Yep, without saying it that's what most of us are looking for.

But how do you get your foot in the door?

Marketing, yes the one area that many writers don't think about when they first start to write.

Who will read my wonderful screenplay, who will buy my original script?

Whether your ambition is to act, write, direct, produce or be a different part of the collective of people that make films, it's not easy.

Of course it's not.

If it was, you would have achieved nothing, even if you just get through the door, come second in a competition or get your script in front of a major producer. If it was easy, what would you have accomplished?

The first thing to realise is that you get out what you put in. All energy has an equal force and the more energy you put into your shoulder the easier the door will open.

Many people sit back at home and dream of the phone call, or the email saying, I loved your script.

Or maybe a fax saying, "I saw your short at so and so, how would you like to direct my next feature".

It ain't gonna happen that way and the sooner you realise that the quicker you can make real progress.

We all know that famous line, "How do I get to Carnegie Hall? Practice".

Nobody is going to give you a break unless you earn it. Many of the big Stars in Hollywood were not the overnight successes although they may appear to be. Many did commercials, worked in Soaps, were extras; some even had small roles in Law and Order.

Most of the established writers worked for years before an assignment from a Studio, or an Indy feature placed them in the spot light.

Ridley Scott and Alan Parker made TV commercials for many years before moving into film.

But nearly all of the successful actors, writers and others became successful because of their own hard work, skill, knowledge and partly through a network of contacts.

There's that network thing again.

You often hear of luck, but most of us know you make your own luck and part of making luck happens for you through a contact, by someone who is part of your network.

If no one knows of you or your work how can they ask you to do something.

Recently I received an email from a very successful producer, who is working on raising interest in three of my mid to large budget projects.

Ron, he asks, "what do you have in the way of Horror scripts that could be made for $1mil bucks or less, I've a friend looking for a couple.

If you like I will act as your agent and present them, if I like them".

What more could I ask and I sent him three scripts. He emailed me and said, " I've read one and liked it, will get to the other two as soon as I can.

Now, no deal is done, no promises made, no expectancy given, but through a contact who is part of my network the door opened slightly.

This guy use to run an agency before becoming a producer and became famous in the industry as the agent who identified scripts/projects such as Top Gun, Pretty Woman, Lethal Weapon, Basic Instinct and The Rock.

Getting that all important break will only happen if you are seen to be worthy of receiving it.

So you have to be out there, selling your skills or wares, as a writer submitting scripts and accepting rejections as part of the growth. No doubt it is the same for actors attending auditions and never hearing another word.

Directors submitting their short for a competition and finding it is not included in the programme.

Disappointments and rejections are part of the journey to success. What makes the difference is the commitment to succeed, the willingness to get involved, the professionalism projected and most of all the desire to be a winner.

If you want to be part of the winners programme get with the programme and set yourself targets, turn your dream into an ambition (there's a big difference between the two), be prepared to take criticism and always keep moving forward.

Reviews on sites like Zoetrope and TriggerStreet can help, if you can get past your ego.

Believe in yourself and others will believe in you and don't over stretch yourself, know what you can do and what you can't.

When you over stretch you lose balance and then you are as likely to fall on your face rather than get the breakthrough.

If you seriously want to be in the movies in a serious way, get serious about it and make your breakthrough happen, don't wait for it.

If you wait, it will never come. Breakthrough your own barriers to create your own breakthrough, it is worth the effort.

Sounds great and like most things on paper it looks easy. I'll just pop down to the supermarket and get myself a network.

Opps, they're out of them.

So how do you buy a network, you don't. You work at it everyday by marketing yourself, not your work but you. People buy from people they like, it is you that they will be dealing with.

Think product, your scripts are your product you are the Brand. So get yourself on the shelf, be seen on web sites, use your own name, attend functions and festivals, write, phone, email do what ever it takes for people to know of you and that YOU write screenplays.

Competitions, various methods such as Visual Pitches, web sites such as this one, all help, but in truth the person who moves your career forward the quickest is you, by marketing yourself.

