Screenwriting : Best Way to Enter the Screenwriting biz by Ana Bradfield

If you're asking about getting "reads", my opinion is try and meet as many people as possible. I moved out here (LA!) three+ years ago and found that this is one of the best ways. Ask friends if they know people who are in the biz that will read something. You'll get good, straightforward advice, too. And here on Stage 32, you not only meet and network, but you can pitch to companies through the Happy Writers. It costs money, but is a good way to pitch (and get better and better at it.) I don't know if that helps ... good luck!!!

@Ana, are you already placing in or winning prestigious screenwriting contests? Where are you in your career thus far?

It's very tough and sadly the easiest people to get reviews from can be the most damaging. For me, it's always been more effective to discuss and learn more about the craft of writing, then apply that knowledge to my own work.

For what it's worth, I think CJ is right. I've advised a lot of script consulting clients, whom I genuinely believe were poorly advised in the past by well-meaning non-pro friends and consultants who weren't taking the big picture into account.

@Regina, I am currently writing an autobiography and have only written online articles for the Mexican American Community through online publishing but nothing too crazy........ yet.

@Ana, then in order to "enter the screenwriting biz," you have to "start." Start by reading good screenplays in a genre you think will be your forte, and start writing your own. Screenplay form is very different from other forms of writing.

@reginal Lee, thanks! I did in fact start writing screenplays and reading some, it is VERY different however once a writer always a writer, you just have to change the format.... :) Thanks for the info!!

BREAKING IN: 1) Read a huge stack of screenplays, until you begin to think in screenplay. 2) Come up with 100 great ideas for movies. 3) Pick the best idea of those 100, the one that everyone else wishes they had come up with. Note: coming up with ideas uses the creative side of the mind, picking the best idea uses the critical side... don't get these two mixed up! 4) Find some recent successful movies that are similar to your idea. This "validates" the idea (and makes it much easier when you are pitching the screenplay, because there was a recent success like it). 5) Script the idea (using whatever method results in the best screenplay). 6) Rewrite that screenplay until it's just awesome... when people who hate you and want you to fail love your screenplay. 7) Repeat this process 8 times (the average pro screenwriter didn't make a cent until they'd written their 9th screenplay, you may be better than average... but you don't know that until it happens). 8) There should be absolutely no padding like this in your screenplay... but I wanted to get this list to 10... 9) Contests, query managers, make friends, look for connections, etc. You do a million things because you never know what will work... and if you ask a panel of screenwriters how they broke in (I've been on those panels) you get as many different answers as there are people on the panel. 10) Once you break in, the hell begins! Now you have to write for a living, on deadlines, often starting with silly things like board games or some forgotten movie a producer wants to remake, etc. PS: Some production companies accept queries, some do not... some do one day (when it's slow) and not the next day (when they have too much to do and not enough time). It's throwing stuff against the wall to see what sticks.

Love it..... Thanks William.... I have the ideas... need to get crackin' on reading them to think like a screenwriter.... I'm confident I can do it... Just the luck of the draw..... :)

@Ana, it's become increasingly important for America's multiculturalism to show up on screen, so please know that your Mexican American ethnicity is a "plus." When you've done the work of improving your craft and understanding "the business," there will be opportunities for you!

Thank you @Regina, that is so helpful!!!! The American Nation has really no knowledge about Immigration and what it really means to be immigrated. Not everyone come across the Rio Grande or smuggled through tunnels and coyotes. People would be amazed if they knew the truth. Thank you all for the encouragement..... I am going to take the screen play I started and work on it a little each day. In addition of course to all of your advice. They say that if you call yourself a writer, you must write every day.... :)

Hey Ana, my parents immigrated from Taiwan. What did you think of the movie A BETTER LIFE, for which Demian Bichir was Oscar-nominated?

I need to watch it.... I relate more to ANA FULL OF GRACE & documentaries like WHICH WAY HOME. The city of Juarez is another issue that I wish we could bring to light.... Human Trafficking is a HUGE issue.... also THE MI LAGRO BEANFIELD WAR..... in my culture, these are only a few examples of where I coming from. I immigrated myself at 16 after being here illegaly. It's not as simple as everyone says.... I had to go to trial, but you hear NOTHING about what INS does in the system.... I am going to check your recommendation. BTW non of the movies or documentaries even TOUCH the issue of how it REALLY is in a Federal building surrounded by Fedarales and INS workers..... let alone being illegal on a city bus in the 90's when Pete Wilson tried to kick us all out of CA. I lived through a lot. I love how Hollywood covers this up because they don't know any better!!!!! But watch out cuz here I come!!!!!