Screenwriting : New screenwriter in distress by Vienna Avelares

Not getting an answer back is the norm. That does not mean you're doomed. It means you need to contact more agents and producers.

Thank you Marcus.

I will keep hoping for the best. For my break....

Thank you Dan I will, I attended the Screenwriters Conference in New York back in April and I will be attending the Fade In Pitch Conference in August.

When in close proximity, people will smile and say "that sounds great". After all they never know if your a psycho who may take revenge on a mean comment ??? Keep at it and don't loose hope, I'm sure when it gets sent to the right person who can relate to it, they'll love it. Good luck.

Please tell me you sent our for copyrights on these. Just saying...

Get coverage, pay for a professional opinion. Most everyone will tell you not to. However, unless you have solid connections, friends who are PAID writers, work somewhere around writers, it can be worth it. Shop for a reputable reader, one who has "recommended " something that got produced. Ask if you can submit their coverage. Then ask the "no unsolicited " ones if they would accept "coverage" from so and so. Your reader is your first contact.

Hi Mark: Yes it has been copyrighted and it is also registered with the Writer's Guild of the West.

Hi Vienna, I sympathize, but... You don't say what you did BEFORE sending out your work. No writer is able to wholly assess the quality of his own work. An independent industry specialist will tell you the truth - and how to fix it. Once you accept notes, or go and get the training they advocate, and bring your script/s up to G R E A T status you may find THEY recommend your work. Alternatively, target your producers and managers, those that have produced or managed writers of similar works. You are almost wasting your time targetting Agents - they are only interested if you have a Buyer or are produced already. Terri ZINNER, ex-Disney -- www.afilmwriter.com -- offers inexpensive professional coverage and consultancy. Look her up. Best wishes for your success.

As Chris said, what did you do before sending you work? And what did your script look like - I mean did it look professional? Don't be afraid to do a follow-up and make a call after about two weeks.

I have sent my work out there with no success as well......but what keeps me going is just moving on to my next project. I think it is the nature of the business to cast your screenplay out there with no bites from any of the big fish though.....but I keep writing and trying to degelope my skills with hopes that maybe my next screenplay witll get some attention. Keep writing :)

Vienna - I have had the same experience. In fact, one of them gave me all his contact information, expressed interest and assured me that he would reply. The only thing that I ever received was "we do not accept unsolicited scripts and we are putting your script in the trash". Hollywood is broke. All old process does not work. Very few movies make money these days and TV shows don't last one season. It's past due a time for change.

You didn't say how long it's been, but you also didn't say if it's had coverage, if the script received recommends, which contest it won and how many, or which one's it did well in (runner-up, semi-finalist, etc.) If I had to guess, you probably made what is the most common mistake among screenwriters today- you may have marketed yourself and the project before it was ready. But, consider it a learning experience. Get that script reviewed by several (not just one) pros! Good luck, and see you at the pitchfests!

My rule of thumb for the past 30 years has been to wait 2 weeks from the time someone receives a script of mine before I contact them. When I do, I simply ask if they received my script and if they can give me an update on it. This simple and basic approach works very well. Simply be professional about it. Donald L. Vasicek Olympus Films+, LLC The Zen of Writing http://www.donvasicek.com dvasicek@earthlink.net

Thanks for the response, but it still not address what happened as I outlined in my post.

Hey, this stuff happens! Maybe they're busy, maybe they haven't got round to your script, or maybe it's just as good as you were hoping. That's how things go. But keep sending it out, keep writing more, and gradually things progress! Good luck! :)

Hi Vienna. Hope when you sent your script in that you reminded them where they met you. The reality is that agents/producers meet so many people they tend to forget. If so, follow up and if still no response, move on. The good news is that if they were interested, it means you have a good idea/pitch. Good luck.

I got 20 agents' email add and sent a very short note, remeber agents don't have time to read long mails, I just said that I wrote a parady Monty Python style on the 'Creatrion', one agent responded. I sent her the Synopsis, she liked it and gave me a contract.... Keep plugging... it will happen...

I had a great agent at ICM, named Ben Benjamin. Loved the guy. Then he up and died on me? Of course one producer told me that I would have to be his son or marry his daughter to get my movie made. Then he would not adopt me? I have used Theatrical Attorney's to set things up. Might try that. Good Luck

Vienna... I wrote a screenplay couple years ago... could not sell it.... way too many screenplays floating around... so I'm rewriting it as a novel... that's the only way a producer might read it and get it produced... so many movies are made from novels... but first you have to get a literary agent... that's a bit easier than a movie agent... I commented earlier and how I got a literary agent...

I want to thank you all for your support and for the great advice you have given me it has been extremely helpful.

