I have a question for discussion on here. (Don’t know if it’s the right forum but here goes)

I have completed three screen plays, but this is not about them and I am still ver much a novice.

Hoewever, I’ve been looking around, trying to sell my latest - a dramady.

I’m getting the opinion that the only way to break in is with sci fi / horror / or just strange.

I’ve read a number of scripts by new artist in these genres and don’t consider them well written from format or content stand point, by they are optioned.

It seems to me if you are new it is much much harder to break in as a serious writer.

Take Dave’s scripts - They’ve won awards. From what I’ve read they are excellent. However he says almost no interest afterwards.

Am I on to something or am I reaching.

I've been here for years... still haven't been produced, though that's partly my fault due to the fact that I either ignore emails or decline offers, as I'm not happy with what I wrote and believe I can write a better version.

That said, from personal experience, my fantasy/science-fiction scripts garner much more attention than anything else I've ever written, shorts and features alike.

People are STILL contacting me about Fracture... 3 years after I wrote it.  I might actually get around to writing a draft I'm happy with eventually... or not.

You're onto something, at least from my own perspective.

Who is Dave?

Anyone will tell you to write a compelling story, regardless of the genre, and you should be at a good starting point.  But if you want to be realistic, you should have a budget-minded sensibility about you. If you're going to write sci-fi, maybe go the Ex Machina route, where it was a small film in terms of "wide release sci-fi movies."

There's a lot of stuff you can do, just make it tight and interesting. Since you're going to shop around a script, make sure you have some sort of "voice" in there. Meaning make you action lines stick out by talking to the reader (Shane Black does this) or something. Maybe you want to go with long-winded, Tarantino-esque dialogue or chapters. Depending on the production company's script reader, they might be intrigued by that or could easily just throw it in the trash for not following the "rules."

I haven't sold a goddamn thing, by the way. I've had one short filmed which never got released because the director was a hack, and I let him know it. So, as shitty as that sounds on my part, you have to be careful who you option your stuff too, even if it is just for a writing credit and not actual money.

In some cases you might be better off with a good script sitting in a folder somewhere rather than a shitty short made by an incompetent person for all to see.

By the way, if you look up at the top of SimplyScripts, where the short movies are featured, you'll see "Love Bites," which is the failed short I mentioned.

I want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening?...

Biopics.

The best approach for people at our level is to make their own movie.

I heard this a three/four years ago from a few people when I started to write and brushed it off as too difficult of a project to put together. However, over these past few years, I've come around on this idea.

The chances of breaking in this business from behind your computer are low. It can be done, but it's very difficult and it has nothing to do with talent and the quality of your writing. It's hard to get the right script into the right hands. Most of the times people in a position of power aren't really that qualified to judge what is true quality or innovative. Because their view on what is good is skewed and might not be in sync with what you're trying to do with your script.

I was listening to an interview a few months back with a distributor about how his company picked up the movie Pi from Daren Aranofsky. Basically, he said, they saw a screening and thought the movie was artsy garbage from a pretentious newbie filmmaker. They had a guy in their company that was a cinephile that watched a ton of movies and he said to them - this is a good movie, you should buy it. Now, this guy was excusing himself saying that, sure now you'll say that Pi is a great movie, but if an unknown filmmaker came to you and showed you a black and white movie like that and you watch it without any preconceived notions on how good it might be, but actually went into it with the mindset that it'll suck, at that time you'd probably brush it off too.

So you're facing a lot of barriers.

Even if you make your own movie, you're facing a ton barriers too. About 3000 features get submitted to Sundance. Most of the movies made are trash. Most great TV writers manage to write only average features. Most great directors have made bad first pictures and so on.

However, if you're truly talented, people will easily recognize your talent if they see it on screen then on the page. If you know what you're doing. Which is a big if.

You can only learn so much. To be top level at something, sadly, you need God-given ability. You'll best learn this if you make something.

