I feel like I'm in a deleted scene from Entourage, and I know this is a little cliche. But whenever I'm in doubt about anythiing, in life, this is where I come. Does anyone know anything about selling or marketing a screenplay? Tips for newbies? I know that sending a screenplay in--cold--to an agency or production company will just get it chucked in the trash, no matter how good it is. So if you're not really "in the biz," does anyone know any guerilla tactics to get your script noticed? Know this is a shot-in-the-dark kinda question, but someone on Clutchfans always seems to know something. Thanks in advance!
You can enter it in festivals/ competitions like Slamdance's to give it some weight. http://slamdance.com/screencomp/
If you live in New York, you might consider getting some free legal services related to these issues for free from Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts. http://www.vlany.org/ They provide free legal services to all kinds of artists and deal with issues such as contract and intellectual property all the time. The VLA has attorneys on staff and they also get pro bono lawyers from various New York firms. They may even be able to give you business advice, too. If you don't live in New York, there are similar organizations in other cities, I believe.
Thanks -- just the kind of tip I was looking for. Haven't heard of them, and I do live in New York. Good idea on the Slamdance - thanks. And tulexan, yeah, totally deserve those jokes. I realize how cartoonishly cliche this question is.
Just wondering... Have you already written the screenplay? Do you have an idea that you think would make a good screenplay? Or are you about to start? I'd think that it would be easier to "sell" a book, if you could write your idea as that. My uncle has had a couple of books published, where he put up some of the money up front.
Yeah. Still polishing and tightening, but it's pretty much done. And it's not really a smart-indie-quirky comedy...I pretty much set out to make a marketable, commercial guy-comedy. (a la swingers and judd apatow) It's called "Medellin.."
Nevermind the festivals then... To make a movie like that you are probably going to have to move to Los Angeles and work your way up like Favreau and Apatow did.
1) Make sure you have registered it with the Script Writers Guild. 2) Make sure you wrote it in Final Draft and it follows EVERY format requirement. 3) Make a bunch of copies and send them everywhere. They don't just throw them all away. They have readers who will read the first 15 pages and chunk it if it sucks but if it's good, they will recommend it. Just hope you realize that it is impossible to get a script made. Many screenwriters make a good living just getting scripts bought but they don't have any that reached production. Understand what kind of appeal your script has. Most importantly, is it marketable overseas? Does it have a narrative structure that is followable to most of the public? Oh, a lot of times studios may not like your script so much but they like your writing. Have a backup script you can show them because many times they will ask you for one. The best way to get this thing where it needs to be is to have an agent but I know that isn't much of an option. If you aren't willing to move to LA (which is asking a lot), move to austin. It's the indie movie capital of the world. I read a lot of screenplays. I can take a look at it and give you notes if you like.
There are already some good ideas on here. If it does well in festivals you can mention that you have the script and the awards it has won to various agencies, they may ask you to send the script in, or to send in a synopsis. There is a book that you can buy from the writers guild that lists writers and who their agents are. Get that book, and target agents of writers who are similar in style to what you want your career to be like. There are also various writers groups etc. They are good places to network and possibly get in with people who are on their way up and can help you. They may also have other ideas besides the ones mentioned here. Start taking improv and sketch comedy writing classes at UCB. At the same time start going to see asscat shows. Those shows are hilarious and they often feature writers from Conan, SNL and other places including Adam McKay. Then start going to see other improv nights there, and taking classes, and networking with other students and teachers. Keep writing. Start working on your next script, and rewriting and polishing anything you have. If you get the chance and some funding, put something on film(digital video if you have to, but film is better). Just something short that is a film of something you wrote. If agents, other writers, producers, etc. can see it, then there is nothing lost in the translation between the page and their imagination. Best of luck.
