Querying-more not less confused

[GirlinGray]

Re: Gig

Well I don't query anymore, Dan. I would like to think I'd still be able to get 30 people to read me. (smile)

[GirlinGray]

Re: Gig

Oh jeez, I meant to type Don. Seriously. I have been staring at a screen way too long. Sorry 'bout that.

[spidey12]

Re: Gig

It's ok, Gig...your typo enabled me to believe that you were talking to me.

dan

[Yellowhair]

I made myself do 2 email queries last night.

TinaRM, your query letter cracked me up! I'd been sending a lot of email queries, had some pretty good response, requests for scripts, a producer assistant guy passed, my underdog wasn't underdoggish enough, and so on...

Then my computer crashed, had to get a new one. So, it's hard to get back in the groove of querying again. So, last night I MADE myself do 2 email queries, so far no response.

Now, Ive heard that companies want to know if this is your 5th script, 6th one, etc., you have more experience. I don't normally put this in a query, but I may try it a few times and see.

[write4food]

I agree totally with GIG. Pitch one idea at a time and keep your letter under a page. The large production companies are reading hundreds of queries a day...I think some of them may actually give you points for brevity.

In the first batch of queries I sent out, I didn't do any research. I thought if a producer was listed in the HCD then they must be OK. I got an option from one of those producers and I was feeling pretty good about myself until I realized he didn't have any more contacts than I did.

Bill Martell wrote somewhere (paraphrased) that the producer and writer shouldn't both be newbies. Someone's got to know what's going on and that makes sense. Now, I only query people that have produced movies that I've heard of (and hopefully liked).

In the past, I was thrilled when 30% requested my script. I think I'm getting a much higher rate now, not because my letter is better, but because they're reading more scripts due to the possibility of a strike. So I encourage everyone to try to get their stuff out there ASAP.

Here's one final tip...about 75% of the production companies that requested my script, called either the day they got my letter or the day after. So I try to make sure my letters get to them Tuesday through Thursday. Mondays they're recovering from the weekend and Fridays they're cleaning their desks off getting ready for the weekend. And you getting a rejection letter could come down to something as trivial as what day of the week they received your letter. (OK, I realize they could have had a fight with their boyfriend on Wednesday, which throws my whole theory out the window...but I like it.)

Whatever you do, don't get discouraged. You only need one company to say yes and then you could be on your way.

Write4food

[Yellowhair]

I keep a small bullseye bside my desk.

Found it in a magazine, put it on cardboard (it's 3"x3") and I also have an angel collection above my computer. So, I look at the bullseye and think "it only takes one" and then I admire my angel collection and think, "God, let it be." It psychologically energizes me.

I can't take credit for this idea about the bullseye - I believe that I read it in one of those selfhelp books, "Super Self."