I would like to hear cold e-mail success stories. Who send a query letter of their screenplay and got asked to send their script. Who got representation or produced through such mean?
I’m good at writing screenplay but I’m really not the best at query letters. I don’t know if it’s because it’s a low concept feature about childhood traumas, therapy and discovering traumatic buried memories that is hard to easily contain into a logline or simply because I don’t know what get manager and producer to thick.
So I would like to hear your success stories. How did you chose who to contact. What did you write in your query….
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I have had 4 script requests from cold queries but nothing beyond that. Much more success networking and using access here.
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I've had success with cold emails, @Nicolas. I've gotten script requests, made contacts, and been put on lists to be considered for future projects.
I researched the people I sent query letters to. I used catchy subject lines and sent short emails. The subject line and logline are the most important parts of a query letter in my opinion.
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Congratulations on the script requests, @Darrell!
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You might find this study interesting. https://stephenfollows.com/p/what-makes-an-agent-actually-read-a-cold-em...
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I got two meetings with production companies, a shopping agreement and (as of yesterday) a manager through cold queries. I think it comes down to having a really clear and compelling logline, a straightforward email, and most importantly taking a very targeted approach. I use ImdbPro to research what producers are making the type of movies I write, look for specific producers instead of emailing the general inbox, and then I keep my query email short and to the point, e.g. I'm a screenwriter of [genre], and I'd like to send you my latest script if you're currently accepting unsolicited submissions. Then the title and logline and a thank you for your consideration.
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Congratulations, @Erin!
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I have queried lit agents, managers, directors, actors, attorney's etc....
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Hi Nicholas :) Zero Gravity Management's cold query process is very straightforward. I hope it helps :) https://www.zerogravitymanagement.com/contact-us/ For representation, Audrey Knox has an amazing guidebook and she is also super active on LinkedIn, always giving amazing tips. https://howtogetamanager.com/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_conten...
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Maurice Vaughan How long is too long? How do you make an impression just with the logline? I’m curious.
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Too long would be a long intro, long synopsis (and sometimes short synopsis), etc., Nicolas Lavoie.
I suggest having a short intro, logline, and your contact info. You could add a line about how you came up with the project/why it's important to you if you want.
Make sure your logline is solid.
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Thanks EriEric Christopherson
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Thanks Judith Marie-Ange Edmorin
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Maurice Vaughan So how many lines for each?
Right now my query is:
2-3 lines to explain why I contact/seek them. by the way while producers have clear styles, there are not a lot information about manager style and préférences and accomplishment.
Logline
2-3 lines to explain what I’m trying to do in the screenplay in short explaining the viewer get an intimate access to the therapy and healing process and discovers with the protagonist the buried traumas, which also makes for good genuine twists.
2-3 lines to explain why I wrote the story, in short because it’s inspired by true events and a true healing process
That would be too long?
You're welcome, Nicolas Lavoie.
1 line explaining why you're contacting/seeking them
1 sentence for the logline (you can use two sentences if you want)
Your contact information
That's all I would put.
If you want, you could add 1-2 lines telling "the viewer get an intimate access to the therapy and healing process and discovers with the protagonist the buried traumas, which also makes for good genuine twists" and why you wrote the story. I would save that for the pitch, pitch deck, treatment/TV bible, and another email (if the person emails back and wants to know more about the project).