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Amateur Screenwriter who doesn't know who to send his scripts to?

Update:

Screenwriter who doesn't know who to send his scripts to?

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  • 5 years ago

    Well, first off all, since you're an amateur, you don't send your scripts to anyone. In fact, you don't want anyone professional to see your amateur-level scripts. Trust me. In fact, if you do send them, it'll take less than a second for the reader to toss your script because it's that easy to tell that you're an amateur, and they're not going to waste another second of their busy day; they'll move on to the next script in their huge reading pile, and you will never hear from them again. Moreover, you'll burn that opportunity.

    Now, ideally, you would need to send either to indie production companies that accept unsolicited material and your type of material including the medium, genre, budget, etc.... or, since serious places don't take unsolicited submissions, to managers that accept unsolicited material and your type of material including the medium, genre, budget, etc. For that, you will have to do your research. IF you manage to land representation, doors will open. Ideally, you would need to try any outlet possible to get your material read. From cold querying to contests to networking, etc.

    BUT! You don't send ANYONE a script unless they ask you to. You need to get reading requests first. And getting reading requests alone is not easy. Those people can smell amateurs away. It usually takes YEARS to land representation for example. And you kinda need representation or at least strong connections in order to get something to happen.

    I'd suggest entering (only the major) screenwriting competitions in hopes of getting reading requests from managers, agents, or producers... but since you're an amateur, this would be a waste of money. ANYTHING you do at this point would be a waste of money and/or time, and would burn bridges and opportunities, to be honest with you.

    What you need to understand is that you don't just scrabble a script and hope to get it produced. It doesn't work this way. It's MUCH more complicated and complex than that. We're talking about a very long and hard journey. And you haven't even completed the first step of getting to a PROFESSIONAL level (your scripts, your skills, and your knowledge need to be *professional*. Nothing less. That's the minimum requirement!). This step alone can take 20 years to complete. And the truth is, the majority don't complete this first step, ever.

    So take yourself and this seriously, otherwise no one will even ask to read the script. You still have a long way to go and a lot of work ahead of you. The fact that you're asking this question says it all.

    If you want any chance in hell, do what you need to do. Right now focus on completing the first step, even if it takes 5, 10, or 20 years. At that point you will also know how it's all done. And you might even land representation or a chance to pitch. If you're not going to do that, your question is pointless.

    EDIT: Nothing's changed just because you changed the phrasing. Everything I said still applies, whether you like this reality or not.

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