Any scriptwriters in here? Its a hobby , but I've been writing scripts for a minute and I have no connections or direction. Writing is the easy part, getting the material to been seen is the problem? Any info or "know how" will be greatly appreciated.
There are a lot of ways and none of them are sure fire. Your best bet is to get an agent. That is difficult also. You can enter your scripts in competitions and winning those will help you get them seen by both agents, and producers/production companies. You can also pay for what is called script coverage. But you need to be very careful who you go to for script coverage. It is a service where industry "professionals" will read your script, give you notes, and possibly suggestions on where to shop your script. On rare occasions they will be able to even pass your script along to someone. When attempting to introduce yourself or your script to agents, production companies, producers, etc. you can mention the coverage you've received. Many of these services will rip you off, but some are good. Some of the services are better for some genres than others depending on who they have giving you the notes. I would probably do this as a last resort. You can use the notes from coverage to revise your script whether or not the coverage gets you into any doors or not, so it isn't a complete loss if they don't recommend it to film makers. I'm assuming you are talking about television or film scripts. If you are talking about plays, then it's a little bit different.
@FranchiseBlade Thank you.. I've submitted a few in some local contests but nothing major. Still waiting on some feedback. My problem is the scriptwriting terminology. It's all new to me so I think I'm overthinking everything.
Maybe the answer is already in your post? (They're about the B bus boogies?) Btw, I just couldn't help it. Spoiler
Do you have FinalDraft writing program? It's a great program. It puts your script in format automatically and takes a lot of the scriptwriting jargon out of the equation for you by doing it automatically. Some basic knowledge of script format and terminology is still helpful, though.
No. I used the Celtx app.. A customer of my party bus told me about it. But a friend of mine told me about Final Draft last week. So I may need to look into it.
I currently have 2 screenplays that need editting I think I have currently working on several more. I have focused more on it than actually selling anything I am also taking filmmaking classes . .. figure it might be easier or better to do it myself Rocket River
What do you use to write? Final draft? Celtx? EDIT I just saw you are using Celtx I am too . . . . I am looking to update to Final Draft I think the educational copy is 99$ . . .. 249 otherwise but people tell me it is worth it Rocket River
I started doing this about a year and a half ago. Was watching Sons of Anarchy when a good idea popped into my head and went from there. Got a pilot and two features written. Submitting the two features to the Nichols Fellowship on April 10th. What I was told was to always write what you want to watch. There are some good screenwriting tutorials online but you gotta be careful because a lot of them feed you bs that make your script read too mechanical. There are rules to screenwriting but also no rules if what you got is awesome. Show, don't tell. Use action. Etc. And read scripts. From the best tv shows or movies in the platform/genre you write in. I use WriterDuet. Pretty easy (and free) software to use.
I am thinking of 4 walling it Basically renting a local theater and then selling tickets a friend of mine has done it with two movies of his His last movie had Omar Gooding in it. .. so once you do one and have a track record you can start looking for stars or known quantities which will help sell your movie until you build up a better resume . . . I have looked into the VOD/AMAZON/NETFLIX/ etc but one cannot wait on them and I am not sure about the festival route Rocket River
I don't think my scripts are ready for submission plus i have to read the fine print on some of those cause they basically gain control of your script from you with the submission (i.e. cannot summit it else where or they have the right for first refusal or some other ****ery) Rocket River
Super cool. Filming something you wrote is a great way to get it seen. A lot of the interpretation that you want of the script is possible to capture if you film it yourself. There are drawbacks as well because the ideas of others can always add something, or others may have better ideas how to get your words captured visually because of their experience than yours. But once it's captured there are more avenues to get your work seen. There are all sorts of film/short film competitions, where you not only might you win, but you can network and get ideas from other people working on the same things you are trying to get done. One thing I will say about filming your own work is that the camera is the least important part. Sound is probably most important, and good editing software would come second. 1. With a great picture captured beautifully on a fantastic state of the art camera, but sound that isn't captured at a top notch level, the end result will always seem like a good home movie. 2. With great professional quality sound, people will then be able to focus on all the visuals that you planned for in making your movie. Bad sound will always get in the way of everything else good about your film. 3. With good editing like Adobe Premiere and After Effects, you can change the lighting, mood, and quality of your picture in many many ways. That can make up for cheaper less quality camera, or inferior lighting etc. 4. Of course, ideally you'd want Great Camera, great lighting, top notch sound, and excellent editing and effects software. But DIY filming rarely has all of those things. So don't let the fact that one or more elements will be missing keep you from making the film you want.
I agree. I was looking at some of the scriptwriting contests. They seem too good to be true but shady at the same time. Lol... My problem is I have the vision but not the connections. Can't DIY if you have the slightest clue about editing.. You ever heard or used GreenlightmyMovie.com? If so is it a good route?
I can't call it me telling you would be the blind leading the blind I am trying to network and learn and get involved in the Houston Filmmaking Community I am not the most outgoing of personalities so it is taking a minute Rocket River
