help with steps in selling a screenplay?
Question by kenny ist krieg: help with steps in selling a screenplay?
I have recently complete a screenplay, but I don’t know what to do next in terms of selling it. Should I copyright it? If so, how do I go about selling it to production company’s? Do I need an agent? And if so, how much would an agent cost?
Another thing, if I eventually sell this script, could I ask help with the casting? Maybe not actually cast any parts, but just to sit in and watch the actors try out?
One last thing, I am 17, turning 18, and I live in Canada, if that makes any difference.
Best answer:
Answer by Bad Advice138
First thing is register your script with the WGA to protect your intellectual property.
Second, now this important, is this your first draft? If it is you need to have people read this that you trust to give you an unbiased opinion. Don’t give it to like your mom or dad, because they’re more likely to lie and tell you its great when it’s not. You need unbiased feedback so you can take it in and prepare for your next draft.
If you feel that your script is good to go the easiest step to get your work read is enter a writing contest. moviebytes.com has a listing of writing competitions. Most contests have an entry fee, but the prizes for placing are worth while. Most offer cash for grand prize and some prizes include listing your script and most offer promoting your script to production companies and its a great thing to have on your resume.
Now here are the facts, once you sell your script its no longer yours. Unless you come to an agreement of the sale to be the director or assist in creative direction, you will have no input on who directs, who is casted not even what music is selected. In many cases the writers aren’t even allowed to come on location for the shoot. To answer your question about sitting in on casting that would be up to the production company.
Quite often after you sell your script it will be re-written by someone else. Now because the product has been contributed on by someone else, it is up to the WGA to determine who has writing credits, so when they review the final product who’s ever written work is used more in the final film will have writing credits. So even if you wrote the original spec if the re-write was used more in the film you will not get credit for writing the film. This is why I advised you to make sure to have people read it and write multiple drafts to ensure that it is an excellent final draft.
Good luck.
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