Screenwriting : Screenwritting by KPahsha Mutale

Writing great screeplays. And lots of them.

May be one day we should try to share our works, ma be you read some thing done by me, i believe they are good

An agent not only is looking for a great writer, but a writer who is in it for the career. So Rachael's comment is quite accurate. You need several, completed, marketable screenplays and TV episodes to get representation. A produced credit is a big step towards representation. Even student films are good but a no budget independent is even better. A writer needs to show they are good "bet" for a long career.

Thank you Rik, Thank you Rachael. But how easy i it to sought producers and director looking for work to produce?

Once you have those completed screenplays, how do you go about courting an agent? Are there tactics? I currently have 1 feature length screenplay and am working on another. Both are adaptations of novels I wrote which have enjoyed reasonable success. Would the fact that I also have 7 published novels be helpful in the process? Thanks for any and all help.

KPahaha, it isn’t easy. Finding an agent or producers or directors to produce your work is very, very difficult. As was pointed out, there are groups and companies that hold these “pitch fests”. In my experience this is a way for the company to make money, not really a good way to get your work sold. But if you have the money, it doesn't hurt.

Axing unnecessary adverbs is a great way to start. RE: What surely is the best way of getting representation as a screenplay writer? [[surely is superfluous , but Shirley is a great dame on a date!]] http://editminion.com/ https://www.autocrit.com/ Live life, forget about writing until your life is jam-packed with so many real-life adventures that they explode from your mind at every moment. People will come to you at that point to capture your amazing stories.

Thanks a lot people...........................am really learning something here. lllimani, thanks

On Jan 13 there is a free teleconference hosted by ScreenwritingU on how to get/keep an agent/manager and ways to avoid the pitfalls. I heard it last month, blew my mind! Gave me entirely new avenues of how to advance my career. This is a must for any serious screenwriter. http://screenwritingu.com/agent_conference2.html

Very cool. I follow them on FB. Will have to see when it is. Hopefully not late in the evening PST- I'm EST, and being a farmer, I hit the hay pretty early!

Hi all, From my inexperienced position but verbally regurgitating what I've learnt from my own attempts to find genuinely insightful info on this subject, I would say that: 1: write many targeted query letters to up and coming agencies/agents providing brief info about yourself and asking about representation opportunities/possibilities. I would include either 3 loglines for movies/TV shows that you're happy with in order to give them a quick taste of your talents, or a link to an online space (i.e. this website) where you have loglines/treatments/scripts that they can read. 2: you need to show that you understand not just what makes a great screenplay, but also that you understand the business side too, as this is the realm of show business, after all. 3: Unflagging persistence, so that when you get rejected time and again you keep plugging away, learning, improving, until you get that big break, be it next week or the next decade. That's my understanding anyway. Good luck!

I will the second the thought on the Screenwriting U conference call, it is amazing. It also serves along the point that I was going to make. Yes, having a great script is an absolute prerequisite. It is what will get you in the door and ultimately seal the deal. It is the point between step 1 and 3 that screw people up (when they have a great script). The movie business is about relationships. Not only is your script being judged, but you are as well. It will take a long time to get your script to screen. They are evaluating if they want to have to work with you for that time, and hopefully beyond. You could have the greatest script in the world, but if you are an insufferable ass it really won't matter. I see Facebook pages where writers are posting things like "finished my script, off to register to protect my work, gotta get paid!!!" "Yo, agents, managers, VP's of development, producers, anyone who can make my movie. I'm ready, first come, first serve". Um... in a word, NO. I've seen writers post on Steven Spielberg's FB page saying they have an incredible script and they want to make it with them, but the writer wants to co-direct and produce. Still NO! Show them that you are just as professional in business as you are as a writer.

IMO, no course, teleconference or seance can help you get representation and anyone who claims they can is full of, well, you know what. The majority of reputable agents and managers are looking for those who can: 1) Consistently write great screenplays. 2) Have completed more than a single screenplay. 3) Have a plethora of strong ideas waiting to be written. 4) Are "good in a room" (pitch their stories, articulately, solve story problems quickly, take criticism and be personable). 5) Execute a decent 90-120 page screenplay in less than 3 months. The first thing my manager told me was, that If you are a screenwriter, you have to have a body of work that proves it... Most, unfortunately don't.

I agree with Marv. Fests, seminars and whatnot are good for getting you into the mindset of a screenwriter but rarely lead to anything but an empty pocket. What you need are scripts and lots of them and a dozen or so pitches on the tip of your tongue. if you have a screen credit, the agents will often come to you. Get involved with filmmakers, directors and production companies before you approach agents, that would be my advice. In my experience, not all prod cos like writers having agents - at least when the writer is unknown and first approaches them.

Listen to this GREAT screenwriting podcast that will help you avoid spending a ton of money on seminars etc: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/scriptnotes-podcast/id462495496 And... Write screenplays, enter contests, get a job in the biz as an assistant and work on other people's stuff and you work on theirs, join writing groups, send query letters, write more screenplays, BEWARE of the "script consultants", wackadoodles and charlatans looking to take your money. Oh and write more screenplays.

KPahsha. There is no one way for making this happen -- unless you have the money to produce and direct yourself (and that isn't easy). And even if you manage to get 'representation,' that doesn't mean you'll sell anything. There are a lot of people looking to set up deals, get backing and get Talent. It's not easy for someone who's been in the business for a while (I have stories others have told me). The first order is to learn how to write a script. The second is... write many of them. Then consider what you need to do to find representation. There are many Writers in this business, but not a lot of them Working Writers. I have seven completed scripts and it's still hard trying to get a rep.

@Chris-- yes, I have 2 series going right now: The Dragonslayers Saga (military thriller- 4-5 books) and the Space series (sci-fi/ action adventure- 4 books). Yup, I can do series and sequels! Adapting to screenplays is one of my strengths. Although still learning some of the nuts and bolts about exact timing and formatting, I can deliver ones with great resemblance to the books (see Space Junk on my projects page). I can do many different genres as well.

@Chris That is some wonderful advice. I'm a historical fiction novelist working on several series. I'm also a graduate student at Full Sail. I want to convert my books to film but I have other film ideas as well. My thesis film is not a novel but I plan to convert the film to novel.

Funny you just said that about taking scenes out. I just wrote an article saying the same thing. I'm working on a screenplay right now for my thesis project that isn't based on a novel. I like TV writing but didn't think it would fit with one my ideas. I'm in a game development class right now. I'm liking it.