PLEASE READ ENTIRE POST :) - Hi Vienna, everyone. My ten cents is that a) you need to have your screenplay covered a few times before sending it to any agents so that it can be analysed objectively by professionals; b) once your script is the best you can make it, send it to a MANAGER, not an agent - managers help you, agents sell you (I'll TM & C that :-) ) and thus you are (slightly) more likely to get a manager. Managers help you get your work in shop-worthy shape, agents sell your work when it is READY to be sold; c) do NOT send, EVER, unsolicited scripts to prod. co's - it will NOT be read. Send a top-notch, professional query letter, many if necessary, stating succinctly who you are, your idea, and a polite 'call to action' on their part i.e. for them to read your script or at least a synopsis/treatment; d) BE HONEST with yourself - is this particular idea good enough to be bought?; e) lastly, check out this amazing website called greenlightmymovie.com. It gives you a direct approach to, and GUARANTEED RESPONSE from many agencies inc. the majors, but also prod. co's themselves. No, I don't work for them, but I will be using them when I'm in a position to do so! What a service! Pretty affordable too. And endorsed by William Friedkin, among other pro's. All the best, Matt

Thank you Matt, I bought the spring "2013 Hollywood Screenwriting Directory" and what I am sending is a professional query letter. I had my script revised and corrected, by a respectable, professional company. I am sending a query letter with a logline of the script to contacts in the directory. I can use all the help I can get, so I will go to greenlightmymovie.com and follow your advice. I want to wish you the best in your future endeavors.

That's a great resource, and you're definitely doing the right thing in sending a query letter initially, something I've learned many writers don't do! Another resource is donedealpro.com, which I subscribe to, a site where you can get most, if not all the info contained in THD for $23/year, and it lists deals made for screenplays, offers advice etc. I'm sure you have already at least thought, if not done it already, but entering competitions such as Bluecat and TrackingB could get you noticed. I'm going to enter those myself. Much competition, but if you do well... All the best

Again thank you Matt.

Done deal pro is good but even its members will tell you that imdb pro is much better and even though it's more expensive, it provides email addresses for almost every company.

Hi Don, I am a member of DDP and was one for IMDB Pro also. The latter is a great resource, not too expensive for a years subscription, albeit far more than DDP. It is better if you want to contact agents of specific actors and other above the line talent in mind for your script, as DDP doesn't have actors and their agents listed. The former is great as it has mail/email addresses, who works at a given company, whether they accept queries, films they are to produce/films an agency's talent is in line to act in etc, attorney's, studio's, agencies, prod co's, all of whose details you can use to contact.

Hey Matt, I too was a member of DDP but wasn't for me. There's a suggestion on the forums to improve it and make it more along the lines of IMDB. But only time will tell if they do so.

Don, I guess they each have their pros and cons, depends what you're after, what you can afford etc. etc. I would use IMDB Pro, tbh but budget's a bit (and by bit I mean very) tight!

Floyd, shooting it yourself is a great idea, although you need to have a script that you can realistically do just that with, and still achieve a great movie at the end of it. So if Vienna's script is not of this type e.g. the budget would be too high, then the only options are to continue what she's doing or to write a script for a micro-micro budget film, minimal locations, unknown cast, basic yet original story etc. Plus, Vienna may not have the time or inclination to shoot her own film. But your self-starting attitude is great, got to be positive and pro-active if you want to get anywhere in life!

As I informed Vienna, greenlightmymovie.com is an incredible website to pitch your screenplay to, with a guaranteed response to whoever you pitch to (many of the biggest prod. co's and agencies, and a few studios use the service...)

Some say one thing and mean another when they are in a face-to-face conversation. The reason for this is they're trying to be nice and not say, "No, I'm not interested."

Don't give up hope. These things can take time. But I would also suggest you get on with writing the next one. Writing is the only thing within your control. Don't wait by the phone. Open another Final Draft file and get crackin'.

Vary approach. Learn by doing. Short and sweet. Professional.

That's the norm. Everyone wants to be polite, and not risk alienating someone who might strike it big later. It doesn't mean they're actually interested.

Yeah that is the norm but what other choice . I feel like a salesman selling ice to Eskimos.

I would suggest to take a look at your Opening, first 3 pages, and your concept. Make sure its what those producers who seemed interested, actually want...

Thank you Jay, excellent suggestion... Certainly appreciate your idea.

Thank you Mark, I am already working on two scripts and I just finished my first T.V. pilot.

Yes, Harry you are right! thanks

norm. sorry to say...i havent had opportunity either. if i had the money and the connections, i'd make my own.

Never give up. All the best to you. It will happen.

and the best to you as well, thank you!!! (honestly, there doesn't seem to be a choice to give up, does there? LOL)

No. It'll definitely make you stronger.

people can take a couple months to get back to you. though that's usually not a good sign.

Apparently that is a norm.... the way to do it... especially if you've met them.... wait a month... send them email reminding them of your script and where you met them. ... and if they've had a chance to look at it.... then wait a month or two and send another soft reminder... but I've heard sometime people got an email after 6-7 months or a year later to see if it's still available. I just realized you posted this a year ago.... hope you had some luck.

We have all been down this rather twisted road. I put up http://luckybreaklist.com/ because I have found that you might as well throw a bunch of stuff at the wall and see what sticks. Lots of BS out there, BS them back.

The secret is to attract them to you! Write some screenplays as eBooks and gain a following. Enjoy what you do and continue to do it. ;) The right producers, agents and opportunities are bound to meet at a crossroads. IF you don't quit! <3