For Screenwriters (Horror Genre)
At Altt, we believe the question "Will anyone actually pay for this?" should be the first thing asked, not one of the last. Instead of going all in on a story that our team loves, we using real data science from the very first step.
By starting from premise, we can measure which ideas pull hard enough with real audiences to earn their place in the process. Instead of asking audiences notoriously inaccurate questions like what they would watch, we’re running tests that allow them to demonstrate preferences through real behaviour. We put competing synopses in front of real horror audiences and measuring what they actually click, share, and come back to. These methods are rooted in the real data science that tech startups use. We look for consistent signals, not just one flattering number.
The same approach runs alongside every stage of development from story structure, script writing, previsualisation, market positioning, operational pre-planning, and commercial viability. Each phase has its own validation methods, and all of that evidence gets packaged with the complete script, storyboards, and previsualisation sequences in our custom interactive software, Movie Stacks, which lets buyers experience the atmosphere and tone of the film before it exists.
about Compensation
If your idea gets through to the advances stages of our process, we’ll start raising for it. All pre-funding projects start on the same terms with no upfront compensation for anyone. That includes the people running the project, on the same terms as everyone else. The company is a work in progress, and none of us are full-time employees.
That said, we’ve put in the work to make sure there are real guarantees and protections for everyone involved. Part of that means trying to set a new standard for transparency and fairness in independent film, backed by detailed legal agreements guaranteeing:
Deferred pay is tracked. The work you do is invoiced and kept in a ledger which can check anytime.
Your pay comes before profit. Everything owed to cast and crew is repaid in full before any profit distribution, including financiers.
Generous profit points. Everyone earns points, paid from pools set at a fixed share of project or studio profit.
What you earn lasts. Project Points stay valid for the life of the project. Studio Points, for work done across multiple projects or at the company level, last five years from your last credited work.
Credit guarantees. Your credit is agreed in writing against recognised industry standards, with independent arbitration if there's ever a dispute.
Freedom to work as you choose. You stay your own boss, free to take other clients and set your own hours, with no exclusivity at all.
First call on future roles. If a past role or a step up becomes available, existing collaborators already on the team get first right of consideration. If the new role isn’t offered to you, options like consulting credit or added points are on the table.
A fair way out. If it's not working, either side can give reasonable notice with pay and points prorated fairly based on your contributions to date.
Clear creative ownership. Your ideas and work done outside Altt is clearly protected in writing and stay fully yours.
Your work treated ethically. We've worked hard to ensure that our agreements offer same kind of mutual protections and assurances that much bigger studios offer, and most of the time on significantly better terms.
Good faith built in at every turn. If a term rests on a mistake, things change, or we all learn something new, either side can raise it and we will do everything we can to make it right.
We appreciate that this way of working isn’t right for everyone. If you’re curious about what we’re doing but aren’t in a position to participate, or you think there’s a better way, please get in touch. We always want to hear from people who get what we’re doing and believe in our mission.
How to get involved
We're looking for contained, elevated horror with a real emotional core underneath the scares. All submissions are welcome and, if your premise pulls an audience at our one-liner stage and can be made within budget, it's a candidate. Email writersroom@alttproductions.com with:
Up to three pages of writing samples. These can be extracts from scripts, synopses, novelisations, or other relevant work. You may include material from one project or several.
Your weekly availability to work together.
Why this opportunity is of interest to you.
Please do not send full scripts or more than three pages. We will be in touch if we feel you might be a good fit to meet the team.
If you want to get involved another way: We’re not looking for cast or crew at the moment, but get in touch with us at info@alttproductions.com anyway and we’ll make sure you get updates along the way. We’re also always looking for people who have been there, done that, and can help us become aware of our unknown unknowns.
If you want to follow the project: We'll be sharing updates on the validation process, what the data shows, and how Project Zero develops as it moves through each stage. Sign up with your email below!
Industry contacts, investor enquiries, and everything else: info@alttproductions.com