Need advice.

[Winky]

I have just recently finished a script. I had some of my friends read it and they loved it, they said it freaked them out. Now i know having your friend read a script and say he or she likes it is fools gold, but i think i have a sense of what's good and I think it's better than a lot of the stuff I read.

How do I get someone important to read it?

[emily blake]

Instinct aside, be sure before you send anything out. You should have industry people read and give notes first.

Once you've done that, you can query agents or managers or production companies. The main Done Deal site has examples of what those look like, and you can get contact information from the Hollywood Creative Directory.

But first, get real notes. You're new to the game and you want someone with experience to have a look at it. At least post some pages in the pages forum to get an idea of how your stuff will play. You don't want to find out after you've burned your opportunities that your script needed some more work.

[Winky]

That sounds like good advice, i'm very eager. Thank you for the response. But I wonder about posting pages on the internet? How do you get people inthe industry to read it if I don't have anyone to read it?

I have to temper my ethusiasm because everyone who has read it really liked it. Thanks emily for taking the time to respond.

[emily blake]

Originally Posted by Winky

That sounds like good advice, i'm very eager. Thank you for the response. But I wonder about posting pages on the internet? How do you get people inthe industry to read it if I don't have anyone to read it?

I have to temper my ethusiasm because everyone who has read it really liked it. Thanks emily for taking the time to respond.

No problem. We've all been there and we get this question all the time.

There are readers you can pay for notes. Around here that's The Screenplay Mechanic, but you can also find others recommended in the Sites, Services, Software forum. Or you can make friends around here or on other sites. We pass scripts around and give each other notes. Just because someone hasn't sold a script doesn't mean they don't give amazing notes.

There's also sites like Triggerstreet or Zoetrope. They're iffy on how useful the notes are, but it's an option.

As for posting pages on the Internet, the pages forum is protected. Only people with a password can read it, and you usually only post a handful of pages. But if you're worried, save your material and just have people read your script and give notes.

This is also the best way to get your material read by reps and producers as well if querying doesn't work. Often you'll meet people who know people who know people, and through a long process you eventually land your script in the right hands. This industry is all about making friends.

[Winky]

Okay then, I would like to say I'm welcoming the advice and hope to cultivate some lasting friendships where my work will be my introduction.

[scripto80]

While you should let your friends' feedback encourage you for sure, you shouldn't let it define your script. Especially since, if they're not screenwriters themselves, they won't know if you've done things right. A sellable script isn't just about a fun read, it's about a full, 90-120 page, properly structured, accurately formatted, fleshed out story with great dialogue and interesting characters, a grabbing intro, interesting journey, memorable climax, and a satisfying resolution.

If you're at least 90% positive you've got all that, then go ahead and send it out to a couple smaller reps and just see what kind of feedback you get, but don't send it out to every contact in the book and burn all the bridges till you get some feedback back from the first few.

I'd also ask around and see if someone here would be willing to read it (though I would research those who agree to's posting history, as some are more competent and experienced than others) and give feedback if you're concerned with posting pages publicly. Either way, I'm glad people (i.e. the audience) are digging your work, it's definitely a positive sign. Just keep moving forward with passion yet caution, and good luck!

[gs1979]

What kind of script is it? Drama? Thriller? Comedy? Action?

Do you have a logline? Post it!

I'm not important but I might be interested in reading it.

[mlongton]

I wouldn't discount Trigger Street and Zoetrope. It's true that a lot of the members on those sutes are functionally illiterate but I've also had some perceptive and useful critiques there. You have to read a lot of other people's scripts, of course, and after awhile you'll just say (everyone does) - "No more crap, that's it."

BTW - when you begin querying managers, don't tell them your friends liked it. And not to be discouraging, but remember that every screenwriter who ever lived knew that their first script was great, and 99% of them were wrong. But you're maybe in that 1%. I was.

[Winky]

Hi folks, I finally posted the opening to my script and hope I can get some feedback to at least tell me if i'm headed in the right direction.

Thank you very much.

[Tawny]

Where is it posted? I would love to read it.

I couldn't find it in the Script Pages section. But I found it through searching for Winky's posts.

http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/...503#post699503