Ask THE SCRIPT MENTOR, #15: Selling Scripts, Script Feedback, and Biopic-Worthy Lives!

Reaching out about... Selling a film script

Q: Hi Geno, I need some help. I've written a film script I consider interesting. I acknowledge that selling a film script is not the easiest task in the world, especially from someone like me so far away from the United States. What's the next step?

TSM: Thank you for reaching out. "Interesting" is NOT the glowing endorsement I would expect from the writer themself, so that is somewhat telling, I think.

There is much to do BEFORE you begin the marketing phase of your screenwriting career. You have to find out if your screenplay IS what you THINK it is- and hopefully, something more than simply "interesting". You HAVE to:

• Get some feedback from professionals.
• Make the necessary improvements.
• See how you fare against your contemporaries.

Truth is, you’ll need no less than three (3) completed screenplays, preferably all in the same genre, before anyone will even notice and take you seriously as a writer. My first screenplay took 6 weeks - and it showed. My most successful to date took 18 months- and THAT showed, too. You're probably looking at three years on average to be "ready" to market your stuff. ?If you WERE to wing it with the first one, which you most certainly can do if you choose, you should have a solid networking plan and marketing strategy in place. The tools you'll need are:

• A solid screenplay with a unique concept (a given).
• A proper and effective logline.
• A solid query letter ("Linda Takes Coffee With Cream").
• A well-written synopsis, treatment or pitch deck.

These four items are usually requested by the producer at some point, and usually in this order: query letter (which SHOULD contain the logline), the synopsis, then the screenplay. These are NOT designed to SELL the screenplay (most writers mistakenly believe this to be the case), but instead, to get the producer to REQUEST the screenplay to read. They cannot buy a screenplay if they don't READ it, and they are VERY selective about which ones to read. So, that is your goal. ?

Beyond that, there are a myriad of ways in which to accomplish this, and 95% of the screenwriters out there never do. The point is there are as many different ways to market your script as there are scripts, but there are some ways that are more time and resource effective. At The Script Mentor, we could spend six months going through this stage, so to highlight "key components" is virtually impossible, but I'm willing to share with you some ways you haven't thought of yet, that have proven to be effective with me, personally.

A) I believe the best way to get noticed is by doing well in contests or film festivals.

While too many are designed simply as "money grabs", there are others that are really designed to FIND great scripts and great new "voices", i.e. writers like yourself. I found one last year, and this year we are really pushing her script and I guarantee it will be sold. Producers, agents, and managers often read scripts in contests, usually in the later or final rounds, once the wheat has been separated from the chaff. If they like it, they'll find you. Others only want to read winners or high finishers. I've been read at least 150-200 times as a result of a good showing in a contest, and I've been fortunate to have had several. ?

B) Another technique is to list a number of movies to which your script is similar in genre, plot, story or subject matter and perhaps even the actors you envision playing some parts.

You research these films (IMDb Pro), and list the producers, directors, cinematographers, and talent and determine their agent. You then contact their rep and request that they read a script that was similar to blah, blah, blah. Most of these people work in the same genre repeatedly, often with the same crew. You'll probably want to avoid studio movies and concentrate on independent producers. ?

C) A third idea is to maximize your social media presence and dedicate an equal amount of time you spend each day writing on this marketing and self-promotion.

You'd be surprised how many deals I've done through Twitter and LinkedIn alone. In the past, I landed a ten-episode TV drama deal from a well-known reality TV-based production company simply because one of their principals saw me on LinkedIn and read my posts in our group's forum.?

In fact, I found so many screenwriters and authors completely LACKING in their marketing or self-promotion skills, including having NO social media, and yet they wonder why no one knows about them or their project. THIS is the reason. I was so determined to help these people and get their project out there, I joined with Erica Starr, of Erica Starr Enterprises (Social Media Marketing Business Plan - Erica Starr Enterprises) and together we created "TSM Screenplay and Novel Marketing Services"- designed to help screenwriters, authors and their projects- including publishing. We are in the midst of several screenplay and book marketing campaigns, and the results have been amazing thus far!

