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Dear Screenwriter:
Some of you are part-time writers with a dream. Others have a rough
draft screenplay you desire to transform into a marketable script. Many
of you are full-time writers seeking opportunities for your scripts.
The marketing opportunities in this issue require a polished screenplay
AND a polished professional attitude. If you don't yet have a polished
screenplay to market, save this email to read later and WRITE!
If your screenplay is polished but you need some help with the
professional attitude, keep reading. This issue explores two skills you
need for script marketing:
1) How to participate in a professional writers forum.
2) How to use film festival competitions to your advantage.
_____________________
SCRIPT
MARKET
NEWS APRIL
25, 2002
IN THIS ISSUE...
MARKETING TIP => WORDS INTO PIX FORUM
WRITER Q + A => FEMALE STAR, GETTING READ
SUBMISSION OPPS => FILM FESTIVAL CONTESTS
First, a word from a friend...
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"Sell Writing Online Now"
An interactive weekly newsletter for writers.
We share paying markets, marketing tips as well as other writing Web sites. Plus a quiz! If you answer ONE of the questions
correctly, we will promote your Web site for FREE in the following issue. Do you have a book? We promote books for FREE too! Send an email
to: mailto:sellwritingonline-subscribe@topica.com
OR click on the link at: http://www.sellwritingonline.com/
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_______________________________
MARKETING
TIP =>
WORDS
INTO PICTURES
I don't usually endorse writing forums but the WORDS INTO PICTURES Film
and Television Writers Forum is special. Here's why:
1) This is a not for profit event sponsored by the Writers Guild
Foundation.
Of course it has commercial sponsors like Universal, Warners, Variety,
Sony, and Fox; but The Writers Guild Foundation is a nonprofit
organization founded in 1966 to encourage excellence in writing and to
promote and preserve the work of writers for film and television.
2) Dozens of high-powered A-list screenwriters participate.
This is your chance to see these television + screenwriting stars in
action: Alan Ball, Ron Bass, James L. Brooks, Joan Didion, Bo Goldman,
Leslie Dixon, Callie Khouri, William Goldman, Aaron Sorkin, Stephen
Gaghan, Steven Zaillian, Lowell Ganz, Tina Andrews. At the very least,
you will absorb (and learn from) their professional manner, their
individuality, and their brilliance. You will witness the passion and
intelligence it takes to establish a career in the film business.
3) This is not a craft conference but an opportunity to examine crucial
issues facing television and film writers.
Topics to be explored include: contracts, working with a director,
protecting your creative rights, pushing your project forward to the
greenlight, creative collaboration, and self-promotion.
4) You will gain an overview of how things really work in Hollywood.
This is opportunity to discuss ways to improve the way things work.
5) This is a professional seminar, not a forum to peddle a script idea
or search for an agent.
Use this experience to hone your professional demeanor. Producers, film
executives and agents are all looking for the same kind of writer -- a
writer who can DELIVER. Writers who learn how to present that persona in
meetings will eventually be hired.
WORDS INTO PICTURES 2002 will be held Friday, June 7th through Sunday, June 9th at the Hilton Los Angeles in Universal City, California. So if
you're in the vicinity, check it out. If you're not a local, plan ahead
so you can participate next year.
MORE INFO => www.wordsintopictures.org
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SCREENWRITER
Q + A
QUESTION on MARKETING A FEMALE-DRIVEN
SCRIPT: I've heard a female driven script is a difficult sell. Any suggestions for marketing a script which
may have a bias against it? -- Penny
ANSWER: Full marks for thinking about this issue BEFORE marketing your
script, Penny. When making up a submission list for your new script, choose producers, directors and stars who have made great movies with a
similar theme, similar subject matter or female star character appeal. Yes, this list will be shorter than if it were a male action-adventure
list; but you only need one enthusiastic (well-connected) buyer.
Several female stars have their production companies for movies they star in and for movies they produce. These stars come to mind: Sandra
Bullock, Sally Field, Jodi Foster, Meg Ryan, Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Tea Leoni, Jennifer Aniston.
For a tutorial on targeting script submissions to specific stars, their production companies, directors and producers go here =>
www.breakingin.net/target_submissions.htm
For a guide to writing a bombproof query => www.breakingin.net/tswquery.htm
For tips on writing bulletproof a logline => www.breakingin.net/logline.htm
QUESTION on GETTING A SPEC SCRIPT READ: I've written several scripts but
I live in Washington, D.C. How can I get my script read? Are script
services a viable alternative? -- R.R.
