Screenwriting : Getting In by Matthew Knobloch

Sounds dismissive. But it would s true.

Keep writing until you are the best you can be. Put those scripts on scriptrevolution.com and subscribe to the inktip newsletter.

You will find your first sale. This will be an intro to people and networking from that.

Get a job that puts you around people who do this for a living- work. Agencies, Prod companies, studio lots, film rental equipment, post facilities, film schools. Learn a paying trade/job skill. Your bio says you’re in Beverly Hills, you’re already got an edge by location.

Hi Matthew: I don't log in here often but it's a holiday. Glad you reached out like this. Most people woulen't. I make it my purpose to help and empower writers, creatives of all kinds, to be able to follow their passion. Besides the writing and figuring out what kind of career you want - which I can help you come to -- these are not businsesses of geniuses. There are a few - but fortuniately the 10,000 otrher slots have to be filled by those who have develeoped their craft and their unique voice. But - second to that -- is network. And I don't mean network with only other writers or producers or actors -- I mean network with other people. Because you never know who knows somebody who might be a help to you -- and then you get a referral that means a whole lot more than just meeting them cold. Being virtual makes it even better! I was virtual before there was a pandemic. Everything I do now is online. And those two purposes will somehow have to be supported by how are you going to figure out your finances. There are answers for that too. Just know -- being able to support yourself with your beginning writing career is probable not in the cards. But by the same token you don't want to take a blood sucking 60 hour a week job that leaves little time or energy for your passion projects. If you're around tomorrow at noon (PDT) -- I host a weekly 'virtual coffee klatsch' just for that purpose. Tuesday -- join us if you can! http://vid.us/1cvgmf If not, and you're available we can talk or zoom some time soon. Welcome to the tribe! Just starting out can be intimidating. But a manager once said to me: "Bill. You will be a better writer a year from now than you are today -- and that's the way it should always be." Which was probably the most freeing thing anybody ever said to me. I pass it along. So -- just realize you are just starting out -- accept that. I think you have. Now -- let's get this show on the road.

Firstly, please be aware that people give themselves very grand titles and make bold claims. You need to be doing your due-diligence and not taking things for granted on a forum. Look people up on IMDb. It'll till tell you almost everything you need to know. Ask people where you can go watch the movies they've written and feel the awkward silence that ensues.

I don't think there is a best way to break in but, for what it's worth, most working writers attribute it to networking. I can't remember who conducted the study I saw but it was overwhelming.

Ideally, you need to be doing everything you can all the time. You need all proactive and passive bases covered and be in it for the long-term, like, the really long-term.

And you need to be a good writer too, a damn good writer who stands out with a strong voice, a writer who really cares about their craft and the business at hand.

I've watched a lot of people try and fail since I first started writing in 2012. I've seen very few succeed and, by succeed, I mean do anything, even getting a short script filmed never mind a spec sale or a writing assignment. I can count on one hand how many times I've seen a screenwriter on a forum able to say a movie they've written has been released and still keep the thumb spare. It's incredibly rare to be talking to a real working screenwriter but it can feel like everyone else is David Lindelof sometimes (and they'll let you think it, especially on the more anonymous forums).

People get noticed in the strangest ways too, often way left-field of the advised strategies.

Take it from someone right at the bottom of the food chain, you need to see it as the ten year long job interview from hell. That's the only way you can prepare yourself. It really does have to be your dream as it will push you to your limits.