Greetings Writers,

I've been submitting scripts here for many years now. Got some great leads in the process but ultimately never sold anything. My last script was written in 2005. Just recently I've gotten myself into a little bit of debt which has re-focused my attention on selling a script. I have one that I feel is very special and part of my focus in 2010 will be editing it and resubmitting it to agents and production companies. Does anyone have any advice that would be helpful? Last time out I used the WGAw's agency list and sent queries. Any other options for a guy who doesn't live in CA?

Mark

Hello!!!

Go easy with the exclamation marks, Mark. I got a headache.

Never sold anything? You'll fit right in round here lad.

I don't live in the US. Try Inktip.com

US competitions tend to charge so I tend to stick with UK and Irish ones.

Good luck.

R

R,

Sorry about the exclamation marks    Great idea about the competitions. I hate spending money on those. I think I only did one and that was enough.

What are your thoughts on those indie companies that offer to make your movie but have no money to pay for the script? I received a few of those offers but always turned them down.

Mark

I'd be happy to see my stuff on film at this point. I'm not big on getting paid

I've replied to a few, asked to see previous work and credits. I gave a few permission to do some of my short scripts as it's rare to get paid for those anyway. I've yet to see or hear any real results.

It's pretty rare to get a response when I ask to see previous work. It often goes awful quiet.

Theres a few on here who have had some good work made into good films, in the US mainly. The last one I recall was our very French member Michel.

I'm sure maybe himself or the others will pipe in soon with some good and more informed advice for you.

R

My fear in regards to allowing the script be produced for free is the legal connection the writer would have with the producers. Say for example I allowed the script to be made for free and suddenly a big name studio became interested in my work. Wouldn't I be tied in with the other co.?

Hi Mark

like Ren said, I gonna try to give you some advices.

First of all, you scare me with one word: money!

Here, most of the writers who have been produced were for shorts. Writing shorts is not about money. Writing shorts is a calling card. When you say script, does it mean  features? Because very rarely, a very few writers here sold feature scripts. Not much dinero... If you owe money, don't count on scripts to pay your bills. I think everyon here would tell you so.

Then, you have to be very patient in order to get produced... and lucky.  I've been here for more than 5 years and my first short produced was in last July... When I say lucky, it's because, and I can't explain why, three other shorts of mine have been or will be filmed the months after. Maybe because I improved my style and my writing along those years? Surely... Am I talented?  I don't know...  All I know is i've been working hard and never thought about money. But one other thing I'm sure, I won't let one of my features been filmed without being paid. But that's another story...

Hope it answered your doubts...

Michel

Michel,

Thanks for the advice. As for the money - I'm not counting on it but it would certainly be nice.

I've never written a short but it is something I may consider now. What genre do your shorts fall into?

Mark

Any genres... I'm into comedy, horror, drama... Writing shorts is the best school for writing anything. You'll have more chances to be filmed with a short, and then you would be able to figure something bigger later...

And here is the best school to improve your writing. Just stay humble in front of criticsms...

Quoted from michel And here is the best school to improve your writing. Just stay humble in front of criticsms...

Hear hear.

As for the criticisms, you can relax when he tells you off about your typos and spelling....

Shurely shome mishtake!?

R

I wait for you for some scripts in French!!!

Quoted from michel I wait for you for some scripts in French!!!

Is that a euphemism?

Who's doing them, me? Moi? Exceptionnel!

I used to know this woman who insisted on French Letters while she was doing her French Polishing. No fun at all that.

R

RV, love the bad santa pics. If you don't write a script in French awfully soon, I will make a petition, and everyone will sign, and then who will be laughing, eh eh!

Wtrailer, as RV said, check out Inktip. Could be helpful.

Also, get in contact with people you know in the biz. People say it's all about the people you know, and I haven't had enough experience to know if that's true or not, but you sir, can find out. Contact them, ask them if you know some producers or people looking to make a script, SELL it, man.

TP,

Glad you liked Bad Santa. I saw a Santa Claus pissing on a front door last night. Then he took his keys out, unlocked the door and went inside. (c) Frankie Boyle, bless his cold dark heart.

Can I just write a script in France instead? Trust me, it would work out better for everyone, especially me, and anyone who actually speaks French.

There's loads of stuff here about how to deal with movie types, in the Screenwriting Class I recall a lot of good stuff about how to approach them and how to get read.

R

Welcome Mark, hope you enjoy yourself here. There's a lot of great advice on the boards, I know I'm on here several times daily although I don't post much. Best of luck in the upcoming year.