Also, you should note that Biopics are indeed on a rise, probably at an all-time high. Also, more horror movies are produced now than ever.

Quoted from Demento The best approach for people at our level is to make their own movie. I heard this a three/four years ago from a few people when I started to write and brushed it off as too difficult of a project to put together. However, over these past few years, I've come around on this idea. The chances of breaking in this business from behind your computer are low. It can be done, but it's very difficult and it has nothing to do with talent and the quality of your writing. It's hard to get the right script into the right hands. Most of the times people in a position of power aren't really that qualified to judge what is true quality or innovative. Because their view on what is good is skewed and might not be in sync with what you're trying to do with your script. I was listening to an interview a few months back with a distributor about how his company picked up the movie Pi from Daren Aranofsky. Basically, he said, they saw a screening and thought the movie was artsy garbage from a pretentious newbie filmmaker. They had a guy in their company that was a cinephile that watched a ton of movies and he said to them - this is a good movie, you should buy it. Now, this guy was excusing himself saying that, sure now you'll say that Pi is a great movie, but if an unknown filmmaker came to you and showed you a black and white movie like that and you watch it without any preconceived notions on how good it might be, but actually went into it with the mindset that it'll suck, at that time you'd probably brush it off too. So you're facing a lot of barriers. Even if you make your own movie, you're facing a ton barriers too. About 3000 features get submitted to Sundance. Most of the movies made are trash. Most great TV writers manage to write only average features. Most great directors have made bad first pictures and so on. However, if you're truly talented, people will easily recognize your talent if they see it on screen then on the page. If you know what you're doing. Which is a big if. You can only learn so much. To be top level at something, sadly, you need God-given ability. You'll best learn this if you make something. Also, you should note that Biopics are indeed on a rise, probably at an all-time high. Also, more horror movies are produced now than ever.

Netflix is also a great place for horror/thrillers.

Write a great screenplay of any genre and enter it into the Nicholl Fellowship or Austin Film Festival.

Worked for Cesar Vitale, an active Reddit member who won the Nicholl, and was on the Hit List and Black List.

His script has nothing to do with sci fi, horror, biopics and/or strange. Although I do agree that it seems those are the current flavor.

Just keep writing and keep improving. Here is to hoping you catch your big break.

All the best,
Marty

I’m not a big sci-fi horror person. Just seen it asked for more and more and winning more and more awards.

Re: Horror.

My least favorite genre and will never write it. Just not me. That being said I think it is a winner from a newbie perspective because:

- There is a set audience for Horror
- It works without named actors
- Many of the smaller production companies specialize in it.

So, if one like horror, I certainly would recommend they write something in that genre looking to break-in.

Sci-fi - a tall order for newbies because of the costs and the low likelihood that you'll get a small producer to pick it up. Great for the contest circuit though.

Write what you love writing though is the number one rule for me.

Steven - I'm Dave.

If anyone has a sci-fi thriller, prisoner transport in space, let me know. I have a producer waiting, I just don't have the time to finish it myself.

I am currently writing one. About done. Maybe ready in 2 to 3 months. Of course with option money - maybe done in a month. It's covers abductees being rescued by good aliens from bad aliens.  Will post it when completed and copyrighted. The Logline, I am currently keeping secret.
Steve

Horrors and thrillers are easier to sell. Of the three features I've sold, one was a horror and two were thrillers. Although I didn't actually sell the horror, I was commissioned to write it. Action and Adventure do quite well for me in terms of reads and they enjoying them... however, finding a buyer for a script with a likely 200mil+ budget isn't easy.

I think there are buyers for romcoms too, you just have to hit the right spot with the right producer/director/actor. Find a hook, bait it, then reel them in. Of course, it's always better when they come to you which is why platforms like this really do help the good writers.

