Screenwriting : The long writer's road to Hollywood - digitally shortened by Olaf Blunk

Inktip does not require a WGA membership. I've had a lot of luck with VP. It should also be noted that stage32 offers live and written pitch sessions to execs as well and prices are fairly reasonable.

Well, then you were lucky because the user agreement states: "In order to qualify for listing with InkTip, scripts/books must be registered through the Writers Guild, U.S. Copyright Office or any other recognized copyright/registration agency. Mailing it to yourself is not acceptable." Virtual Pitch Fest is the first adress I will try to get my script "The Code of the Falcon" realized, since some production companies ring a bell regarding movies I grew up with. I´m new to Stage 32, so I still have to find out what´s what, but I´ll keep yout tip in mind :))

You should really check out the Happy Writers services here. I've learned so much and have had script requests and now a meeting. Erik makes things so easy. I've also used their coverage services and chose Agustine Calderon as the executive to give me notes. best feedback I've ever received. Just can't recommend it enough. https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions

Did you choose a live pitch or a written one?

Hi Olaf. Most pitch services or screenwriting competitions require registration. It just creates an official date or claim of copyright with an outside entity—with a third party, if you will. It's also common practice. I would suggest just registering with the LOC, but the choice is yours. ;) Also, Stage 32's various services for screenwriters (pitch sessions, coverage, webinars and classes) can be found under "Happy Writers" within the top menu bar. Here is the direct link: https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions. Best to you! :)

Oh, I should also point out that S32 Happy Writers has a pitch template available. It includes tips that apply to either a written or verbal pitch. It can be found within the left column on the web page of the link I provided above. But here is its direct link as well: https://www.stage32.com/sites/stage32.com/files/cake/screenplays/586c11e.... I hope that helps!

Thanks for the advice, I´m surprised that your pitch template is very different from the structure of a basic query letter, i.e. "Two comparisons to similar films", "give a quick comparison to a popular actor" and so forth. So, if I understand the template right, you have to entertain the executive rather than inform him about the content, as you would do in a query letter? Or does most of these aspects only refer to a live pitch?

Sure, you're welcome, Olaf. ;) You must do both: intrigue/entertain and inform. The template provided by Happy Writers reflects typical industry expectations, and general preferences by executives. The written or verbal pitch provides further opportunity to share more about your script and yourself, than say a basic query letter. Here's Happy Writers' "frequently asked questions" page: https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/faq. If you have further specific questions for Happy Writers to answer, perhaps send them to: WriterHelp@Stage32.com. :)

Registering your script is not the same as being a WGA member.

Jody, have you already registered a script? Do you know the costs and if it´s only limited to US citizens, since I´m a European?

Research. Go to: https://www.copyright.gov. Or go to: https://www.eucopyright.com. :) Olaf, perhaps reach out to a local resource to better answer your questions and to understand your options.

It's like $20 Olaf and I'm not totally sure but I don't think it's limited to US citizens. Library of congress costs about the same I think (personally have never used them) and again I'm unsure as to whether only US citizens can apply or not.

It's $35 to register a copyright. Again, look over the websites given. They also explain/give information about international considerations. :)

Lots of great ways to get your works out there to the rest of the world. The Internet has certainly made it more easier than ever for writers to network/pitch/sell. Good luck, Olaf!

Thanks for all the advice, here´s one last website, where you can directly submit your work: https://studios.amazon.com/ Good luck to you all :))

All BS. short cuts. If you really want a career- 10 to 15 years working, go impress an established WGA feature, TV Writer or Showrunner. Let them read your spec scripts, ask for a referral. It's basic networking, face to face, a friend first, User second.

A career is something for people who go to work. I just want to see my dreams, that occasionally turn into a script on the big screen, money is just colored paper, that comes and goes.

Your dream is the same pipe dream as everybody else. If money is just colored paper, come and goes-- just pay for your movie dream. Charge it to a credit card. Making a movie is kid stuff, like shooting a wedding video. It's only hard when you ask Strangers to pay$$$ for the privilege to watch. Entertainment. LeBron James doesn't play basketball for free.

I think it´s the steps that count, irrespective of the result. You may have a point with the basketball player, since it´s money that is kind of an ID or protective wall to the outside. If my dream was a pipe dream, I wouldn´t know it, because dreams just come and go. The ones that I bring to paper are meant for the outside, so I discuss them publicly - nonsense answers included, I guess...

Good advice Dan G. I try to maintain regular contact with anyone who has requested a read. Even when their response has been "no thanks" I always respond and tell them I appreciate the time they took to read my script, and offer up a brief description of what else I have. Simply responding politely to their emails has garnered interest in other scripts and I've met with two execs (one producer, one manager) in the last few months and have another interested producer talking to me via email. Since I no longer have an agent, I have to really stay on top of it and make sure I stay in my contacts line of sight. And you're right, it's all such a long shot and you just can't know when or if it will happen. But it won't ever happen if we quit, right?

I'm willing to throw some pitches out, but I'm going to IMDB to check these people out to see what they've produced. If it fits what I've got then virtual pitch will be a new avenue.

