Hello all! This post feels a bit more suited for the business of screenwriting, but I can’t post a new thread in there.

I have been spending the past year and half deep diving into writing and the process and just sort of figuring out my way of doing things, but now I’m ready to start looking at the networking side of screenwriting!

I’ve finally finished a first draft of a feature, which is exciting, but while I work on revising I’m going to need to reach out and meet people and have conversations about the craft and be much more involved socially to evolve the way I need to.

What does the current networking landscape look like for screenwriters? I have been a member of simplyscripts for a while, but haven’t been overly involved in the forums, but this is my first step. I plan to become more engaged with other people here, but I am also looking to explore a couple other places.

I have a local critique group I plan on getting in contact with. I know Reddit has a pretty big screenwriters network (any best practices/subreddits?). Any other suggestions for online places to network?

Thanks in advance, look forward to being more involved on the forum!

Sites I have played around in:

Script Shadow

Stage 32

Reddit - writer's room

Script Revolution

In terms of networking with other writers - they are all about the same

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND ScriptFella's youtube channel - not a writer's site - but some great vids on writing.

I recommend Scripthive. They have a very active screenwriting discord server with working professional writers as members, and I think the largest database of scripts available anywhere.

Another option is the Sundance Collaborative. They've some interesting free offerings or you can pay for classes etc. Sharing work for feedback too.

https://collab.sundance.org

Quoted from Talldave Hello all! This post feels a bit more suited for the business of screenwriting, but I can’t post a new thread in there...

Yep, a networking thread might be good there.

Will leave this up to Dave or Anthony to see what they think?
And of course if Don approves.

Quoted from LC Yep, a networking thread might be good there. Will leave this up to Dave or Anthony to see what they think? And of course if Don approves.

Not sure networking quite fits there. The entire site is somewhat dedicated to networking. i.e., we are networking around the general topics listed on the opening page. I had viewed the BUSINESS OF SCREENWRITING to be focused on --

QUERIES AND PITCHES

OPTIONS AND CONTRACTS

AGENTS, MANAGERS AND LAWYERS

PROTECTION OF YOUR WORK

And things of that ilk.  That being said - I think there have been zero posts there since the category was established so it may have been a bad idea in the first place.

I don't follow all posts - but the only one recently I can think of that was related was a Barry Jon question regarding rights to the ownership of his script - Just checked - yep, that was it and it was posted in the SCREENWRITING CLASS section.

Oh, I think it was a good idea, Dave.

We may not be inundated but the thread is a necessary resource imh. Perhaps all the links it has are answering questions for people without needing to post. It's not hidden like it was.

I'll check out the Barry John question and maybe move it.

And yep, I agree about this site being terrific Networking and we want to encourage & lure more here.
I'll say no more.

P.S. Dave let me know if you spot anymore that do need moving.  :D

Quoted from LC Oh, I think it was a good idea, Dave. We may not be inundated but the thread is a necessary resource imh. Perhaps all the links it has are answering questions for people without needing to post. It's not hidden like it was. I'll check out the Barry John question and maybe move it. And yep, I agree about this site being terrific Networking and we want to encourage & lure more here. I'll say no more. P.S. Dave let me know if you spot anymore that do need moving.  :D

I'll skim through the threads this weekend - in the meantime - if we could add the categories there:

QUERIES AND PITCHES

OPTIONS AND CONTRACTS

AGENTS, MANAGERS AND LAWYERS

PROTECTION OF YOUR WORK

And move Barry's post to the PROTECTION OF YOUR WORK - one

Quoted from eldave1 I'll skim through the threads this weekend - in the meantime - if we could add the categories there: QUERIES AND PITCHES OPTIONS AND CONTRACTS AGENTS, MANAGERS AND LAWYERS PROTECTION OF YOUR WORK And move Barry's post to the PROTECTION OF YOUR WORK - one

Dave, am I being a complete nong?

Those categories all look like they're there. Except the last... And maybe that's an offshoot of Copyright, unless you want a new heading and I'll refer to Don.

Quoted from LC Dave, am I being a complete nong? Those categories all look like they're there. Except the last... And maybe that's an offshoot of Copyright, unless you want a new heading and I'll refer to Don.

