What Does ‘Greenlit’ REALLY Mean? 9 Key Factors in the Script Development Process

There’s often a misconception around the meaning of the term ‘greenlit’. There is a vast difference between a producer/studio commissioning a script and a movie getting greenlit. Usually, it goes in that order.

It’s important to demystify the process of a movie getting greenlit, especially for those starting their career in screenwriting who might dream of it being as simple as: write script, get paid, repeat.

Unfortunately, the process from script to screen is longer, more complex and can sometimes result in collapsed projects.

And no matter how hard a screenwriter labours over a script or how big of a star signs on for a movie, you still need that green light to enter production.

Therefore, it’s important for screenwriters to understand what the journey could look like, from idea, through development, to pitching and finally getting that enviable green light.

What Does ‘Greenlit’ Mean?

Greenlit is a term used in the film and TV industries when the “powers that be” approve and authorize a production. 

• If a pitch succeeds, a film receives a “green light”, meaning someone offers financial backing.
• This is typically a major film studio, film council, or independent investor.
• The parties involved negotiate a deal and sign contracts. 

Once all parties have met and the deal has been set, the film may move into the pre-production and principal photography period. By this stage, the film should have a clearly defined marketing strategy and target audience.

By common industry practices, in order to be greenlit, a project should meet most of the following criteria:

• Mutually approved script.
• Lead actors attached (at minimum a letter of intent from actor or rep).
• Mutually approved budget.
• Director attached (at minimum a letter of intent from director or rep).
• Mutually approved production schedule.
• Fully executed agreement with a funding source(s) (outlining the amount to be invested, and a cash flow that is in accordance with the talent and crew payments).
• Proof of funds in the bank, or at least fully accounted for.

The package above is the key to getting a project greenlit in the studio system. As you can see, multiple factors lead up to a greenlit film.

Sometimes outlines and pitches are greenlit. This is usually true with franchise movies (or star-driven vanity projects). Often those pitches or packages render the actual script somewhat irrelevant.

For instance, Speed was greenlit on the basis of a strong pitch concluding “it’s basically Die Hard on a bus”, while Aliens was greenlit on the basis of James Cameron writing “Alien$” on a whiteboard.