ANSWER: I sympathize with you, R.R. It is difficult to get scripts read
even if you live in one of the film centers like LA, NYC, Montreal, Vancouver, London or Sydney.
Here is an opportunity specifically for DC-based screenwriters:
THE FILM DC SCREENWRITING COMPETITION FOR DISTRICT RESIDENTS. This new
competition aims to generate screenplays using actual Washington, DC locales, and to promote the prize-winning script to the film &
television industry in Hollywood. The winner will receive a roundtrip airline ticket to Los Angeles, a rental car, and hotel accommodations
for a three day, two-night stay. The winner will also visit the set of the Warner Bros./NBC television series "The West Wing," meet with the
writers and will be offered a featured extra role. Scripts must be received by June 30, 2002 and the winner will be announced by September
1, 2002.
Here are some other suggestions:
1) Script Competitions
If you have a polished script ready to market, enter it in some contests. I know many writers who won their first break this way.
Concentrate on the contests that offer script readings at film festivals
or offer some form of networking opportunities for you. Some terrific film festival contests are listed below under SUBMISSION OPPS.
Great film festival contest list => www.moviebytes.com
Tutorial on evaluating script contests => www.breakingin.net/choosey.htm
2) Customize submissions
Target your script submissions to specific producers, agents and stars whom you believe would genuinely respond to your particular script based
on the movies they've made successfully in the past.
This tutorial will help you compose a PRACTICAL submission list and give
you suggestions on how to contact those on the list =>
www.breakingin.net/target_submissions.htm
3) Script coaches
Sometimes script coaches can take your script to a new level. Some coaches even offer to help you get an agent or refer you to some
producers they know. I've written an article on how different script coaches work, you can read it here =>
www.breakingin.net/tswcoaches.htm
Research the coach carefully -- be sure the coach has current,
legitimate film industry connections. Many have websites, so check them out. Since you're out of the industry loop, you probably want a coach
who lives and works in one of the film centers.
4) Script registries
These services post loglines or synopses of scripts on a database that producers and agents access. If the producer or agent is interested in
reading the script, they contact the writer directly. I know lots of writers who found their first few opportunities this way. I researched
these registries thoroughly, you can read my article about them here => www.breakingin.net/tswregistries.htm
INSIDER TIP: Recently, studios have hired people whose specific job is
to keep track of the fresh material published in online script databases.
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___________________________
SUBMISSION OPPS
FILM
FESTIVAL SCRIPT CONTESTS
----> AUSTIN HEART OF FILM SCRIPT CONTEST
This popular film festival offers awards for teleplays (sitcom and drama) and feature film scripts (adult/family and comedy). All awards
will be presented during the Austin Film Festival in October. Prizes include $5,000 cash, airfare, hotel and a Producers Pass to all festival
events.
DEADLINE => JUNE 15, 2002
INFO => www.austinfilmfestival.com
----> FILM IN ARIZONA
Finalists will be flown to LA for an awards brunch, plus cash, prizes and expenses.
DEADLINE => May 15, 2002
INFO => www.azcommerce.com/azfilmcommission.htm
----> VIRGINIA GOVERNOR'S SCRIPT COMPETITION
Awards: Three cash prizes of $1,000 each. Locations must reasonably be expected to be found in Virginia.
DEADLINE => MID-JUNE, 2002
APPLICATION by e-mail => vafilm@virginia.org
----> TELLURIDE INDIE FESTIVAL
Summer in magnificent Telluride, Colorado? Sign me up! A noncompetitive
festival with many awards for screenplays. Check out the previous winners posted on their site.
INFO => www.tellurideindiefest.com
DEADLINE => JUNE 1, 2002
----> RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL SCREENPLAY COMPETITION
The Grand Prize (valued at $5,000) includes airfare, hotel, a public reading at the festival and the opportunity to have segments of the winning screenplay produced during the festival's Master Class on Production.
INFO => www.film-festival.org
DEADLINE => MAY 15, 2002
----> OHIO INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL
Good morning, Cleveland! This festival offers two screenplay awards: Best Screenplay and Best Northcoast Screenplay (majority of screenplay set in Cleveland). Prizes include money, a public reading, a script analysis from film industry pros and submission to a literary agent.
DEADLINE => JUNE 1 (EARLY), JULY 1 (LATE)
INFO => www.ohiofilms.com
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Then finish your script and DO something with it!
Lenore Wright, Editor
Script Market News
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