Screenwriting : Fantastic response from Film Festivals! Now what? by Christine Bender

congrats!

Just my thoughts based on what Ive seen others do - Make sure to mention these wins when you send out query letters for this script. Also maybe try and get into some writing or mentorship programs, theres alot of them out there. You've distinguished yourself as an award winner, but ultimately you need to get the script optioned or sold, or get your foot into the door in a program or writers room somehow. Also keeping all your online profiles up to date with your latest loglines and awards is good if anyone googles you.

Congratulations and I hope that your win helps catapult you into the next opportunity. And keep on writing the next project :)

Congratulations on winning the awards and the selections, Christine Bender! What do you wanna do with your script? Sell it, find a director or producer for it, etc. Knowing that will help us give you advice and insight.

Thanks so much for your encouragement and advice! I'd love to find a director, producer, or actress that will fall in love with this script. Seeing it work toward production is my goal.

You're welcome, Christine Bender. You could search for director, producer, and actress here on Stage 32 and get them interested in your script (www.stage32.com/people). Here are blogs on networking: www.stage32.com/blog/tags/networking-41

You could also keep an eye on Stage 32's Meetups section for meetups in Boise (www.stage32.com/meetups). Or you could start your own meetup.

Christine Bender I would work on sending out queries to independent producers. You can start to build a network of producers using the contest win as a way to boost your credentials. I would also send it out to a few managers. The main goal for queries is to get a read request and to use the script to build relationships. A big plus would be if they would like to option it to shop it around and/or work with you on other projects.

And of course, start working on other scripts if you haven't already. If they love your query, but it's not right for them at the moment, they usually ask what else are you working on.

Great advice, Christopher. Many thanks!

Hi Christine Bender that’s fantastic to hear! Try to get acclimated with the other lounges such as the directing, producing or acting lounges!

Christine Bender I'm glad you asked this question. I've also received some positive responses for a couple of my screenplays from contests and I'm thinking of what to do next. For now, I've been writing mostly to learn and get some screenplays done, but soon I need to be more proactive and actually do something with them other than contests.

Some solid advice from S32-ers here, so I'm sure you have a focus now on what to do next. If you did still feel you'd like to talk further about this with someone, then you're more than welcome to come have a chat with me. I'll help if I can.

Hi Christine Bender I'm in a similar position with one of my scripts. My plan is to use the awards as a door-opener with agents. The script is a big-budget number. Too big for me to consider developing as an indie production. It would require a decent-sized prod co - of the scale who will not read things unsolicited. So, awards will help open the door to an agent, who can then open doors to a prod co. That's my plan anyway. Hope it helps.

Thanks to all of you, and best wishes to my fellow screenwriters!

You're welcome, Christine Bender. Best to.you with your script and career.