You did it! You completed your screenplay. You’ve made sure that your dialogue is crisp, that every plotline tracks, and that no loose ends exist. Now, you find yourself face to face with the big question. What do I actually do with the darn thing?
While there are no shortcuts to getting your script into the right hands, thankfully, there are more avenues than ever for talented and ambitious screenwriters to get their visions onto the screen.
In this article, I’ll go over what it actually takes to have your script read and, more importantly, sold…and hopefully made into a film.
How to sell your screenplay is a numbers game that requires balancing a high-quality, marketable portfolio with aggressive networking and a clear, one-sentence logline. Success rarely comes from a single script, so you must treat your work as a calling card to build a professional reputation through contests, fellowships, and industry connections.
The reality of selling a screenplay
There are thousands of screenplays out there, and while only a small fraction sell successfully, it is also true that the industry is always looking for fresh new voices. With that in mind, it simply boils down to hard work, perseverance, and yes, a little bit of luck. So, let’s take a look at some facts to keep in mind.
Fact #1: Create a logline
Oftentimes, screenwriters have the idea backwards. They write the screenplay that’s born from their heart and try to find an angle to sell it afterwards. No doubt there are screenplays that have been sold that way, but frankly, if you want to give yourself the best chance, it helps to consider the marketability of your story before you write it.
I don’t mean that you should create a screenplay you don’t care about. That won’t get you anywhere. Unless you care deeply and pour yourself into the story, it is unlikely to resonate with your reader. Unlike novels, a screenplay is simply a blueprint for a work that will probably cost millions to produce and could employ hundreds of other people. In other words, this is a collaborative medium, and therefore a strategic approach is vital.
So, begin by creating a logline. A logline is a one or two sentence pitch that encapsulates the whole story. This exercise will help you distill your idea. And when you tell it to your friends, they ought to be able to see the story blooming in their imaginations.
Can you guess the loglines of these three classic movies?
* (answers are at bottom of this article)
- A Polish survivor of Auschwitz must choose between the man she loves and the secret that will destroy him.
- A doctor wrongly convicted of his wife’s murder must find the real killer before the relentless federal marshal hunting him closes in.
- When his wife walks out, a workaholic father finally learns to put his son first, just in time for her to come back and take the boy away.
As you get clarity on your logline, you will begin to see whether or not it is a story that “has legs.”
Fact #2: Networking
You may have already been eyeing screenplay contests, fellowships, and similar opportunities to get your script read. This is great, and you should do this, but if you want to get your script into the right hands, it helps to know these hands in the first place. While it may sound difficult, because let’s face it, most writers are introverts, but the second job of being a screenwriter is being part of the filmmaking community. Get to know your peers, be a part of as many groups as you can, and be active socially in both social media as well as in-person events. Here you can start to get concrete leads of names and faces who might be interested in your screenplay. Get phone numbers. Keep notes. Support your fellow filmmakers. And stay connected. This is how your screenplay will get read and sold.
Fact #3: Create a body of work
Getting your work sold and made is a numbers game. Even if you find someone who is interested in your screenplay, more than likely they’ll follow up by asking what else you have to show them. You aren’t just selling a screenplay here; you’re presenting yourself as a screenwriter that’s worth the trust and investment. If you do end up being one of the fresh-faced breakthrough screenwriters this year, it may not be because of one single script. With more than a singular product to show, you’re offering your services. It can help to have a variety of screenplays in your portfolio to showcase what exactly you’ve got to offer. Once you have that, agents and producers will know you mean real business.
Fact #4: Play the long game
While you might make a splash with your first script, it is helpful to think of your scripts as calling cards. Timing is everything in this business. You might have a terrific script, but for a myriad of reasons, it might not be the story producers are interested in buying at the time. If they like your writing and they want to meet you, then by all means meet with them! And in the meeting you can ask them what they are looking for, and you can pitch them your ideas, or even better, you send them one of the scripts that you have already written. Don’t ever go into a meeting without an idea to pitch!
Steps to sell your screenplay
Now that you’re acquainted with some facts, let’s move forward with what exactly you should be doing.
- Partake in contests, writing workshops, and fellowships.
- Send query letters when you can.
- Network with fellow screenwriters and attend appropriate events.
- Get representation when the opportunity allows.
- Register the copyright of your screenplay.
Again, there is a lot of nuance to this. Contests and query letters, for example, are not options with high success rates. Nevertheless, they’re worth something. They’ll help you improve necessary skills along the way, like the ability to be mindful of the market. Frequently sending query letters will help you develop how to sell your screenplay through the logline as well. Writing for something concrete like a contest can help you get comfortable with hitting exact markers while also balancing what you want to write about. There isn’t a machine out there where you can simply insert your screenplay and get the money you deserve. It’s a real grind. Getting an agent or agency to represent you will be a tremendous help. But, of course, that usually only comes to those who’ve already found success in the first place. And that’s where winning contests and fellowships come in. Notoriety is the key to success. And when you’ve found that success, you’ll be thankful that your screenplay is protected by copyright laws that you handled prior.
What buyers look for in a screenplay
When you eventually do have your screenplay read by someone willing to option or purchase it, it’s important to be aware of what it is they’re looking for. What is a breathtaking story to you isn’t always exactly what’s going to sell at that very moment.
1. Clarity
While it’s easy to get lost in the goal of finding at least one person to look over your screenplay, you have to remember filmmaking is a complex process. The producer in front of you is not the sole person who needs to be sold on your idea. There will be other producers, directors, actors, pretty much anyone else who’ll have a stake in the production. Producers are looking at the big picture. Your script would need to be compelling and clear enough to be accessible to each and every person on a production team.
2. Marketability
This is a tricky topic, because whatever genre or trope you chose to go for, you have to be aware that the market is ever-changing. And so, while the screenplay you write may have a greater chance of being bought if it effectively targets the current trends, the dilemma is that by the time you write it, the trend has likely passed. Therefore, when considering the marketability of your idea, it is less important to focus on the outward aspects of what seems popular that season (such as dragons, wizards, or films about talking race cars) and be more focused on thematic elements that feel particularly prescient or in the zeitgeist, like issues of technological panic or mistrust of government, etc. Producers are drawn to (and will find greater success) in making films that in some way reflect the times in which we live.
3. Voice
Immediately, this is what will signal to a script reader if you are a good investment or not. Producers and executives have read multitudes of screenplays in their life. They can recognize within the first few pages if this is a voice that excites them. You have to stand out as a screenwriter that has talent, potential, and competence all at the same time. This is where all those contests and query letters come in. Experience, putting in your 10,000 hours is the main way to develop your voice.
Your story weapon: Trust yourself
Selling your screenplay takes time. You may fulfill everything I’ve discussed here, but the truth is it all boils down to mastering your process. Your success in selling your screenplay is not something you can exactly pinpoint. Everyone’s journey is different. The right opportunities can be just around the corner, or you may need just a couple more steps to even get the chance. Either way, what matters is that you trust yourself and stay focused on the true end goal: writing great screenplays. Develop your craft. Stay focused. Write every day, and try not to get whipsawed by all of the competing voices in your head. Being a screenwriter is hard work, but if you are driven and talented and ambitious, there is absolutely no reason that we will not be seeing your work up on the screen. Oh, and find a support mentor or teacher to guide you!
Logline answers
- Sophie’s Choice
- The Fugitive
- Kramer versus Kramer
If you are interested in exploring deeper tools of craft, join one of my next workshops: The 90-Day Novel, The 90-Day Memoir, Story Day.
