Hi everyone.

After a year, I've sent off four scripts to the Blacklist...

I am terrified - but at the same time I figured I should keep writing so I don't worry so much.

Anyways, I'm curious to know how the pros navigated this part of the journey - the "now what?" stage ha.

More than anything (this year especially), my aim is to get paid assignment work and get an agent. Did you guys wait a bit (I've been told 2 weeks is a good amount of time/distance before sending off to more places)? As well as to let them cool off a bit.

So yeah - I'm thinking of perhaps doing bibles next up? (perhaps while I wait and while everything is fresh). And then using my BL feedback/notes to fix the holes I didn't see (which is inevitable after how many months and proofreads ha) and then sending out to various screenwriting agencies. Perhaps go the competition route.

It's strange though. This time around, BL feels like just another stage - just an opportunity to get notes as opposed to being discovered, etc.

On another note: has anyone got experience with bibles? Do we use photoshop?

Also...  I'd like to thank everyone here for their support and help to get those scripts done.

The amount of quotes I've taken from simplyscripts that are on my whiteboard (and scribbled on notebooks, my calendar, etc.) is ridiculous. So much great advice.

I'm no pro but I've learned to fire and forget. Send your script or pitch off, then forget it and move onto the next project. Keep planting seeds, keep yourself busy and see what happens.

TV Bibles - Write one if you like, there's plenty around the web to have a look at to get an idea of what they look like. You don't need a TV bible though until someone asks for it. All you need for a TV series is a one or two-page outline to pitch to producers. If they like it they will commission a bible and/or a pilot episode.  

If you are doing it for a competition, it's an optional extra. Most comps just want the pilot episode.

Hi Mark.

Thanks for the reply.

The fire/forget is great advice. Today I made a list of screenwriting agencies to send off to (I'm waiting on BL notes first though). Admittedly - perhaps I was a little silly by not getting outsider feedback before paying for feedback. I should've used simplyscripts. Well, live and learn.

Oh right - ha I just finished up my bibles (they're quite sparse - a little on character, overview, etc.). Admittedly, I kind of wish I did them first.

I've also been working on CV. Still very sparse. I know agents like to have writers with experience (competitions, plays, etc.) so I was gonna use filmfreeway.com to enter some smaller competitions so I can build up my incredibly thin CV ha.

Also - just noticed you're UK. Same here. I'm guessing you've sent off to BBC Writer's room?

Thanks again!

Also, do you know if it's okay to use pictures in your bible? I sourced some pictures from the internet and photo-shopped them a little. I dunno whether you need permission first? I've seen a few bibles do this - but at the same time I'd hate to get in trouble ha

Not sure about bibles, I'll write on of anyone shows in interest in either of my pilots

But I did write a series of articles for SS entitled 'So you've finished the damned script - now what?'

You can find them here - they might be useful.

https://simplyscripts.com/?s=damned%20script

Read them in reverse order...

Hi Anthony.

Thanks for the link - I'll check this out. Exactly what I'm looking for.

Quoted from The Dark Horse Also, do you know if it's okay to use pictures in your bible? I sourced some pictures from the internet and photo-shopped them a little. I dunno whether you need permission first? I've seen a few bibles do this - but at the same time I'd hate to get in trouble ha

If you're doing this for your own use or a school project, knock yourself out with the pictures, but the polite thing to do it is to attribute the original artist/photographer.

Once it becomes a "commercial" project, you need to pay closer attention. On Google's image search, click on "Tools" then "Usage rights." On Microsoft's, click on "Filter" then "License." You can stick to images that allow modification for commercial use (most of which are public domain), or contact the artist/photographer.

Hi Frank.

Yeah I made them for the Blacklist and contacted them to see if it's alright. It's gotta be - I mean I've seen a few blacklist bibles where they've used images of the actors they want.

Also, how about for when you query screenwriting managers/literary managers and screenwriting agents - do you think you could send the bible too?? I know they usually want just a logline and synopsis as opposed to the script.

It’s technically copyright infringement to use a picture without a license because a pitch package is marketing and therefore commercial use. There are several exceptions for “fair use” but they don’t seem to apply to this situation.

You can trawl through image search or Wikimedia for pictures, or just ignore the issue like most people do.

NETWORK.

