This article could also be titled “Writing Screenplays that Sell”, because essentially that’s what writing for a studio is all about, making the sale.
Now, a lot of screenwriters have this inner-instinct where they say to themselves, “I’m going to write something that’s honest and real. I know the studios won’t like it. Heck, my agent’s going to hate it too, but screw it! I’m going to write what I want to write and no one’s going to stop me.”
Please, I’m begging you, don’t fall into this trap.
Don’t Write Insensitive Screenplays
If you want to write dark, edgy, subversive movies, save it for the Indie market. If you want to sell your script to a studio or production company, you’re going to have to self-censor–and self-censor big time.
Even if you do sell your screenplay to a studio with all the gritty, edgy bits left in, the studio will certainly cut it.
Try to remember that Hollywood is a global business, so you’re going to have to do your best to tell stories without offending anyone (or offending as few people as possible đŸ™‚
This means keeping religion and politics out of it. You can be offensive sometimes, just don’t offend those things that people hold close to their heart.
Hollywood Is A Global Business
If you do decide to go ahead and put in edgy material. Your agent will definitely advise against it. And if your script does make it to a studio, it could turn out to be a bad career.
Why is that?
It tells studio execs that you don’t understand their business and you aren’t ready to work in their business.
If studios hold this opinion about you and your screenplay, it’s going to be very hard to sell your script to them (at least without making some serious modifications and concessions).
So before you submit your screenplay, I highly recommend going through your script with a fine tooth come and taking all the insensitive stuff out of your script.
And just because you can’t be too politically incorrect or insensitive, it doesn’t mean you can’t still write a dark, edgy, ground-breaking, wonderful script.
*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).