At the end of the day....all marketing is (or should be) measured by quantifiable results. You can add up the documented results of the Internet exchange sites (sites that link buyers and sellers)...Stage32 included.....and you have over 600 films made, and hundreds of writers who have found representation. Those are some heavily significant positive results. And you really shouldn't care if it's 600 successes out of 6,000....60,000....or 600,000 prospects....it's still 600 successes. And for $30, $40, or $50....that's peanuts. Any entity that helps writes sell scripts, get representation, or make relationships is a benefit to writers. And if anyone says "but site X only gets low-budget deals".....please do your homework....the majority of films are low-budget.

Are you asking which are better, Vanar?

Face to face on Skype. I haven't heard of any written pitches that got your script read.

Sorry James, but that's not true. We have plenty of written pitches land meetings, option agreements, offers, etc. The majority of pitches done through Stage 32 are written (at a ratio of nearly 2:1). Of all of our sessions, I would say an even number of meeting requests come in from written and verbal pitches. The problem is MOST writers who submit written pitches do so... poorly. A written pitch is a writing sample, and you wouldn't believe how many writers send in written pitches with spelling/grammatical errors; let alone written pitches that don't even tell you anything about the story or are wholly unclear about everything. Off the top of my head, in November Zlatan submitted a written pitch to Tiffany Boyle, landed a meeting, and she got his script to A-listers around town and set him up on meetings with them to discuss. Just yesterday I sent out four meeting requests to writers who submitted written pitches to Red Apollo Group, and FX Networks requested a meeting with two written pitch writers. So yes, written pitches DO work. BAD written pitches, don't. PS: if you click here (https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions) and go to the side bar, you'll see where it says "CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE STAGE 32 HAPPY WRITERS PITCHING TEMPLATE". Click that - give it a read. #edumacation

Stll skeptical. You guys haven't announced who has gotten a deal through written pitches. Even yor webinars state that face to face is better and most ignore the written pitches. Check out the Stage4 Education. webinars on your site. I challenge you guys to announce who has benefited from written pitches every week. Best Regards, Jimmy Day

Erik, that's great! That's why I'm here! Erik is great by the way. I paid for a First 10 with one agency. Eric contacted me to let me know that they weren't taking any more and sent it over to another. I received a quality read from a professional and Erik handled it all. Good stuff!

@James yes skype pitches are better than writtens... but that doesn't mean writtens can't get requests. They do... quite often. I just listed seven who got meetings due to a written pitch, and that's just off the top of my head. I don't control what happens after the meeting gets set - that's up to the writer and the executive, but written pitches can get you there the same as a verbal pitch. Verbal pitches are better simply because the executive can ask questions, and you can prove you're good in a room. Written pitches are harder because most writers are not that great at them. They think they can't fit a synopsis in 2 pages, they have spelling/grammatical errors, they're unclear, the tones don't match, or it's just bad writing. I've always said this, and made no bones about it: the best verbal pitch blows the best written pitch out of the water, every time, but written pitches still work - they're just very hard to do properly, and harder to master. Thanks for the shoutout, Jeff!

Have you tried moviepitcher.com?

No, have you?

Yes, I've tried it but I'm still waiting for their reply

Guys Stage32 is still the best. The only thing that irks me is this pitch formula that few seem to know. Erik, you and Richard Botto are excellent, but I begin to question when a script has won multiple awards keeps getting the Pass from some of your producer manager, one of which was an actor when I checked them out. Now that person is a producer??? Let me know where I can get some insight on the pitch formula you guys use. Best Regards, Jimmy Day

Hi James, which executive are you referring to? All of our executives are vetted and looking for material. Feel free to DM me.

Erik, I don't want to name names. I checked this person out on IMDB PRO and found out she was an actress, so did I lose the pitch because the script was not for this individual career? It just makes me wonder. I've got a pitch coming up tomorrow. Hopefully I will not mess it up. Wish me luck. Like I said before Stage 32 is excellent. But as a screenwriter, I do my homeworker on who I pitch to. I've also pitched in LA to producers who have shows and are in development. PS Thanks for helping me out about Aldo Chang. I've got the pitch all ready.

Best Regards,

Jimmy Day.

Oh and that Script Coverage you guys gave me was excellent. Two other script coverage places told me the same thing. It's an easy fix. Happy Writing Everyone.

There's a ton of success stories that have come out of Happy Writers. To suggest there's nothing out there is absurd. Just because your work is rejected doesn't mean the service is flawed or corrupt. Awards mean nothing when it comes to pitching to real world industry members. And seriously? The Blacklist and InkTip are not pitching sites.

Appreciate all your support CJ Walley - I'm reminded of the screenwriter I spoke to at the Austin Film Festival one year. He was top 5 at the Nicholl and didn't so much as make the quarter finals of any of the other 3 contests he entered that year. Have to always remember that subjectivity is the name of the game. And that it only takes one "Yes".

Keep it simple. Remember we have five senses and even in a visual media there can be smell. Use anything that can trigger a memory that will evoke the visual queue in the readers mind. If you can see it, there is a good chance the reader will see it.

Well without knowing more about the exec I can't say for certain, but lots of executives do many different things. A lot get their start acting, reading, editing, or doing whatever they can to get industry experience. We happen to know that some of the director of developments we work with also act on the side - because it's something they like doing. They don't judge work based on their acting preferences - they're here representing their company looking for material FOR that company.