Screenwriting : Query letters by Rickardo Beckles-Burrowes

Thanks for your comment Phillip.

Query letters are not a waste of time. I'm living proof that they work, and can get you on a studio lot many many times. When they don't work - it's due to the concept of the screenplay.

Agreed, Bill...If they're handled in the proper manner. Still no place for the scammers. And there are plenty playing in the mass query letter/email blast space.

It is easy to say something doesn't work because 99.9 percent of the time whatever you try in this business doesn't work. It is a tournament career so you have to try everything. I have had some success with query letters in the past.

i sent a query email to Circle of Confusion management and they replied back with a SUBMISSION release form within a half hour after my email. Queries do work; do your research and find who wants what.

Thanks for commenting Will and Richard. What advice would you give for anyone putting query letters together?

Great news Dan. What do you think worked well in your query letter?

I want to say that Stephanie Palmer isn't a scammer but the scammers are those who offer to send your query to 500 companies for the low low price of $99. THOSE are the scams. I teach arguably one of the best classes on query letters and every time I do, I get the question - do they even work? The honest answer is -- not usually. BUT they work just as well as anything else, which is to say about 2-5% of the time. I definitely know a number of people who have found success thru queries! But for every writer who did, there are 500 writers who didnt. So, like everything else, it gives you a shot IF you know how to write a great query. unfortunately, most writers dont.

Richard- My query email wasn't one sided like "please read my material." I switched my approach/tone to "You don't want to pass on me.." Managers/Agents are seeking new Talent. They want to make $$$$$. Sell yourself as the next big thing without coming off as a dick. Write with "humility." And if you're stuck/rejected, I will write you a personal query for a modest fee$$$$ :))))))) cash only.

There are pieces of this that could be helpful. Then when the box pops up about "getting access to read these scripts", it's like AH CRAP AN AD? REALLY?. But with this business, I am learning, is that anything goes. If query letters work, then great. If not and you go the personal relationship approach then fine as well. From what I'm seeing is that relationship-based business has been a little more successful. I could be wrong though.

You know what...I need to apologize here. I had two browsers open when I read this, and one of them was to a consulting page that was sent to me from a HW client regarding a so-called "expert" scammer. That was the page I commented on. Stephanie is terrific. My bad on that. I deleted my original post, but I stand by my comment that there are many scam query letter and query letter blast services out there. Do your homework and buyer beware. As for querying on your own. No harm, no foul. Just make sure you know your audience and make it short and personable.

Thanks for commenting Danny, Richard and John.