Useful advice, thanks man.

Here's a good article about the basics of pitching in case anyone's interested.

http://www.twoadverbs.com/pitcharticle.htm

Here is a question posted to John August (writer of Go, Big Fish, Corpse Bride, Charlie's Angels, Charlie & Choco...)

He has a great website for screenwriters: http://www.johnaugust.com


QUESTION:
Would a producer frown on a writer bringing in a ringer to a pitch meeting?  I am the absolute WORST pitcher on the planet.  Could I bring in a friend of mine who is excellent at pitching to do the dirty work for me?  Is this even acceptable?

--Gary


ANSWER:
Nope. Not unless your friend is going to be writing it with you.

Believe me, I recognize the fallacy of expecting a writer -- whose principal talent is sitting alone in a room for hours on end -- to suddenly be talkative and entertaining when pitching a project. Most writers, self included, would much rather toil away in happy isolation. But producers and studio execs want to hear from the writers themselves. So we put on our least-wrinkled clothes, practice what we're going to say, and try not to make asses of ourselves in pitch meetings.

My standard advice for any pitch: Pretend you just saw the best movie ever, and you want to convince your friend (the producer) why she should see it. Try it with a few real movies and you'll see that you naturally hop from high point to high point, and don't dwell a lot on the underlying logic or subplots. That's a pitch.

Can someone explain to me exactly what a Query Letter is. I think I have sort of a vague idea. I should know what this is, but I don't.

Can someone inform me?

A query letter is your introduction to a producer or agent or whoever you want to read the read.  It should be as short as possible and consist of the name of your work, a brief synopsis (one paragraph), a listing of any writing credits and awards worth mentioning.

You only have one chance to sell yourself, and only one page to do it.


Phil

Some of these aren't that bad. I just got this one and it could be done.

Quoted Text A no-nonsense Army drill sergeant challenge(s) the social mores of upper class society set against the backdrop of a Florida retirement community.

Or this one.

Quoted Text A grumpy midget take(s) on an army of evil ninjas deep in the Compton ghetto.

This one could be such a classic inspirational piece.

Quoted Text Adolf Hitler rise(s) from the grave and in the process learn(s) the true meaning of Christmas.

Quoted from George Willson Call me a thread necromancer, but this is still good. I'm thinking this would work well as a short writing exercise. You go into the generator and click. The FIRST one that pops out, you have to write on. It would be on the honor system, but what do you think?

I actually think that's a good idea.

this is what I got

A group of Mexican banditos discover(s) a hidden talent for dance and in the process learn(s) the true meaning of Christmas

and this, which I think is the winner

The Muppets battle(s) problem flatulence in this documentary narrated by James Earl Jones.

I hate writing loglines because I'm always afraid that I will make it too detailed or I won't have enough information. I just don't like it when new screenwriters join this site and submit their first script, and write a summary for the script, telling us what the characters look like, what their problem is, and, sometimes, how they solve the problem, which pretty much ruins the ending for me.

But this will come in handy once I submit my next script..

Thanks Kev

Sean

Hello, all. Happy Holidays. I've come to ask for some assitance if you so kindly allow. i've been working on this script for a long time now - a year or two. this is my fourth draft. Nevertheless, before posting this script with a weak logline on this site, I want to ask if this logline fulfills the logline quota. I believe so,  but I want to get other members opinions:

"When Maria dies by a serial killer?s hand, Patrick (her husband), Edward (her brother), and Paul (her friend) form a plan to avenge her death by their own means."

Does it inform to much or to little?
Does it cause a spark of interest to read it?

Thanks to those who respond.

Gabe

I heard it wasn't good to include names.

"When a infamous serial killer takes a womans life, her loved ones seek revenge."

Most members probably will still read it even if the logline is throwaway. You just have to get people interested and or exchange it. The more good reviews you get, the more others will want to check it out.

I have the same problem with my new screenplay. Coming up with a logline to get across the plot in one sentence is not easy.

Quoted Text LOGLINE: A one sentence summary.

Alex has the best idea and it makes you want to read it.

Alex has it right.  Unless you're writing about a famous person, there's no reason to put in their names.


Phil

Thanks Alex Cooper, Weasley, and Doggebe for your contribution. I initially had it somewhat in that fashion before but changed it since I thought I had to be specific. Nevertheless, it's best to be safe than sorry. Thanks guys again.

Here is something I came up working off Alex's verison and my first verison of the same logline:

"Three individuals seek justice on a serial killer when one of their loved ones joins his victims’ list. "

Gabe

Both you and Alex have good loglines now.  Which one you choose may depend on who's point of view you're using writing from with the script.


Phil

Thanks, Phil. I would like to use Alex's but that belongs to him per say. So, I'm using mines. Thanks again.

Gabe

Usually, when we offer logline suggestions, we give the writer permission to use them.  Ask if you ask his better.  I doubt he would mind.


Phiil