Screenwriting : Winning awards, but no traction by Tom Hogan

Write another screenplay. Reps want screenwriters with stacks of ideas, not just one idea.

But if your goal is to make one movie, then become a Producer and learn how to make movies. Start attracting talent in front and behind camera. Maybe get an industry job and surround yourself with peers who do this for a living

Tom, Dan's advice is solid. I would also note that since both PAGE Int'l and Austin FF are among the most industry-respected contests, that should definitely buy you some leverage. So use it by promoting yourself, while you write your next script. Some ways to do that would be to connect directly with producers by way of either Stage32's script services, or InkTip (which your PAGE Int'l placement might have granted you free access to). There are also a number of contests that are geared toward hooking you up with producers and prodcos. Spend some time researching which they are via FilmFreeway and Coverfly. Good Luck!

The competition traction you're getting is not enough to garner interest.

What Dan said. As you write your next one, take heart in the fact that your first screenplay has done quite well in two big contests. The majority of writers don't do that well. Congrats and keep on keeping on.

And FYI - I've never had an agent or manager, but I'm doing ok.

These are great achievements. But even a victory in these doesn’t guarantee success or attention.

You have to just keep writing and reaching out to people. You have to be present in your own career. Make sure everyone knows your name for all the right reasons.

Even if your script is produceable, it may take dozens of pitches until someone bites. It could easily be years until a it’s in production.

Hey Tom, I’m the Director of Script Services at Stage 32. Congratulations on your contest success. I know it can be frustrating to win or be well placed in a competition and have nothing to show for it. That is why at Stage 32 we work to put winners in rooms industry executives, managers and producers. And we send all of the finalists’ loglines and bios in a look book which is sent out to over 500 executives in our network. That approach has gotten the majority of our contest winners and finalists traction in the industry. The next time you consider contests, definitely consider Stage 32. There are real results.

What Dan MaxXx said. I would go a bit farther, in that, figure out what you want to do in this industry. Write and sell movies? There's a certain path to achieve that.

Writer and produce your own movies? Again, a certain path.

Become a staff writer on a TV show? Path.

Picking up a trend, here? I always say, deciding your goals for the biz is key, primary and needs to be done first. That decision will inform you next steps.

Thanks to everyone for the comments, even the chiding ones. I should have been a little clearer on my status and hopes. I'm 66, recently retired from Silicon Valley, so am not looking for a new career in screenwriting . I have two scripts--one the Holocaust thriller ($35m, estimated budget) the other an ensemble indie piece based on my recently-published novel. ($5-7m). So what time I do have in this area will go into getting one of these two produced--and hopefully finding representation--rather than writing scripts 3-xx. Thanks again for all the advice.

Hi Tom,

"Retired from Silicon Valley?" You're just the guy I want to talk to raise funds/have the time of you life as the Executive Producer for my $300,000,000 space-western-romance-zombie film! Talk about fate!

Heh-heh. Just kidding, Tom. Best fortunes with your stories. And remember: deep learning accelerators and social credit algorithms. The future is deep learning accelerators and social credit algorithms.

The problem is: it doesn't work like that. Most scripts are job applications for assignments. Producers hire writers much more often than they buy screenplays. And only about 1% of what they buy or commission ever makes it to the screen. Just to get noticed, you have to hammer away at them with new screenplays. The average professional screenwriter wrote 9 screenplays before making a nickel. I was average. I also have a better than average production percentage - 19 films made. A large part of that was writing high concept ideas that could be made on lower budgets. But I still have dozens of scripts that I was hired to write shelved at studios all over town. There are only a handful of contests that mean anything. Austin is one of them. But you have to get to the finals. Though I have known some people who got requests from Nicholl semi scripts, I think those were exceptions.