Hopefully, this opens a slight window into the process, but my best piece of advice is simple; LEARN THE CRAFT. I DO teach the craft through our lifetime mentoring services, but there are many other options- and some are complete shams, so be aware.

After completing a script, search for trusted professionals who will give you a solid, open-minded review- with notes- who charge a fair price for that review (yes, you will have to spend money). As more and more professionals give you the same recommendations for improvement, heed that advice and get better. Remember, it takes about eight solid screenplays under your belt (on average), AFTER learning the craft, before you start seeing some results from your writing.

Finished script

Q: Hi Geno!?I have a finished script. It's a fantasy story; part one of nine. Scripts two and three are 90% done. I have an entire roadmap of the storyline with detail description of all the races, places, and history of this world I have created. I'm at a loss on how to proceed from this point (forward). I guess I'm looking for an agent, but not sure who will take on an?unpublished writer.? I'm hoping that you might be able to advise me or put me in contact with someone that can help.? Thanks in advance.?

TSM: A nine-part screenplay?

First, you should never write multiple-part screenplays, or even three screenplays, of a connected story, unless you're doing it simply for your own exercise. If number one goes nowhere, you've spent all of that time and energy writing follow-up stories. Plus, if you are writing everything incorrectly, you have NINE screenplays that you'll have to fix, rewrite and edit instead of one.

Always start with one. You can have a nine-part concept, but always start with one. ?

So, you have a finished screenplay; excellent; Congratulations! That's quite an accomplishment. What you have to do next is find?professional screenwriters whom you PAY to provide feedback on your screenplay. I wouldn't pay for a story analyst at this point because- chances are- the story is the LEAST of your worries. Your concern at this time is probably going to be formatting and creating a professional screenplay, or at least the appearance of one. ?

Once that hurdle is cleared, you'll probably want to enter the script into a number of screenplay contests. This does three things for you:

• It tells you how you fare against your peers.
• If it wins or does well, you will receive the accolades needed to go to the next step, which is marketing your screenplay.
• It gets YOUR screenplay in front of the eyes of the decision-makers - the producers, directors, and literary managers.

Btw, an agent is NOWHERE in your sight at this point, so get that off your mind immediately.

If this is really what you want to do, career-wise, you're going to have to spend some money to get to the point where you can make some money. We ALL do, either through mentorship, or a screenwriting consultant, or screenwriting services. You HAVE to get a solid foundation in the basics of screenwriting first, on your way to actually LEARNING THE CRAFT.

Another option is to hire a professional screenwriter to actually write your projects. It's a lot faster (and far less expensive over time) than the number of years- and dollars- it takes to learn the craft, utilize outside services, enter competitions, networking and marketing and developing relationships with people who will actually READ your script. The building of these relationships in the industry has taken me twenty-four years, and A LOT of pro-bono work and favors, to get me to the point where any number of well-known, established producers will accept any screenplay I send them- that they’ll actually READ.

Q: Hey Mr. Scala, I’m an amateur script writer trying to make a way for himself in this business. If you don’t mind me asking do you have any tips and tricks to succeed as a script writer?

TSM: Here are some starting points, and this list is random and far from complete:

• High concept/idea story (unique; easily explained in one sentence; appeals to most people).
• Easily recognizable, solid theme.
• Strong PROPER structure.
• Proper formatting; should read quickly; lean and mean, with no extraneous scenes, characters or words. ?
• Production budget: don't have a submarine when a bicycle will do.
• Limited locations.
• Fewest characters possible.
• Marketable genre.
• Great, memorable title.
• Great character names.

Now, you should ask yourself “How do I achieve these things?”. Here’s some MORE advice:

• Learn the CRAFT of screenwriting.
• Understand the business.
• Get a mentor; someone who's "been there, done that".
• Write every day, or every chance you get.
• Be passionate- about your project and your craft.
• Study; improve language skills, grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
• Read books, blogs, newsletters, and successful SPEC scripts.
• Have a solid work ethic.
• Don't take everything personally; you WILL be critiqued, hopefully constructively.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions.
• Be blessed with some basic God-given writing talent, and a bit of luck.

Q: In your opinion, what makes for a great life story, worthy enough for a movie script?

TSM: You know how I’m always saying, “I get that question a lot”?