Hey. Got a reply from Blacklist - they said it's perfectly acceptable.

Anthony - I looked over your series. Some great, valuable stuff there. Thank you. What I got from them: marketing, feedback, services, competitions. Rinse and repeat.

As far as my masterplan...

I'm going to research/try to write the perfect query email/letter and make a long list of screenwriting managers/literary managers. Go after the young, hungry ones who have time for me. Fire away and forget.

It'll probably be an idea to write a 1/2 page synopsis for each too - in case, they ask. Lastly, as I'm waiting for the result for four scripts on blacklist - I might just use and send off which ever gets the best result. Regardless of the rating.

Do you think including a blacklist review/excerpt in the query is a good idea? I know at this point I'm basically selling myself/marketing but I don't want to come across as pompous. Same time - as far as I know there are no hard and fast rules to queries.

I can't really comment on what you are asking - so that's no help.

But, amongst all this marketing and getting yourself out there, don't forget to actually write and build up your portfolio.

I was given advice a long time ago, which was to build up a solid diverse portfolio. So if you find yourself in front of someone who can make something happen, and they come back with something like "We like you, but this story isn't for us" you can immediately come back with a different story more suited to their tastes.

Best of luck to you. You seem very driven with the right mentality (It's amazing how many new writers will write something and expect the industry to just find them)

Matt

Glad the info was useful and good luck with your querying.

Re Blacklist review in your query... If they say 'best script I've read this year' then I'd try it

Best

Anthony

Quoted from The Dark Horse Hi Mark. Thanks for the reply. The fire/forget is great advice. Today I made a list of screenwriting agencies to send off to (I'm waiting on BL notes first though). Admittedly - perhaps I was a little silly by not getting outsider feedback before paying for feedback. I should've used simplyscripts. Well, live and learn. Oh right - ha I just finished up my bibles (they're quite sparse - a little on character, overview, etc.). Admittedly, I kind of wish I did them first. I've also been working on CV. Still very sparse. I know agents like to have writers with experience (competitions, plays, etc.) so I was gonna use filmfreeway.com to enter some smaller competitions so I can build up my incredibly thin CV ha. Also - just noticed you're UK. Same here. I'm guessing you've sent off to BBC Writer's room? Thanks again!

I entered the drama one last year and got to the final 4%, which was nice! I'm entering the comedy one this year, that one opens in a couple of weeks!

Hey guys.

Thanks for the comments.

I spent last night doing research into queries. It seems there are many different ways to go about this ( a lot of them conflicting too). I found the main thing is just making the logline as good as possible (which I've been doing tonight) and being prepared (I think tomorrow I'll do some one-page synopsis' just in case they ask).

Matt Taylor - yeah. I read that you should always have at least three really great scripts.
And 3 treatments. All in one genre (so you’re easier to brand).

I never really thought about treatments - I know you can potentially sell them. I always found what is considered to be a treatment confusing but the usual page count is 20-30 right?

Mark Renshaw - That’s really cool. May I ask - do you have an agent? Manager? I ask because I read this eye-opening article earlier - it got me a little cynical about trying in the UK...
https://shootingpeople.org/discuss/view/4667becbfa5560d81cece10a

Quoted from The Dark Horse Hey guys. Mark Renshaw - That’s really cool. May I ask - do you have an agent? Manager? I ask because I read this eye-opening article earlier - it got me a little cynical about trying in the UK... https://shootingpeople.org/discuss/view/4667becbfa5560d81cece10a

No, no agent or manager. After getting several films produced, winning some awards for them (and for some screenplays) and after having a few short stories published, I finally bit the bullet and applied to a bunch of agents last October. I didn't get a single reply.

I knew it was a  long shot and I'm not a big enough fish yet. So I'm gonna keep on writing and keep on making films until I am.

Hey guys.

My evaluations came back...

7. 6. 5. 7.

I’m very proud of my 7s. However, basically all the reviews had grammar/spelling mistakes, missing words and factual errors. I have a character called “Jack” in one of my scripts - somehow he turned up in the other two? So yeah - I’ve sent a complaint for each one. I’m guessing I must’ve got the same script reader and quite possibly he/she was rushing.

I didn’t mind the criticisms but having proofread them 9+ times (despite that, I was still finding plenty to nitpick ha) - it’s quite annoying to find plenty of errors/faults in the reader’s evaluation. Especially missing words.