I can chime in on shooting your own film too. It can be a money sink, even if you manage to get free talent and locations, as the post-production stage can kill a lot of films. Unless you've got the skills yourself in editing, then it can be costly. I made an attempt at a short and it didn't go too well. I believe we had the talent in terms of a decent script, actors, and locations, however, we lacked a skilled director, cinematographer and sound person and this was our undoing. Probably not bad in terms of a first film, we were going to do it again to improve on what we learned, but just don't really have the time for running around playing games. Need to make bank.

Obviously, features are a different matter as you can make money with them. You need connects in distribution which kills most films. Lot of decent to good, even great, films been made that we will never get to see because nobody will distribute them. Yet, if you happen to be a gangster that shoots people/has people killed, that also likes to make films about being a badly acted gangster, shooting people and looking 'ard while women parade around topless, then you'll get distribution straight away.

Quoted from Grandma Bear If anyone has a sci-fi thriller, prisoner transport in space, let me know. I have a producer waiting, I just don't have the time to finish it myself.

How long are they prepared to wait and how big is their budget?

Here's a brief description of the screenplay:
Title: Sunbreaker
Description: A man risks everything to save his innocent wife, sentenced for a murder she did not commit, aboard a death row station being sent into the sun.

It needs a rewrite in its current state.

They've been waiting for me for a couple of years, but I just can't get into the script mentally to get inspired to do a major rewrite. I no longer write to please producers, so I don't see me ever finishing it. He reminds me about it every time we talk, but I'm on to other things these days.

Budget is 1M+. Or at least used to be. They like hard R.

Quoted from DustinBowcot I can chime in on shooting your own film too. It can be a money sink, even if you manage to get free talent and locations, as the post-production stage can kill a lot of films. Unless you've got the skills yourself in editing, then it can be costly. I made an attempt at a short and it didn't go too well. I believe we had the talent in terms of a decent script, actors, and locations, however, we lacked a skilled director, cinematographer and sound person and this was our undoing. Probably not bad in terms of a first film, we were going to do it again to improve on what we learned, but just don't really have the time for running around playing games. Need to make bank. Obviously, features are a different matter as you can make money with them. You need connects in distribution which kills most films. Lot of decent to good, even great, films been made that we will never get to see because nobody will distribute them. Yet, if you happen to be a gangster that shoots people/has people killed, that also likes to make films about being a badly acted gangster, shooting people and looking 'ard while women parade around topless, then you'll get distribution straight away.

If you ever plan on making your own movie, you need to get to studying, so you can understand how movies are shot, lit, how to edit, color and mix sound. Basically, you need to learn how to do every job on set and do a decent job at it. Not be a major pro, just know how to get the job done. That's no easy task, as it takes a lot of time. Plus you'll probably need a budget of around 35-50K. Which again, is no easy task. Then you need to budget for festivals, legal expenses, deliverables and so on. It all adds up.

If you're a major talent and really super into movies, one can probably pull this off and make a decent low budget movie, which can serve as a calling card. However, when most people get to make a movie, they realize that they really didn't have the proper education in the field, didn't do their research, didn't prepare or are just not talented enough.

So, this is a hard job as well.

But in my opinion, if you're into movies, know a lot about them, about the market, the industry, the process of making them. It's a better path to make your own movie than to try to break through as a screenwriter.

So many factors here. But I found one simple rule to be important when writing a spec and didn't get any joy until I started following it. And that is - whatever your genre - stick to it.

First few things I wrote were decent enough stories. But although they were basically thrillers, I could never resist a gag. So they became black comedy thrillers. Which is fine. But I didn't get anywhere until I put my mind to writing a straight genre piece. They're more marketable because people know how to sell it and what production companies will like it.

You mentioned Dramedy, which is an established genre, although it's mixed. And if it's awesome, you'll be good. Especially if it has a central concept people will quickly understand and want to read. But I think a good way to get noticed is to write a scary horror, or a funny comedy, or a dramatic drama ... you get the picture.

First meeting I had with a big production company - the development exec told me what got me there. Quite simply ... writing a thrilling thriller. Sounds obvious but still a rarity in his opinion.