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TUTORIAL: Movie Genres

Question: Formats, genre, structure…How long do you think the typical learning curve is for an aspiring screenwriter?

Answer: I just asked this question of a 30 year Hollywood veteran (9 produced movie credits, 50+ script writing assignments). His answer was, "A lifetime." Believe me, the-get-rich-quick-by-screenwriting syndrome is not a viable business model.

If writers are serious about establishing a career in screenwriting, they should give themselves a long stretch of time. Years. It's not unreasonable to plan on spending three to five years just to get that first important screenwriting job or to sell a first original script. Terry Rossio, the writer of "Shrek" (the number one hit of the summer) told me he and his partner (Ted Elliott) wrote twelve scripts before they even attempted to market one.

Once a writer creates their first opportunity - either a script sale or an assignment -then it will still take years to become a well-established pro. The job is complex, it requires a variety of talents above and beyond writing talent: creative marketing ability, a talent for pitching stories, a flare for working with other people - many of them Divas, and of course the perseverance and stamina of a thoroughbred.

Question: I recently completed a romantic comedy that reads like a modern day fairytail. How do I market this ‘genre’?

Answer: As you've discovered, writing a great script is only half the battle. It's as big a challenge to get the script read by the right people – industry professionals who can help you penetrate Hollywood's protected inner circle.

I am intrigued by your script idea - so I'm sure if we put our minds to it, we will able to find a way for you to get your script read by some people who may be able to help you. (Just between you and me it's fairytale not fairytail, but that's a minor point; unless of course this is a play on words and one of your characters actually has a tail!)

Okay, here we go. Whatever genre you’re writing, you need an advocate, an industry professional – an agent, a producer, a director, an established actor, a studio reader, a produced screenwriter - somebody with industry connections who is enthusiastic about your script and will recommend people to read it. How do we find this person?

One route I almost always recommend to unsold/unproduced writers is screenplay contests. You've probably heard this already; but there are new ones announced nearly every week. Go to www.moviebytes.com for the most up to date contest list - there are hundreds. Target the ones that apply to your genre, your subject matter, or your personal background (ethnicity, age, occupation). You won't hear the results right away of course, it can take many months; but winning one of them or even being a finalist can help you. You can then put that contest info in your query letters to independent producers to convince them to read your 'award winning' script.

Question: I have a quirky movie that defies the film studio categories. How do I market it?

Answer: Because I imagine from what you've said, that you have an unusual script I would suggest you try to place it in the Indie market. ‘Indies’ are independent filmmakers - not the major Hollywood studios. Indies make movies on limited budgets, so they can't spend that much money for big stars or techno effects so the script has to be unique, the script is the original element - the star of the movie. Perhaps your project fits into this world. Many screenwriters I know got their first jobs from Indies.

ww.indieclub.com This site is a network of independent filmmakers organized geographically. You can find ones in your area no matter where you live. You can list your profile and your project. There's a message board, you can find partners or financing sometimes.
www.aivf.org This is the Association of Independent Video and Filmmakers. You can pitch your project on this site, look for film jobs like writing, rewriting or on a crew. Working on a movie in almost any capacity when you're starting out will be an eye opening experience. You will learn how movies are made and this will translate into your writing and make your scripts more professional.
www.indiewire.com
www.filmdeveloper.com

Check out these resources, post your project, join in the forums and discussions -- talk with other writers who work with Indies. Obviously you can't always get someone to back your movie, but perhaps you could get someone to shoot a scene or two as a writing sample that you might be able to get agents or producers to look at. It's easier for busy professionals to agree to watch five or ten minutes of film than to read an entire script.

Question: I’ve written a comedy – how do I know if it’s funny enough?

Answer: Many professional writers I know have a script reading before they submit their script to market. This would be especially important with a comedy like yours. Having an audience to help you with those last few polishes is vital for comedy writers. Go to an acting class in your area - on a campus or a community theatre group - and ask them to arrange a script reading. You will learn so much from this process. Don’t treat this as a backer's audition; this is for you as a comedy writer.

Question: I write thrillers and I have a list of producers who have done great thrillers – is this a good way to start submitting my script?

Answer: Yes, targeting your market is vital. But don’t just go down the list and send a form letter as your query. You need to spend as much thought and creativity on your query letter as you do the scenes in your script.

Take time to write each individual query letter. This letter is your chance to hook the professional endorsement that you need. Have a dynamic logline for your movie and an enticing synopsis. Be professional. Know the credentials of the producers you are writing to, be familiar with what movies they've made or packaged. You can look up professional credits in the Internet Movie database: www.imdb.com. Cleverly convince them that your script should find a home with their production company.

Question: What genre is Hollywood looking for currently?

Answer: When you are writing your first few screenplays, don’t fuss too much about the market’s taste and current genre popularity. Write a movie that you personally would like to see. If you love a certain genre of movie whether it’s romantic comedies or techno-thrillers, that passion will come through in your writing.

Also, in order to sell your movies, you must have some knowledge/experience of the genre you’re selling. You must know the movies like yours that have been successful and the movies in your genre that have failed. Try to figure out why these movies are successful or not. This will help you write a better movie and will definitely help you in promoting your script.

Question: How do I know if my project belongs on TV or in the movies?

Answer: Recently television seems to be more innovative than features. Some writers try to create a television prototype of their story first (shorter and less expensive) and do a feature version later. Features are star-driven. No matter what the producers or film execs tell you, deep in their heart they're all hoping Julia Roberts or Mel Gibson or Haley Joel Osment will want to star in their project. Everybody loves a slam-dunk.

Certain genres are prohibited from TV because of subject matter (excessive violence or explicit sex) or because of budget constrictions. It would have been impossible to make movies of the scale of Independence Day, Men in Black and Titanic on television. A scaled-down version of those stories could be made for TV, but the scope of those particular productions determined that they were feature projects.

Question: What's the best script software - the ones the pros use?

Answer: The best selling program is Final Draft, next is Screenwriter 2000 by Movie Magic and then Scriptware and Script Thing are close behind. The Writer's Store in Los Angeles offers free demo downloads so you can try them out. Or check out my formatting tutorial.