An agency sent me a reply to my query letter, here's what it said--

You may submit your screenplay with synopsis by mail to:

REQUESTED MATERIAL

(Then the address)

What kind of synposis should I send? I've seen some synopsises that are a little over two pages long and I've seen some that are only three paragraphs. Can someone help me out so I know what to send?

Thanks.

Wow, that's funny, because I received the exact same e-mail from a production company, and I'm facing the exact same problem.  Wouldn't it be weird if it were the same production company?  

I don't know what I'm going to do yet.  I figure I'll just send 'em a synopsis that's a couple pages long.  They already read one that's a paragraph long, so I assume they want more.  What script are you submitting?

Go with a two page synopsis.  That's generally what they want.

If it's any of the following, then don't bother:

Sydra-Techniques Literary Agency
S.T. Literary Agency
Stylus Literary Agency
Children's Literary Agency
Christian Literary Agency
New York Literary Agency
The Poets Literary Agency
The Screenplay Agency
The Literary Agency Group


Phil

However many pages you decide to give them -- no more than two pages feels right -- bear in mind that your ultimate goal is for them to read the script -- not just the synopsis.

Your synopsis should peak their interest -- set up the conflicts, but do not necessarily give away every resolution to every plot point.

Instead of saying, "In the end, Tom kills Harry", say something like, "...and this leads to the final showdown between Tom and Harry."  (Not a brilliant example, but you get the point.)

They should finish reading the synopsis and say, "Now that sounds interesting...I wonder how it all works out?"

Then they've gotta pick up the script to find out.

Of course, if they tell you outright to give them everything then you've gotta do that -- but since their instructions to you are quite vague -- which is a small red flag, by the way -- make them earn the big payoffs in your story.

Unless they tell you different, at this point try to make 'em read the script.

Hmm...

True or False: It's a good idea to start your synopsis with "It was a dark and stormy night..."

Quoted from dresseme Wow, that's funny, because I received the exact same e-mail from a production company, and I'm facing the exact same problem.  Wouldn't it be weird if it were the same production company?   I don't know what I'm going to do yet.  I figure I'll just send 'em a synopsis that's a couple pages long.  They already read one that's a paragraph long, so I assume they want more.  What script are you submitting?

It's Du Jour entertainment and they are requesting a copy of Loud and Nasty (not the one on this site, but an updated draft)

Thanks for the advice guys I think I'll start on the synopsis tonight.

Cool good for you guys!

Quoted from TAnthony It's Du Jour entertainment.

Yup, that's the one.  Let me know if you hear back from them.

I've run into a problem with writing my synopsis. I know you're not supposed to include sub-plots, but if there's one so important to the story shouldn't I leave it in?

Thanks.

Quoted from TAnthony I know you're not supposed to include sub-plots...,

Where on earth are you getting your information, man?  Who told you this as if it were some kind of rule?

You should check out the treatments page --

http://www.simplyscripts.com/treatments.html

-- then look at some of the shorter ones.

Your job is to tell the story -- however it is you see fit.

Thanks for the advice Kevan. Here's what I've done for my synopsis. Can someone tell me if it's okay or not.


Up and coming gangsters and best friends, TUCKER and LUTHER, run errands for the local mob boss, TOOTH PICK. After a drug deal gone wrong Tucker and Luther are responsible for a hundred grand.

Now only given three days to gain a hundred grand, the panicky friends lives are in danger. Luther needs all the money he can get, because his son is deathly ill and is in need of an operation. They need help and they get it through old high school friends the two refer to as the twins, ROCKY and SMOOTH.

They hatch a plan in which they’ll kidnap Tooth Pick’s son, REGGIE, and pay the ransom money back to Tooth Pick.

More high school buddies, RICK and ZACH are added into the group. The group is a little hesitant about asking for Rick’s help because he has had a troubled, violent past.

The group successfully hijacks Reggie’s car after a botched plan and the ransom is paid. Fortunately for them Tooth Pick and his son are murdered by a rival criminal, which means that the ransom money is theirs.

Luther takes an opportunity and runs off with the cash. The group finds him in his house trying to escape with his wife and sick son. Their goal was to only kill Luther, but Rick in a mad fury kills the wife and the son. Tucker maims Rick and then shoots Luther. Before Rick runs away in pain he swears to exact revenge on Tucker and his crew.

Now more than decade later, a STRANGER, with a huge scar on his face, makes his presence known in a quiet diner. He wreaks havoc inside killing a waitress and torturing the owner. He asks the owner: Does legendary Tucker Price live in this city? He leaves once the owner answers yes.

Tucker Price is now a notorious gangster, who the city fears. He and his crew are all ten years older. When he arrives home his brother, MILES, happily awaits and persuades Tucker to pay him five grand. Tucker reluctantly forks it over much to his girl friend, CASSANDRA’s dislike.

Miles hands the money that Tucker give him to the local pimp, PIT BULL, to pay off his debt. Pit Bull informs him that now he wants ten grand because the payment was late. Miles argues, but after receiving a beating from Pit Bull and his body guard he resigns.

Tucker comes home and sees that Smooth is with Cassandra. Tucker contemplates killing Smooth, but decides to let him leave alive.

The Stranger breaks into Zach’s home and savagely beats him to death. The next morning Rocky finds Zach’s body in its bloodied state. He, Smooth and Tucker meet each other. Rocky shows the rest of the crew a note that was left on the body that states: 1 out of 4. They figure he’s coming after all of them.  Tucker and Rocky decide to stay and find the identity of the Stranger and Smooth chooses to leave town with Cassandra. The Stranger pulls up and almost runs one of them over. No one thinks anything of it, but Tucker is suspicious.

Tucker and Rocky begin their hunt, first by dropping by SLICK’s house, who is a reckless killer and old friend of Tucker’s. They can’t persuade him to find the Stranger for him, but he does agree to call if anything strange happens around town. The two go to the bar and after some questioning find an old man. He is the same old man that took the beating at the diner, which is the first place the Stranger struck.  He informs them that the Stranger has a huge scar on his face. Tucker thinks about the man that almost ran them over and remembers that he too had a scar on his face.  He and Rocky decide that if they wait at the house long enough the Stranger will show up again.

Miles tells Tucker about his current situation with Pit Bull. He asks him if the two of them could straighten Pit Bull out and persuade him to drop the debt. Tucker reluctantly agrees and leaves with him. Tucker and Miles arrive at Pit Bull’s hideout. Tucker scares Pit Bull into dropping the debt. Pit Bull agrees, but Miles in a fit of anger kills Pit Bull.

Cassandra and Smooth are in their car leaving the city. They make a quick stop at a gas station and unfortunately for them the Stranger has followed them. He eliminates both of them.

Pit Bull’s body is found and FAT BOY, his older brother, is livid. Fat Boy sends his two men, JOHN and MARVIN, out into the streets to question prostitutes, convinced that one of them knows about Pit Bull, the pimp.

John and Marvin find one prostitute that knows that Miles and Tucker did the killing.  Slick sees the two men doing the questioning and quickly calls Tucker. Tucker puts two and two together and realizes that if John and Marvin are looking for whores then they’re onto Miles and him.

Tucker, Rocky, and Miles try to leave, but John and Marvin get the upper hand on them. They knock Tucker out, torture Rocky and force Miles to watch. Fat Boy shows up and murders Miles. Before he kills Tucker the Stranger appears and eliminates Fat Boy and his goons. The Stranger reveals to Tucker his true identity and Tucker finds out it’s someone out of his own dangerous past.

Wow I'm really piling on the questions, but I gotta another one. If a company doesn't include a release form should I include one?

Thanks for the help guys you're extremely helpful.