When I first started, four years ago I had no idea what to do with my first script. After searching the web for a couple of hours I finally decided to post a script on InkTip.

Four months and three more scripts later, I received my first assignment, then my second, quickly followed by my first option. Then an editing job.

Since then I have developed a network of over 300 contacts in the industry, through various web sites, attending festivals and generally being a pest on the phone.

Now my network keeps me busy and employed, but most importantly it gives me hope and confidence that I made the right decision in becoming a scriptwriter.

I like the idea that your ship is out there, but it never stops at your harbor. You have to swim to it. Hence, it'll take a little work to achieve your goals, but as long as you're willing to make that swim to the ship that is out there, they'll take you on board.

That's my favorite saying too George. "don't wait for your ship to come in. swim out and get it" and "just do it".

Networking is hugely important though. Sometimes you have to take side roads to get where you're going, but as long as you're moving in the right direction it's all good.  

Ron, I've been asked many times by producers for features of different genres. My problem has been I didn't have any features, only shorts. That's why I'm currently concentrating on learning that skill. A toughie since I'm better suited as a short story teller.

I completely agree that it’s important to stay proactive. I don’t completely agree with the notion that we “make our own luck.” I think that’s true to an extent but I do believe there are elements beyond our control.

There have been arguments here at the forum about the issue of luck. One member said, “The cream rises to the top,” as though one can essentially guarantee success. Luck (as in happenstance, not any sort of superstitious thing) is a factor in every success story and I don’t honestly see how anyone can argue with that. Clearly there are elements beyond the control of people.

To me, it’s about odds. You can definitely increase your odds of success. It’s clear enough that the person who actually writes a script has a better chance than the person who never sits down and writes one. Simply doing something gives one an advantage. It’s usually not enough however to just write a script and post it publicly. Working to get your script produced after it’s written is just as important.

There will always be an element of luck, however. You may write a great script, and you may send it to someone who would be interested in it if they would just read it, and they may just throw it away for some arbitrary reason. As long as you write good scripts and keep pushing, you have a chance. If you don’t put yourself out there, you have very little chance. But I don’t see how anyone can think chance can be reduced to a non-factor.

I admire successful people who have the guts to admit chance was a factor. Most don’t have those kinds of guts. Neil Young once said he was lucky because if he had failed he would have wound up eating out of dumpsters because he can’t do anything else. In an interview with Charlie Kaufman, he blatantly said he got lucky when Spike Jonze found his script. In an interview with Stan Lee (yeah the guy who invented Spider-Man and a boatload of other superheroes), when asked what the secret to success was, the first thing out of his mouth was (paraphrasing), “I think you just have to get incredibly lucky.”

It’s easy to tell everyone, “You can do anything you set your mind to,” after you’re successful. It’s very hard to admit luck was a factor after you’re successful. People like to believe they have control over their destinies, or that they have destinies at all. But the reality is that that formula doesn’t really work all by itself. Some people work their whole lives, do everything right, and still don’t succeed. They just never got that break that put them over the top. They call it a “big break” for a reason. Denying that luck is a factor is kind of like not noticing a 7 foot grasshopper that shoots lasers from its eyes hopping around the room. But that’s just why it’s all the more important to take initiative.

I totally agree with the importance of taking charge of what happens with your career and not just waiting around to be “discovered.” People who think they’re going to load their script onto the internet and that some big shot is going to come along, read it, shower them with praise, and turn them into the next big Hollywood hotshot are deluding themselves, wasting time better spent on being more proactive, and at worst squandering opportunities.



Breanne

Great post Ron, we may all think we're great at writing scripts but it's the selling yourself part that I'm now trying to learn.

Javier

Excellent  advice, very informative and insightful. In my younger years I had delusions of grandeur about becoming the next great screenwriter, but it takes a lot more work than just writing a brilliant script. Even if you have the next Citizen Kane in your back pocket, you won't get aywhere without the ability and drive to present yourself as worthy of their time (and money).

For those who are willing to make the necessary sacrifices and put the work in to both their project and their networking, I salute you and wish you luck. (and yes, I do think you need at least a little bit of luck.)