Anyways, to potentially soften the blow of criticism and rejection - I spent two hours beforehand writing my own list of criticisms/nitpicking/things I didn’t like. I even scored myself ha. It’s interesting to see what the script reader picked up on and I picked up on. I think my weak areas are dialogue and plot (perhaps I need to study David Mamet for dialogue?).

Regardless - I’m very proud of all of them. I put an equal amount of work and energy into each and tried my hardest. I took chances - some worked and some didn’t. And my greatest hope is I’ve grown as a writer and have more colours to use now. I am proud of my 7 for my "runt of the litter" - it was bold, took a lot of risks and I genuinely thought no one would get it ha.

In conclusion, I see Blacklist as my way of seeing where I'm at (I tried it when I was starting out and got 6 and 6). I know people have sold at 7 and people with 8s whose scripts have gone nowhere. Or people who get 8, 7, 6, and 5 - on the same script. I suppose it goes to show how unpredictable and subjective the industry is.

I’m considering using a coverage service next time. Maybe script reader pro? Does anyone have any suggestions? I know a lot of competitions do them as well.

MarkRenshaw - I sent you a PM.

Purely a suggestion but why not post it here on SS?

I'm assuming you want to keep your scripts under wraps but you could benefit a lot from feedback from some terrific readers/reviewers right here.

The Blacklist is one source, one set of readers. You can get totally different responses from other sources.  

That script that got me in the top 4% of the BBC only scored 5 on the Blacklist, yet their review was full of praise. It also got into the semi-finals of Page and the 2nd round of Austin. Entering comps is very much like a lottery sometimes.

I second the suggestion to put your work on here for feedback, it’s free!

Quoted from The Dark Horse Hey. Got a reply from Blacklist - they said it's perfectly acceptable. Anthony - I looked over your series. Some great, valuable stuff there. Thank you. What I got from them: marketing, feedback, services, competitions. Rinse and repeat. As far as my masterplan... I'm going to research/try to write the perfect query email/letter and make a long list of screenwriting managers/literary managers. Go after the young, hungry ones who have time for me. Fire away and forget. It'll probably be an idea to write a 1/2 page synopsis for each too - in case, they ask. Lastly, as I'm waiting for the result for four scripts on blacklist - I might just use and send off which ever gets the best result. Regardless of the rating. Do you think including a blacklist review/excerpt in the query is a good idea? I know at this point I'm basically selling myself/marketing but I don't want to come across as pompous. Same time - as far as I know there are no hard and fast rules to queries.

IMO:

You should do a one page (500 word) and a two paragraph synopsis for all your features. Every time I have gotten a request for a script they have requested one or the other so it is nice to have it in the can.

Spend one week really tweaking each log-line - it is the first thing they will notice.

You will need one query letter for production companies and one for Agency/Management because you are asking for different things. Also make sure you have both in email form.

LC - Oh yeah. I deeply regret not putting them up here first TBH. I posted a couple earlier this year and most likely will in the future. It's always good to get an outsider's perspective/feedback.

Mark - To some extent, I don't mind my BL scores and criticism but it's the evaluations that annoyed me. Getting names wrong, spelling/grammar wrong, details wrong etc - it all suggests they (most likely the same reader) didn't read them properly or perhaps too quickly. But yeah - I complained about all of them so hopefully I'll get some kind of compensation.

Eldave1 - Thanks for the advice. Yep - I spent a week tweaking my loglines. Looks like I'm off to do some synopsis'.

Thanks guys.

Quoted from The Dark Horse LC - Oh yeah. I deeply regret not putting them up here first TBH. I posted a couple earlier this year and most likely will in the future. It's always good to get an outsider's perspective/feedback. Mark - To some extent, I don't mind my BL scores and criticism but it's the evaluations that annoyed me. Getting names wrong, spelling/grammar wrong, details wrong etc - it all suggests they (most likely the same reader) didn't read them properly or perhaps too quickly. But yeah - I complained about all of them so hopefully I'll get some kind of compensation. Eldave1 - Thanks for the advice. Yep - I spent a week tweaking my loglines. Looks like I'm off to do some synopsis'. Thanks guys.

Best of luck