Well, here’s a question I don’t get often enough, and it’s a great question- one that should be asked more frequently.

The truth is we ALL feel our life’s story is “book worthy” or even “movie worthy”. We’d like to think we accomplished things or experienced enough interesting moments in our life that would interest complete strangers enough to pay to read it or see it. Books and movies are based on more extraordinary lives; lives that other people know about even BEFORE a book or movie are made. Some extraordinary lives are NOT known about until a book or movie are made of it, but someone asked a question about an event, researched it, and discovered that the event would not have happened if not for this person, or that person.

Here are a few points that I look for when adapting someone’s life story into a screenplay:

1) The life, or a single event in the life, was EXTRAORDINARY.

This might include people like Oskar Schindler (Schindler’s List), or Aron Ralston (127 Hours). My own biopics include stories about singer TAMMI TERRELL, who- at the height of her fame- collapsed on stage, and later, died of a brain tumor; singer and philanthropist HARRY CHAPIN, who raised a million times more money for World Hunger than he ever made selling records and performing; and rock and roll pioneer, JIMMY F. RODGERS, who was out-selling Elvis records, until he was beaten by California cops (under false pretenses), and left for dead with life-altering, traumatic head wounds. I’m writing a novel AND screenplay adaptation about a woman, SALLY BARNARD who has experienced remarkable "travels" and was gifted with several amazing talents. If you are willing to stretch your boundaries of imagination and believe the story, it truly is extraordinary!

2) The life included unbelievable trauma or seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

I recently completed an adaptation of the book “Making Broken Beautiful”, where the abuses were so awful, a producer who requested to see it said he couldn’t finish reading it- NOT for lack of quality, but because of the horrible imagery (I get it; it’s not his taste in movies). Had he finished it, he would’ve read about the author, PAMELA MILLICAN, overcoming such awful conditions growing up, and becoming a pioneering world champion in wave skiing, a multi-degreed student with a law license and now, a psychologist and therapist helping other people with trauma.

3) A life that included being a part of famous events or being involved with famous people.

Many stories stem from those who survived 9/11, or Pearl Harbor, the Vietnam War, etc. Others were based on someone's personal relationship with Elvis Presley or being a rock-and roll groupie or the “other woman” in famous relationships. I was recently contacted to write the life story of President Obama’s half-sister, who had some previously unknown stories to tell, and representatives in Motown, who wanted the life story of songwriter and producer William Stephenson- one of the most successful in Motown's vast history- memorialized in a novel and screenplay.

4) The person is famous and known.

Clearly, the singers mentioned before are/were known around the world. Just by that fact alone, their lives are book and movie worthy. We all knew Ray Charles, Jackie Robinson, Ben Franklin, John Adams, Al Capone, John Gotti, etc. Others may not be known as much by name, but more for what they did. Few people were familiar with Erin Brockovich, yet her story became one of the best bio pics ever produced. No one knew of Chris Kyle, until the book “American Sniper” made him a household name. Few of us ever heard the name “Solomon Northrup”, until we learned about his life in “12 Years a Slave”.

If you’ve experienced a life that seems to fit into one of these categories, or know someone’s life that has, it just might be a great book worthy story, or future Oscar-winning movie, and you should reach out to us right away. Biopics will ALWAYS be desirable subject matter and are currently one of the hottest sub-genres of films today.

WRITER'S BIO: Mr. Scala spent 24-plus years in the Hollywood community and was the Executive Director for the?72nd Annual Academy Awards,?as well as The Soul Train Awards,?The Grammys,?The Blockbuster Video Awards Show?and?The Saturn Awards Show. With three produced features- "Assassin 33 A.D.",?"Black Easter"?and?"The Tombs" (all are currently available on Amazon Prime and Tubi). The Script Mentor continues to mentor over 550 new writers and authors.

This article series is sponsored, in part, by TSM Screenplay and Novel Marketing Services. Recently, The Script Mentor partnered with Erica Starr Enterprises (Social Media Marketing Business Plan - Erica Starr Enterprises) and created TSM Screenplay and Novel Marketing to help screenwriters and authors publicize and market their projects and themselves.

Contact us today for your personalized marketing strategy!