Once you have polished your script, gotten a thumbs up from a professional script analyst, and you also feel it’s ready to go, then you have to get it out to the market to have your chance at getting it on the big screen. Going to market may seem overwhelming in some ways because you are putting yourself out there for the rejection that you fear. One of the best ways to get your unsolicited screenplay out to the market is through a query letter mailing campaign. Or if you are able to pitch in person, that is great too. You somehow first have to create opportunities to let execs know that you have a great screenplay.

Establish Credibility Before They Read Your Script Read More »

by Brigette Schoenung At Smart Girls, screenwriters at every level of their craft contact us, from beginners to professional writers who have had their scripts produced. Some of our newer writers may have taken only one class or have only studied a couple of screenwriting books, and we still see many of them making common mistakes

Screenwriting 101 — The Basics Read More »

When you feel like your script is ready for producers to read, you have to make every effort you can to get the attention of a legitimate producer. You can do that by sending them emails or meeting them somewhere or maybe trying to get them on the phone. It’s an exciting process when you

Submitting Your Screenplay: What To Do When A Producer Wants You To Submit Through An Agent You Don’t Have Read More »

VIDEO! The librarian, the warrior, the free spirit… archetypes are a great jumping off point to help clarify where we want to go with a character. Kristan Higgins Some tropes are universal. Boy meets girl. Betrayal and revenge. The search to discover a hidden truth…. A mother’s love isn’t cliché, it’s universal. These things are

Using Archetypes in Screenwriting Read More »

You’ve probably have heard that you need to schmooze in Hollywood, and sometimes hearing this makes actors shudder because they feel it means they need to be fake, manipulative, and a put-on. The fact is that schmoozing can be thought of as simply being very *** with talent agents, personal managers, movie producers, directors, and everyone else….

Networking in Hollywood Like the Girl with the Extraordinarily Long Arm Read More »

Mastering the art and skill of writing a compelling logline is critical for screenwriters who want their chance at success in Hollywood. Your very first step toward that success is to get a producer or studio to say YES to reading your script AFTER they read or hear your logline! In this article, we will clarify some

3 Essentials Logline Ingredients Read More »