In this follow up article on how to market and sell your screenplay, I’d like to talk about another great underutilized strategy that you can use to promote your script.
This method is simple and free, despite what many people will tell you. One of the best ways to showcase your screenplay and your talents as a screenwriter is to setup your own website.
There seems to be a great fear among screenwriters when it comes to leveraging and harnessing the power of modern technology. But make no mistake, we live in 21st Century and this Century has been transformed by the Internet. The Internet has become so powerful and influential that you can no longer afford to ignore it.
(Note: when I say Internet I’m referring to websites, email and all other modern communication technologies.)
Showcase Your Script With A Great Website
Back in the 80s and 90s, the Internet didn’t exist and the Hollywood game was, at least for screenwriters, letter writing, phone calls and face to face meetings.
Enter the 2000s and the screenwriting industry in Hollywood started to change dramatically. Producers and agents started communicating by email more and more.
With increased Internet speeds, Hollywood soon discovered that they could save themselves a lot of time and money by conducting online conference calls instead of trying to get everyone in the same room.
Agents and producers also started taking advantage of these changes and began using the Internet as their primary means of communication and sourcing new talent.
The rise of the personal website also became more and more prevalent and necessary. I remember when I used to work as an agent, the first people who really started using websites to showcase their talents were actors and singers looking to get a break in the industry.
Many of the directors, writers, actors and singers who are now household names in the entertainment industry got their break via the Internet (remember Diablo Cody who blogged her way to screenwriting success; Fede Alvarez who got a $30 million directing contract with Hollywood from his YouTube videos; and Justin Bieber who was also discovered on YouTube).
For some reason, however, screenwriters have always been reluctant to use websites to promote themselves and their work. Perhaps it is that all too famous screenwriting trait—introversion—that makes it so difficult for a lot of screenwriters to promote themselves.
In my experience, the traits of introversion, deep thought, creativity and introspection that make for an excellent screenwriter are also the same traits that make it hard for a lot of screenwriters to market and sell their screenplays.
Setting Up A Website Is Easy And Free
It’s not difficult to setup a website and promote yourself as a screenwriter. In fact, the sooner you start doing it the better. Here’s why…
— You can easily send agents and producers a link to your website.
— You can showcase all your screenplays and your biography with ease.
— You can be found by agents and producers online.
— People can search for you and find out more about your work.
— You will look more professional.
— You can include a link to your website in all your emails. Did you know that it is now possible to setup your own website for free simply by setting up a WordPress blog: https://wordpress.com/
This is one of the easiest ways to get online and start creating a presence for yourself as a screenwriter.
Your website doesn’t have to look perfect to be effective. All you have to do is showcase your work and your talents on your website.
To get started with a free WordPress website, simply follow the steps outlined in the following link: https://en.support.wordpress.com/five-step-website-setup/
In my next article I’m going to reveal another great technique you can use to promote your script. This is a technique that is incredibly effective and powerful, but no screenwriters I know are actually using this method so stay tuned.
PS. If you need help setting up your own screenwriter portfolio website, we can help you with this. Just drop me a line via the contact page and I’ll get back to you.
*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).