Part XXXV: Where to Find Paid Writing Gigs and How to Get Them!

Screenwriting For Money!

So, how do you get paid for doing something that you’ve been willingly do for free for all of these years? Well, you have to have a track record of some success first, if you intend to make substantial money, i.e. livable annual salary. Hopefully, you’ve had some successes so far – maybe in a number of screenwriting contests; perhaps a PAID option or two; maybe had a few screenplays purchased and/or produced, or some other kinds of credits that are easily verifiable. To achieve this, you should be writing marketable screenplays that are perfectly formatted for the spec market, with strong concepts and are well-written.

Assuming you’ve reached that point already, here are some suggestions:

1. You MUST network: I realize “network” is a nasty word to some of you who prefer the shadows of your writing hovel only to come out for the occasional Twinkie and Sports Center update, but, it’s true; you really need to put yourself out there.

For example, whenever I come across an indie producer looking for a script, I contact them (especially if I don’t have what they’re looking for) and ask them if they would be okay with me helping them to locate the best script for them. Now, they always say yes- because I have a network of 100,000 entertainment-related people, mostly writers like you, and they know this. Then, they’ll inevitably ask “What’s in it for you?”

I tell them: I want the lead role and $100K in cash only.

No, actually I tell them I’m not looking for anything, except perhaps, their professional friendship and possible future collaboration of some kind. This is the truth. No money, no credits, nothing. It’s a ton of hard work I’m willing to do for nothing other than their friendship. That’s it. Sounds corny, and it may sound unbelievable, but I can give you a laundry list of those I’ve helped, and still stay in contact with over the years. Many of these producers have gone on to bigger and better things in the industry, and I knew them and helped them when they were doing ultra-low budget ketchup horrors. So, that’s one way of getting your foot in the door to PAID writing assignments; offer to help them without any expectations on YOUR end. Believe me; they’ll remember you and you will cash in on that good karma sooner rather than later.

2. Develop a “niche”: Maybe your expertise is creating loglines. Sell that as your service. Maybe you’ve been told you give great feedback. Perhaps you have that unique ability to take a hum-drum concept and turn it on its ear, making it unique or original- you can be develop that skill into a service.

If you’re just going to throw your shingle out there as another “screenwriting consultant”, you’re going to get lost in the sea of all the other hundreds of screenwriting consultants. Do something different; set yourself apart.

When I developed The Script Mentor business several years ago (www.thescriptmentor.com), we were among the very first “mentoring” companies around. We do not refer to ourselves as consultants. We are mentors. We teach; not consult. When clients use our service, they don’t pay per “consultation” as all of the other business model dictate. With our business model, the clients pay for a set period of time- during which they can get all of the help they need over any amount of screenplays they may be working on. We also offer screenplay ghostwriting and adaptation work- again, one of the first services to offer this exclusively. Dare to be different.

3. Go to where the jobs are: The sites are plentiful, and I mention them all of the time: Craigslist, Mandy, UpWork, SimplyHired, Media Match, GetFilmJobs, Mooncasting and a host of others.

Now, some of these may require a paid membership, but they almost always allow you to try it for FREE first. So, sign up, fill out your profile, and check out the jobs. UpWork is by far the best for paying jobs in general, and they have a sweet set-up. Mandy is excellent for screenwriting jobs, specifically. On Craigslist, instead of checking just Los Angeles or New York, check out “classifiedadsnationwide.com” and do you search. I scour all of these sites, and many more.

4. AVOID those screenwriting “job” newsletters: Those screenwriting “job” newsletters? Don’t spend a dime on them. Most of them require $100 for a “premium” account, giving you job information you can find for FREE in most instances.

They both cut and paste the ads found at the same websites we find ours, but they withhold the contact information “for five days” unless, of course, you PAY the premium price, and then you’ll receive their contact information by accessing their website. So, save your money and do the research yourself- 15 minutes, tops, once you get used to it. These newsletter sources plagiarize ads written by other people for other publications, and charge money for information that is mostly accessible for free- if you know where and how to look.

Think of it; if you're a producer looking for a certain type of writer or certain type of screenplay, are you going to go to a source that limits the numbers of people who will see the post? No. You want to reach as many writers as possible. Those who purchase "premium" newsletters are not always the "premium" writers, either. They are no different than you or I, with a wide variance in screenwriting skills- which brings us full circle back to point #1; I offer to help them "separate the wheat from the chaff", as they always trust my judgment.

So, in review, if you want to start making a living doing what you love to do- writing screenplays- you’ll want to network, develop a niche, go to where the jobs are, and avoid those screenwriting job newsletters. Then, chances are, you’ll find some writing assignments coming your way and people will be seeking you out to help them with their work. 

WRITER'S BIO: Mr. Scala spent 22-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 Award Show. Today, he and his writing team are actively working on several ghostwriting projects for his celebrity clientele as well, including the adapting the novel "Making Broken Beautiful" by Pamela Millican-Hartnoll; a tragic story of excessive abuse and redemptive success; and biopics of early rock pioneer Jimmie F. Rodgers and iconic folk star Harry Chapin- all while continuing to mentor new writers and self-published authors.

Geno has two screenplays produced into feature films; "Assassin 33 A.D." and "The Tombs". Both are currently available on Amazon Prime.

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