and I don't pay attention to 'doomsday articles' about any of it. The introduction of sound was going to kill movies. TV was going to kill movies. The VCR was going to kill movies. Adult dramas were dead. The mood about spec script market has gone up and down like a roller coaster for years. These are some facts: * Hollywood will ALWAYS be looking for great stories they think they can make money on. * Hollywood will ALWAYS be looking for new writers with great talent and a Voice. * Hollywood NEEDS to make movies, TV shows, web series and the like in order to generate revenue. * Every year, dozens of writers break into Hollywood by selling a spec script. * Every year, hundreds find representation with a script that, while not selling, acts as a calling card / writing sample. Sometimes the numbers are up. Sometimes they are down. But those facts above have proven to be in some way unalterable in their essence. One lesson to take away from where the spec market is just now: You absolutely have to bring your A game. How to do that? I would argue you must learn the craft. Watch movies. Read scripts. Write pages. Sites like my blog provide a ton of information and resources, all for free. It's like you get a mentor here. Hell, earlier today I heard from one of the writers who sold a spec in 2014. Told me has been reading GITS for a long time. The information and resources are out there. Then it's just a matter of hard work, talent, hard work, luck, hard work, persistence, hard work, and patience.