As a budding screenwriter, you’ve probably read Syd Field and Robert McKee countless times. Spent hours and days and months honing your craft. Now, after all this time, you’ve finally given birth to a beautiful, baby screenplay. But who knows and who cares? The hard part is done. The writing is finished. And now, with an aching back, you stagger out of the house with your screenplay in hand. Any takers? Going once . . . going twice . . .
The transition from writing a screenplay to selling a screenplay can be a difficult hurdle for writers to cross. After expending all that energy writing your masterpiece, it almost feels like the hard work is done and the screenplay should sell itself.
And if you happen to have read Story, one of the more celebrated books on screenwriting by Robert McKee, you might remember the simple nugget of wisdom offered within: “Write a good screenplay and your work will sell itself.” It’s an uplifting message and a message I now believe to be true. James Cameron, Shane Black and Callie Khourie all launched their Hollywood careers based on this one simple principle.
So, assuming you have talent and assuming you’re screenplay is sell-able, you need to know the best way to get your screenplay made into a movie. Here you have two options: the first option is to get your screenplay into the hands of an agent; the second option is to get your screenplay into the hands of a producer.
Option 1: Finding an Agent
Let’s look at the first option. An agent will take you on as a client if they believe you have talent, and, most importantly, if they believe they can sell your script and make a lot of money! Yes, an agent works on commission (usually around 10-20%). However, an agent doesn’t get paid until you get paid.
If an agent is able to get production companies interested in your screenplay, you may find yourself in the midst of a bidding war. This is where you have multiple studios fighting to buy your screenplay. If this happens you will most likely become very rich in a very short space of time.
So how does a budding screenwriter obtain the services of an agent? Here you have a couple of options: In no particular order, the first option is to pick up the phone and call the agent in question.
Pick up the Phone (the Andrew Kevin Walker way)
The best way to do this is to find other movies that are of a similar style and genre to the screenplay you have just written. Andrew Kevin Walker used this technique to great effect after he wrote the screenplay for Se7en.
Walker looked up the names of those screenwriters who had written scripts that were similar to his. He then called the Writers Guild of America for the names of the agents who represented the writers on his list. After calling one of the agents on his list, Mr. Walker got through to the agent’s assistant and was immediately told that the agency didn’t accept unsolicited screenplays. Without hesitation, Mr. Walker pitched the idea for his screenplay: “It’s about a serial killer who kills according to the seven deadly sins.” The assistant immediately requested the screenplay and the rest, as they say, is movie history.
Again, the story of Andrew Kevin Walker supports Mckee’s advice: if your screenplay is good enough, it sells itself!
In order to phone the agents in question, you’ll need to obtain their phone numbers. Contour at the movies and the WGA both have links to a list of agencies and their phone numbers. If you want more details like the actual names of the agents, you’re probably better off purchasing a book like the Hollywood Creative Directory (this can be purchased from Amazon or accessed online).
Send an Email (or fax if you miss the 90s)
The second option is to email, mail or fax an agent directly. So, how exactly do you contact an agent in writing and get them interested in your screenplay? The answer is: don’t send them your screenplay! Only send an agent your screenplay after they have asked to read it. The last thing an agent wants is a copyright infringement lawsuit on their hands.
(The Terminator, The Island and The Matrix are three movies that went to court for copyright infringement.)
What you want to do is send the agent a query letter. Now, when sending your query letter make sure you keep it short and to the point. Make sure you spell the agent’s name correctly, then write a brief (the shorter the better) description of your screenplay. As an example, let’s imagine you’re an unknown writer and you’ve just written the screenplay for the 1999 movie Cruel Intentions. Your query letter might look something like this:
Example Query Letter
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Dear [agent’s name],
I am currently seeking representation. I have just finished polishing CRUEL INTENTIONS, a screenplay based on the French classic Dangerous Liaisons by Choderlos de Laclos. (Note: Dangerous Liaisons is a novel in the public domain.)
CRUEL INTENTIONS is set among a group of rich, privileged teenagers living in Manhattan. The story revolves around a bet and the main characters attempt to seduce an innocent virgin. Like the original novel, CRUEL INTENTIONS remains true to the elements of manipulation, seduction and love.
Please let me know if you would be interested in reading the script. If you would like me to sign a release form, I would be happy to do this.
Yours truly,
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Note: if you have any previous screenwriting credits be sure to mention these too.
Now in order to send your query letter to a list of agents you will need to get their names and email addresses from the Hollywood Creative Directory. Alternatively, you can use Script Mailer, which (for a small $50 fee) will send your query to over 400 agents (including ICM, CAA and William Morris).
There is some ongoing debate about whether you should send your screenplay to multiple agents at the same time. I believe you should only send your screenplay to one agent at a time. However, sending your query letter to multiple agents is a different ball game. You can, and should, send your query letter to as many agents as possible. Try to generate as much initial interest as you can. (Note: if your query letter is effective you should expect around 2-5% of agents to get back to you.)
Option 2: Find a Producer/Production Company
This step is similar to option 1, however, sending a query to a producer or production company can be much more effective than sending a query to an agent. This is because producers and production companies have the power to buy your screenplay. On the other hand, an agent has no buying power whatsoever. Selling power: yes; buying power: no. Agents simply act as middle-men and women who sell your screenplay to . . . you guessed it, producers and production companies.
In the end, all you need to know is how to contact those production companies who can purchase your screenplay. Again the Hollywood Creative Directory is an excellent resource that contains the names, addresses and phone numbers of all major production companies in Los Angeles and New York. You could also find this information on IMDB Pro. Script Mailer can also send your query letter to over 650 producers and production companies. Another great way to get your screenplay read by young upcoming producers is to use sites like Craig’s List, Backstage West and The Hollywood Reporter.
Copyright your Screenplay
As a final note, remember to copyright your screenplay. To do this you can use the WGA or the US Copyright Office. Don’t worry too much about this as your screenplay is technically copyrighted as soon as you send a copy by email (you can send a copy of your script to your own email account). To copyright your work by snail mail, simply post your screenplay to yourself in a stamped self-addressed envelope. Please don’t let the thought that someone will steal your screenplay or your idea stop you from sending your screenplay out. The last thing an agent or producer wants is a legal battle over copyright infringement.
What’s best for you?
If you’re left wondering which of these methods is the most effective, I would say it depends on your style. If you’re a bit of an extrovert and a good talker, I would recommend calling the agents or production companies by phone. If you’re more introverted or find that you communicate better in writing, then I would definitely recommend using email/snail mail or fax.
As a final note, rejections are part of the screenwriting life. You should expect to get rejected about 95% of the time. However, you just need one agent or producer to read your screenplay and, if it’s good enough, then BAM your baby is as good as sold!
*Jennifer Sloane has worked as a screenplay agent in Los Angeles and Nashville for the last five years. Jennifer loves good movies, music and animals. A former television and movie executive, Jennifer currently heads business development at Script Mailer (a company that connects screenwriters with agents and producers in Hollywood).