Over the past decade, I've noticed an alarming trend towards writers having to pay to be read while what little exposure they get (if any at all) is limited to a small exclusive club of members. This is a worrying trend in an industry where querying has typically been free and filmmakers have been easily able to solicit submissions. I feel we are in danger of paying to play becoming the norm for screenwriters, while up-and-coming filmmakers are isolated from finding great material. Many can't afford this and this creates a barrier to entry for artists from the most vulnerable backgrounds. It also creates a gambling mentality that many can fall foul of as they believe paying for multiple reads and hoping to get lucky is the key to breaking in. Screenwriting and filmmaking should not be the exclusive domain of the affluent or well connected. There is enough inequality in the world and the arts must be protected.
