If you want to write a screenplay that agents want, a screenplay that lights up the page and makes agents take notice, then you first need to appreciate what exactly screenplay agents are looking for in a script.
In this article, I’d like to talk about the main things you need to do to get agents (and producers for that matter) to want your script.
Of course writing an engaging and interesting screenplay is important, but if you really want to write a script that agents want then you need to know what buttons to press to make an agent want to represent you.
(The following list is in no particular order of importance.)
Write A Script With A Strong Main Character
You can write a great screenplay, but that doesn’t mean that your script has one great character in it. Some movies have multiple main characters, which can be wonderful but it makes it much harder to convince a big name Hollywood actor to be in your movie.
Don’t forget that Hollywood actors are focused on starring in movies that will elevate their careers and make them look more appealing to their audience.
Big name Hollywood actors want to be “the hero” in the movie, or at the very least—the main focus of the movie. If you can write a script with a great main character then it will be much easier for an agent to package and sell your script to a well-known actor.
Write A Script That Has An Audience Already
This is incredibly attractive to screenplay agents if you can do this. If you can write a script that already has a built in audience then agents will be very interested in your work. So what are some great examples of stories with a built in audience:
— A screenplay based on an already published book/comic/magazine article/viral Internet post.
— A script based on a true story.
— A script based on a well-known myth or legend.
— A screenplay based on a work in the public domain.
If your screenplay has any of these elements, then your script will be very appealing to agents because your story already has a built in audience that will rush to the movies to see any new story about the characters and incidents that they’ve already heard so much about.
Relate Your Story To Other Successful Movies
Remember quite a few years ago they made a movie called “Open Water.” This movie was about a couple that was lost at sea in the Pacific ocean and hounded and eventually attacked and eaten sharks (based on a true story).
The marketing for this movie was very smart and I remember when this story was still in development, it was being shopped around as the next Jaws.
Of course we all know how successful Jaws was and how much money it made. This made pitching the “Open Water” screenplay very easy to do. The story, in this case, was incredibly easy to pitch to agents and producers: “think of it as a follow up to Jaws” or “it’s just like Jaws.”
Even though “Open Water” is a very different movie to Jaws, relating the movie to Jaws made it easy to sell the movie and get this movie produced.
Think for a moment how many movies out there are like your movie and have been commercially successful? Now if you can relate your movie to another successful movie it will be very easy to make agents want to read your script.
Write A Screenplay That Agents Don’t Need To Read
Here’s the truth: agents don’t really have time to read your script. They spend most of their time in meetings and on the phone, the actual time they have left to read screenplays is very small. That’s not to say that agents don’t read scripts, but they only read screenplays that in-house readers and development assistants have approved first (unless of course you’re already a well established writer).
Your query letter is your best way to pitch your story directly to an agent. If an agent likes your query letter, they will get their development assistant or several readers to check your script and see if it reads well.
Now if your script gets approved, and only if your script is approved, will a screenplay agent want to actually read your script and consider representing you. But in order to get that far, you need to have a great pitch for your screenplay wrapped up in a great query letter.
—>> Find out how to write a great query letter here.
*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).