Complete Scripts...Now What???

[Pletchman13]

I am a completely unknown, unpublished screenwriter. Despite this obvious handicap I have completed five scripts and have three projects in the pipeline. As anyone in my shoes can attest, it seems all but impossible to find representation or to get a script in front of the perfect actor. Any guidance beyond the usual "move to LA" & "enter contest" advice would be greatly appreciated.

Completed scripts:
•To Hell With Honor (historical)
•A Life Worth Living (drama)
•With Privileges (Romantic Comedy)
•Little Heroes (Kids/Family)
•Way of the Argonaut (Action)

Any reputable agent looking for the diamond in the rough please get in touch with me.


Adam Pletcher
pletchman13@hotmail.com

[BeefMissile]

www.mandy.com www.entertainmentcareers.net www.imdbpro.com www.productionhub.com www.craigslist.org www.filmfestivals.com www.wga.org www.screenwritersmarket.com www.inktip.com www.moviebytes.com www.hollywoodlitsales.com www.indieclub.com .

:hat

[OkeyDokey]

Any guidance beyond the usual "move to LA" & "enter contest" advice would be greatly appreciated.

Well, have you tried query letters?

[Pletchman13]

I have some solid query letters ready but have had some difficulty deciding who to send them out to.

I sent out a query letter to the agents of several possible leads for a film and had them sent back. They quoted a policy of refusing any "unsolicited" material. I thought that was only pertaining to actual scripts. Perhaps I need a little clarification as to what constitutes "unsolicited material."

[NikeeGoddess]

www.inktip.com (http://www.inktip.com) - you can post your logline and synopsis (and script if you want) and they come looking at what you have to offer. they also have a preferred newsletter that sends you "what producers are looking for" leads each month.

www.scriptpimp.com (http://www.scriptpimp.com) - they list producers/agents/ managers, what they're looking for and who can query them (some right from the site), and who will work with new writers.

but if you place well in a contest they'll come looking too
www.moviebytes.com (http://www.moviebytes.com)

write on!

[Sledgeh101]

Perhaps I need a little clarification as to what constitutes "unsolicited material."Unsolicited material is just that - material that the agent has not asked for. For example, if Agent A calls me up and tells me Producer B wants me to write the next Meet The Parents for him, and I subsequently write the script and submit it to my agent, that's solicited material.

The reason why virtually no agents accept unsolicited material is primarily because:

1) If they did, they'd be flooded with tens of thousands of scripts from everyone around the country who is in your position - trying to break into the business.
2) If they accept your unsolicited script, and then later on a movie gets made that's similar to your script - right down to the shape of the giant bug the hero has to kill - they could, in theory, open themselved up to lawsuits from you.
3) 99% of scripts that they would get would be scripts that shouldn't be read in the first place. If you take a look at Zoetrope, for example, you'll see literally dozens of scripts that read more like a novel than a script, or that have no structure to them. Some scripts that newcomers might try submitting would be in a different font than Courier New, because the writer wants to make their script 'stand out'. It would stand out - as written by someone who doesn't have the first clue how to write an industry standard script.

Assuming that you're not among the 99% I just mentioned above, your best bets are:
A) Do a massive query letter campaign. Pick the script you think is the best of your bunch (you'll know which one), and then carpet bomb every agent in town with a query letter about your script.
Two caveats - make sure that your query letter is straightforward about your information (you may want to consult a more professional person to help come up with a good query letter); and DO NOT mention all the scripts you have written. Besides the fact that it looks to amateurish to list all the scripts you wrote without having any of them optioned or sold, you want people to focus on your best work. Some of your finished stuff might not be as finished as you think.

B) Enter contests. As Nikee mentioned, even if you don't win a major contest, getting in the finals (or even semi-finals) of a contest will garner attention from agents, and they'll try contacting you. Besides, it would also give you something extra to put on your query letter: "Finalist in Nicholls Screenwriting contest looking for representation." You're too late for the Nicholls or Austin contests (the deadline is usually May 1 for both contests), but there are a bunch of other contests you could try entering. It'll cost extra money - but if you get your script sold, you'll make up for it in the long run.