Tell the producer why you are well-versed in the subject matter you are pitching. It’s time to move from author to salesman. View our Job Board and Script Search for FREE: Get your LOGLINE in front of industry professionals looking to buy: ISO a screenplay and/or screenwriter? The producer’s going to at least ask questions. It’s the very technique that keeps audiences glued to the screen. Just like our screenplays are unique and distinctive, so should our e-mail submissions to industry pro’s This is our chance, as creative writers, to add some flare and pop, hoping to stick out (in a positive way) among a pool of other talented applicants. Screenwriters selling commercial screenplays and directors seeking employment on Hollywood pictures are guided by standard, usually market-based protocols. The overall consensus? Pitch your story in 30 seconds or less, keeping it at 2 sentences max. #fca_eoi_form_374 .fca_eoi_layout_5.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_email_field_wrapper { It should be only one sentence. If a producer is seeking a 1 location, contained romcom, don’t say your script is similar to TITANIC. — OTHER. Learning how to write this important tool is essential. I have surveyed/vetted thousands of initial e-mail submissions (screenplay query letters) over a very short period of time. A query letter is meant to elicit an invitation to send sample chapters or even the whole manuscript to the agent.” 23 Agent Query Letters That Actually Worked 1. Be sure to provide them with the following: Full name, phone #, working e-mail address, and any relevant links… like a personal page or IMDb (don’t go overboard). Article 6 of our 10-part Screenwriting Staffing Industry Series explains why a query letter can make or break your screenplay. The first step in creating a query letter is crafting your hook. — You should have one go-to logline. Producer Lane Shefter Bishop of Vast Entertainment has considerable success with book-to-movie deals based on unpublished and partial manuscripts. It’s a professional business letter used to sell a manuscript or magazine/newspaper article idea. Remember, you are not applying for a screenwriting job; you are only trying to get a “READ” from a producer.). It is a formal letter, which explains the topic and subject of the screenplay. Get to the point, fast. Folks, this is really important. I received a query letter recently from a person who asked to send me a script about eight months ago. Your logline is your resume that you e-mail to an employer after seeing an advert. Legally, we never wanted to read the letters or open any email attachment because if we ever produced a movie even remotely close to the logline sent to us we might get sued. Q: Should I tell them if I don’t sell my screenplay that I won’t be able to pay rent next month? Remember, Spielberg said he buys 95% of the scripts presented to him based on concept, not necessarily the script’s content. OK – so while I’d suggest using the following guideline in EVERY e-mail submission, this guideline/template is meant for those who submit via Screenwriting Staffing. Home : 415-555-0000 Cell: 415-555-0000. email@example.com So, the lower the concept, the stronger the logline has to be. A low concept work of brilliance is still a work of brilliance. Many approach writing them with trepidation and insecurity, thinking that if they write too little, too much, or the wrong things, it could mean the very end of their screenwriting hopes and dreams before they even really have a chance to get started -- that's the mindset of a writer at least. A: NEVER. But here’s the positive side of pitching your query letter. SAMPLE FEATURE FILM QUERY LETTER Title: “Radius” Logline: An injured marine and his friend’s daughter must escape Kabul before a nuclear bomb destroys the city. Your query letter should not be more than a page; if you can keep it at half a page, you already have a leg up. The advert above actually requests that the writer has PRODUCED work. They are used during advertisements, specifically on billboards, movie posters, and fan pages (social media). Bruce Almighty) In that one sentence, we know who the main character of the film is, the inciting incident, the conflict, and are given a hint and what the jeopardy is. If you can’t convey the essence of your story in one or (at most) two sentences, then it may not be structurally sound. Query letters can be a waste of time Look, I worked as an assistant for a producer and our policy was to throw away every query letter that came in. Whatever it takes to show the producer you aren’t “new” to the game. Rob Tobin: A high concept story is one that can be easily and quickly pitched in a one-sentence logline that captures the listener’s attention and makes the listener want to know what happens next. By the time you send your query letters, get a few responses back, send the book to a producer, he reads it, loves it, and gets back to you you’ll be lucky if three months haven’t elapsed. The query letter is what will open, or close, doors into the marketplace. ACCOLADES. I read several letters last week written by screenwriters trying to