Screenwriting : Pitching your script by Martin O'Toole

Never send scripts cold. Nobody will read them. You need a query letter and preferably an agent or literary rep.

Thanks Marty. Forgive me: why would I offer to sign a release form? What's its purpose?

Thanks Christiane Lange. So your advice is NOT to even attempt to contact producers/production companies, but to land an agent to do it for me?

Hi Martin,

Firstly, register your work with the Library of Congress. LOC is mandatory in terms of protection, WGA is optional.

In terms of pitching your feature spec, are you specifically talking about pitching it to named talent, in the hope they will read it, or is the plan to get some other interest, from a producer and/or director and ultimately, get it made?

I think your probability of getting named talent to read your work cold, is low, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. I'd suggest looking to make some connections first - with a producer and/or director who work in the genre and budget you want to get made.

Top three pieces of advice;

1) Carefully select who you are approaching.

2) Be very concise about what your script is (title, genre, logline).

3) Offer to send a two page synopsis beside the full script.

Martin O'Toole I am not anyone to advise really. You can query producers, but your chances of getting a response are minimal and will improve if you have a rep of some kind.

Thanks Eoin O'Sullivan. Each and every draft of the little sod is registered with the WGA — AND the original treatment... :) I think you're right regarding getting talent to look at it. More like the best route is as you've identified: producers and a director first...

CJ Walley Succinct and informative as ever, squire! Long time no 'speak'. How's life?

Any tips on the subject line to hook them in, without being a smart-ass?!

:)

Thanks Dan MaxXx. I read the thread with the dude crying plagiarism by Nolan & Joy. Messy business... I've protected this concept from day one, sharing and protecting the treatment then every draft since. I'm not too worried about plagiarism. That said, I am interested in why you say "forget WGA registration". did you have a bad experience with this?

Martin O'Toole, life's good. New feature currently in post. Good to see you out there being proactive.

Try to make the subject like mechanical rather than promotional. People will appreciate being able to manage their inbox better for it. Something like "QUERY: Script Title - by Firstname Lastname".

You're wise to avoid being a smart-ass as that's really common and almost always cringe inducing. I get pitched a few times a week now even though I'm a writer and I see all sorts. Less really does tend to be more.

CJ Walley Congrats on the new feature! I look forward to hearing more as and when it's appropriate...

Sound advice as always. I was thinking about variations on my name + script title ('The Kitsune') + spec.

Time to get this train out of the station... :)

M.

Out here in Cyprus - far from the action - this is what I did -- I wrote a great query letter for my Hemingway script, identified relevant production companies, through CREATIVE INDEX, and found a name to address, I also used IMDb to make sure that my query would have relevance to the company, sent my letter off and got many enquires to read my script. So, letters can work - my script just didn't do it for them, and that might be more to do with trends than the quality of the work. The trouble with trying to get Talent involved is that you need to be represented. And this is very frustrating for people like us so maybe, getting representation should be your goal, right now. Having said that, I intend to try again, with "The Hemingways" script. I watched "Midnight Sky" yesterday and would love George Clooney to play Ernest Hemingway. Has anyone got any ideas how I can try to achieve that goal?!

Selma Karayalcin You don't necessarily need representation to reach out to a named actor - but you do need a connection and it's certainly better if your offer comes through a legitimate source to be taken seriously, like a producer or entertainment attorney etc.

If a producer wants to get someone to read a script, they can put money in an escrow account, send the script and ask them to come back by date x.

Thanks, Selma Karayalcin. I haven't heard of Creative Index, but do use IMDB Pro and already have a list of producers/directors, picked based on relevance. I sincerely hope you land Clooney for The Hemmingways! Sounds like an interesting project...

Thanks, Eoin O'Sullivan. A bit problematic as I don't have any connections... but I'll keep sending off to producers. Martin O'Toole, Creative Index can be very useful for your purposes in a more structured way compared to IMDB PRO.

John, thanks for posting the John Zaozirny link!

And Martin, all the VERY BEST to you in your pitching efforts!

Hi, Martin O'Toole! Congratulations on completing your feature! I think a great first start is right here on Stage 32. Under "Script Services," you have the option of submitting your script to an executive and have a phone call with them under "Script Consulting." I think this is one way of getting your script in front of an executive of your choice. You can also pitch your script to an executive under "Pitch Sessions." With help on which service may be best for you or to which executive you should submit that would best suit your specific script, you can always email the Director of Script Services, Jason Mirch at j.mirch@stage32.com. Jason is super-helpful and very responsive. Happy writing!

Lots of great advice here, esp. from CJ Walley and Dan MaxXx - as usual.

My top advice? Take the time to build relationships. Yes, it can take a long time, but that gives you more time to get better as a writer and have more samples in your pocket. Having solid give-more-than-take relationships will always be more valuable in the long-term (as in having a career).

Query with a logline.

Keep querying with each new screenplay until you have beaten them into submission and they ask to read a screenplay.

Talent are employees. They want to be paid. Producers send scripts to actors (often with $ promised).

Monica. I am new to stage 32 and you just opened up other opportunities with your suggestions for my own script and Martin, sell it like a sales man. If you believe in your material, others will believe in it also. Good luck.

William. I am being serious when I ask this. Is a log line a query?

Well, alright. I got a query for Boy Blue, thanks Barry.

Hi, Tim Bragg! I'm so happy to hear it! If I can help, please let me know! Happy writing!

Wowsers, thanks to all of you for your feedback, advice, and wishes. Total legends! Tim Bragg also congrats on your Boy Blue query!

Okay, it looks like I've got some thinking to do on the email front. If any of you have the time, I'd love your feedback on the logline in question. It's in my profile. The script is The Kitsune.

Thanks again. I'm really happy to be a part of this community.

Thanks Martin and I agree, after a week on Stage 32 I am learning new things that will advance myself as a wrier, thanks to you all for the welcoming advice.