Sorry, I typed this too fast as I was rushing out of the house not of the house. Yes they are already there and I agree the last category should take care of protection of your work  Sorry for the miscommunication

Quoted from LC No probs, Dave. We all need to get out of the house sometimes or we'd go nuts - like in Lockdown.  ;D I'll delete this, but just to clarify, is this the post (Barry's) you're referring to? https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-screenwrite/m-1599978492/s-0/

Yes

Quoted from Talldave Hello all! This post feels a bit more suited for the business of screenwriting, but I can’t post a new thread in there.

I've fixed that and moved this thread there.  However, I've just seen that Dave thinks it doesn't belong there, so I moved it back.

I have no strong feelings either way on where to put it.


- Don

Best places for networking:

The film festivals that have a film market. Nowhere near what they once were, but if there are distributors there, it's still good.

The right bars, in the right city. Most projects are made between friends who drink together.

Other than that, just get good projects and find some way to directly approach the production companies and the directors who make the type of stuff you want to make.

The actual industry is tiny. There is a far bigger industry that's completely unrelated that surrounds it... Festivals, courses, websites etc that pretends it's a way in, but isn't. You can waste your entire life in that pseudo industry imagining it's some kind of ladder to the real industry.

Other routes in: write a genre appropriate script that absolutely pops and is too hot to ignore.. A tall order. Another : Create something successful that's not a script. Children's book, comic, novel, game... Can even be a successful blog or YouTube channel. Most companies now only want to deal with established Ips with a built in audience.

Thanks all for the tips!

Dave - I think a networking thread somewhere might still be useful (of coarse I would since I’m asking about it) but there is an air of mysticism about how we build professional relationships. For some people, it’s a knee jerk reaction, you just talk to people, but for some others networking with purpose is a difficult skill to master. Especially if you can’t envision how you bridge the gap between ‘hello, nice to meet you’ and ‘let’s make a project together.’  

Not sure how much info there really is on the subject either, like how many different ways are there to network? Is there an arsenal of tips and techniques? I’m not sure, so this might not be more than a one-off thread, but like I said, still useful to someone like me!

Quoted from Talldave Thanks all for the tips! Dave - I think a networking thread somewhere might still be useful (of coarse I would since I’m asking about it) but there is an air of mysticism about how we build professional relationships. For some people, it’s a knee jerk reaction, you just talk to people, but for some others networking with purpose is a difficult skill to master. Especially if you can’t envision how you bridge the gap between ‘hello, nice to meet you’ and ‘let’s make a project together.’   Not sure how much info there really is on the subject either, like how many different ways are there to network? Is there an arsenal of tips and techniques? I’m not sure, so this might not be more than a one-off thread, but like I said, still useful to someone like me!

Hey - TALLDAVE: I do think your concern has a lot of merit - just not sure there is enough interest in the topic for it's own separate thread. I'll keep an eye on the ongoing in this thread and if interest percolates ask Don to create a separate thread under the BUSINESS catefory.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films Best places for networking: The film festivals that have a film market. Nowhere near what they once were, but if there are distributors there, it's still good. The right bars, in the right city. Most projects are made between friends who drink together. Other than that, just get good projects and find some way to directly approach the production companies and the directors who make the type of stuff you want to make. The actual industry is tiny. There is a far bigger industry that's completely unrelated that surrounds it... Festivals, courses, websites etc that pretends it's a way in, but isn't. You can waste your entire life in that pseudo industry imagining it's some kind of ladder to the real industry. Other routes in: write a genre appropriate script that absolutely pops and is too hot to ignore.. A tall order. Another : Create something successful that's not a script. Children's book, comic, novel, game... Can even be a successful blog or YouTube channel. Most companies now only want to deal with established Ips with a built in audience.

This all being said, there’s no reputable online foot-in-the-door networking location you’d suggest?  

Quoted from eldave1 Hey - TALLDAVE: I do think your concern has a lot of merit - just not sure there is enough interest in the topic for it's own separate thread. I'll keep an eye on the ongoing in this thread and if interest percolates ask Don to create a separate thread under the BUSINESS catefory.

That makes sense! The bright side, I got a good jumping off point for my immediate needs right here.