get the attention of agents or producers. What if you don’t have any credits or experience? It happens all the time! Cedar Grove Agency Entertainment PO Box 1692 Issaquah WA 98027 How to contact: Send one-page synopsis; do not send email attachment or call; presently does not represent horror, erotic thrillers or period pieces Email address: I will let you know, certainly if I succeed in this endeavor. Then vanished without a trace. Writing a query letter can determine whether a literary agent asks to see more or sends you a cordial form letter intended to let you down easy. 4. Learn how to write an amazing query letter and give yourself the best shot at success. If this is simply a fan letter, briefly explain your admiration for the producer's work. Stay away from cliche verbs when describing your hero’s journey and conflict. It should be noted that the submissions that stick out the most, the one’s where the producer requests the script right away, are usually the submissions that go. But what Hollywood lacks are memorable concepts. They want to make sure that your story matches their needs. Ah, the query letter. A logline should be just the basics, told in a dramatic and interesting manner to cause the reader to want to know more. “Boy meets girl on the maiden voyage of the Titanic,” is high concept (at least it was at the time the film was produced). It is usually 1 or 2 sentences long. SCREENWRITING STAFFING: If the writer’s story is 100% original, will that qualify the script automatically as “High Concept”? The ability for a writer to be able to portray their film in the simplest terms is an essential skill to be successful in pitching films. Take us on the hero’s journey. With google and social media, it’s so easy to collect e-mail address. Film & Television Production Companies for Screenwriters: If you're unsure how to approach a film or television production company when marketing your screenplay, please click on Get an Agent for some sound advice. Tell them! Stand out from the crowd. What I’m referring to here is how you can appeal to a producer when pitching your query letter. And most investors won’t read the entire script until they’ve read a logline and synopsis. Script query letter is beneficial for those who don't have any contacts in business, but want to attract movie makers to read their workOn this page you will find all needed info about query letter screenplay, things to avoid and to keep in mind during your best letter writing Also here you can get expert screenwriting query letter services. If your query is riddled with sloppy mistakes and awful grammar, the producer … (NOTE: Just like the INTRO, this needs to be UNDER 4 sentences, preferably 3. But they can read 100 loglines, and narrow down their search, utilizing their limited amount of reading time before requesting to read a script. But it’s okay to tailor and edit your logline to fit a producer’s specific needs and request. There is almost always a twist to high concept that intrigues us, catches us off guard, and makes us want to know more. WRONG. Q: Should I compare my script to other commercially successful scripts? No script. One of the easiest ways to learn what makes a good, standard query letter is simply to see an example of one that does its job well. Whether you are seeking representation or already have one, they must have this available to pitch to their prospects. Is there financing or talent attached? 123 Main Street, San Francisco, CA 94122. It’s in your advantage to tell the pro upfront where you found their script request, as they are expecting submissions via that platform and will immediately READ on. This site is dedicated to his memory. You hone your screenwriting over multiple years, writing multiple high concept and well written scripts. to try and entice them to read your script. — Always check for grammatical errors and typos. Showing a pro right out of the gate that you understand the art and business side to screenwriting may land you a job; or, at the very least, a meeting/introduction. QUESTIONS I HAVE FIELDED OVER THE YEARS… & THE ANSWERS: Q: Should I start off with a catchy JOKE? Learning how to write a logline is its own art form, and takes time and practice, but the payoff is well-worth your time! So don’t be afraid to tailor your synopsis for the producer. You can use the same technique in your own query letters. It’s a tough game. Please find excerpts from 4 blogs that highlight how to write an effective pitch for your screenplay. Your logline should resonate and reverberate in every single page of your screenplay. It is more beneficial for those, who do not have any contacts in the business. Email address: eparks@calibertalent.com. Thoroughly proof your letter for spelling, grammar, and formatting mistakes, either through your word processing program, an app like Grammarly, or a capable colleague. If you do it right, then it’s something that you only have to do once in your life, after that you’ll have opened doors and have all the connections you need to submit your script to agents and producers anytime you like. 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