How do I sell a screenplay?
Question by Me-Thinks-I-Know: How do I sell a screenplay?
Okay, I’m 15… I was thinking of selling this script that I just finished writing – trust me, it is good. Without ego, I’d like to say that I am very pleased with it and I am some what of a perfectionist, If I am pleased with something, it is usually of a high standard. Sorry for boasting, I just had to get my point across :S
So, when I am finished with my education I would like to attempt to either sell the screenplay or get funding to direct it myself (having already planned to make some short films based on the subject of my feature, so… I ‘ve got it worked out… but I have no idea about anything… I might find all this a breeze or extremely, extremely difficult. Could anyone lend any experienced views on how to sell a screnplay…??????????
Best answer:
Answer by akaMaryn
I’m active at a screenwriting board (I was writing a play and at the time it was the closest fit I could find), and I’ve seen this question asked and answered over and over.
First things first, you need to get the opinions of people who know what they’re talking about. Your own complete satisfaction with your script isn’t enough. You’re too close to it to see its flaws, and you want to address them before you attempt a sale. This means you need to find at least one place where you can connect with *professionals*–not your fellow amateurs–and become well-enough known that one of them agrees to provide coverage on your script.
Next up, you need to have not one great script to sell but at least three, in three different genres. Why? Consider this best-case scenario: You make a contact, or get a positive response to a query letter, and an agent or production company asks to see your screenplay. You send it, and they call back. “This is really good,” the caller says, “but Universal’s got something like it in the works. What else you got?” You do not want to be in the position of saying, “Nothing.” You want to be able to say, “I have a thriller and a romantic comedy.”
Coming up with three fully marketable screenplays doesn’t mean writing two more. It may mean writing six more, or twenty-six more, before you have two more that are marketable.
Of course, you also need to consider production budget when you choose to market your work. A script from an unknown which calls for few actors, few and/or easy sets or locations, no special effects, etc. is far more likely to be purchased than something which is going to cost big to make.
In summary, it’s great that you finished a script you think is good. This is no small accomplishment. Now get busy and write more, make online connections to people who can give you coverage, and keep writing. Agents and studios are far more interested in a screenwriter who appears to have the potential for a career than a guy who’s got one terrific story.
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