Screenwriting : Happy Writers section by Laura Tabor-Huerta

I have my own production company too-anyone can have one. It does not mean I am really an Exec. and can find you paid work. Seriously the wanna be Hollywood vibe of that is just a drag and bad taste! I will never waste your time by asking you to pay me to read your script. If I am looking for one I will read it for free and if I am selling one I will pay to enter a film fest to do a pitch but not pay some nobody on Stage 32.

I don't know of any free pitching sites. $30 isn't bad for a live pitch, VP is $10/pitch but they do written only. I would certainly advise anyone wanting to pitch any exec to do their homework on who the person is, the execs people pitch to here on S32 are certainly not "nobodies" and there have been quite a few screenwriters signed throughout their services.

Why on earth would you think it should be free anyway?

In a world where it costs 10 bucks to see a new movie I think an amateur being able to show their work to an industry pro for 30 bucks is a fair deal.

Travis, it costs $15 to see a new movie in LA. and thats during the week. Laura, theres a big difference between some wannabe who starts a production company because they want to seem important, and ACTUAL execs at actual companies making actual movies. If you think you can get to execs the old fashioned way, great. But most cant. And in case you're new, every pitchfest, film fest, pitch site, query site, contest and consultant charges something.

I will add, while I've not used the services at S32, I've made some really good connections via other pay to pitch sites. I've met with some of the execs in person (and I assure you they are anything but "nobodies") and the script I just finished was requested by five of the execs I've developed a relationship with.

$30? Crikey....I pay $100 to pitch to Phillip E. Hardy and Dan MaxXx.....AND I have to shine their boots while I'm pitching. Don't I feel like the boot-shining fool!

But it's okay to pay more than $30 to enter a screenwriting comp where some anonymous intern will judge your fate and (unless you pay extra) give you no feedback at all? At least here the pitches are to named individuals, working for legit companies, that you can research beforehand.

The nearest you will get to free pitches is the tried and trusted query letter, you never know, someone might read it.

$21 IMAX movie tic in NY. I wish stage 32 "Happy Writers Pitches" was around when I was an Assistant to a Hollywood Producer. I could've used a $100-$200 per month hearing pitches. The Producer paid shit salary, no benefits, 10hr work days and I had to read/write company script coverage on my own time. $30 is not unreasonable to pay. Don't have to change out of pajamas. Pitch from home via skype or email.

How much is your career worth to you? I've just discovered these and think they're a godsend. $30 to get my foot in the door? Which will lead to bigger paydays. Personally, I can't fork it over fast enough.

What sucks even more is when you personally invest dozens of hours of your time in meetings with someone, and the final result is a pass - and especially for reasons other than the quality of your script. That happens all the time in the cinema industry, and all sides - the producers; the writers; the financiers; some studio execs; some marketing people - end up putting hundreds of hours into something that doesn't happen.

Some films take over ten years to get to fruition, with all kinds of changes along the way. Imagine how frustrating that is.

Honestly....if someone is complaining about $30 to pitch....or $50 to enter a contest....or $300 for a two-hour consult with a reputable script consultant....then this probably isn't the right field to attempt breaking into. No disrespect intended to anyone. I understand how money can be tight, but $30....or $50....or $300.....is not a high price to get access to reputable people in an industry that one is trying to break into.

I agree Bill. The $ I've put out is, for me, what I consider an investment in myself. I budget a certain amount toward pitches and contests, and it has come back tenfold in the contacts I've made.

As those of us who've been pounding the proverbial pavement know, trying to get our work out there and into the proper hands isn't easy. Pay to pitch sites and contests have and continue to open doors for people. I am grateful that these opportunities exist, because I don't know how I would have connected with execs otherwise.

Even the NY/LA interns, agents' assistants, readers, and so-forth we've never heard of are more connected than those of us living anywhere else, so just pitching/submitting your work gets it some word-of-mouth. I see it much the way I see paying others to edit your prose - and yes, once you find an editor, you're good but, until you do, it's kind of a necessary evil, and helps put a little cash in their pockets.

I've written ad copy and web content for years now, usually for far less than my "quote," so I know the struggle. Although eight minutes is restrictive, and the notes you receive (if any) are sparse - but you don't usually receive notes on a pitch, anyway.

@David can you explain what happened to your work (&yourself) and what success means, from a pitch POV.

Hi Laura, Unfortunately, it can cost a lot to do pitches. If you had a coffee with a producer, you'd run up costs in travel, parking, coffee, time lost from work etc. If you do a paid pitch and the producer likes it, who knows where that could take you? Competitions often cost > $30 and you're not always sure who reads it. Not sure if it helps, but one way of looking at it could be that it's as either the cost of doing business or as an investment. Cheers, Paul

Hi, thanks for your opinions. Bill C. said "Honestly....if someone is complaining about $30 to pitch....or $50 to enter a contest....or $300 for a two-hour consult with a reputable script consultant....then this probably isn't the right field to attempt breaking into. No disrespect intended to anyone. I understand how money can be tight, but $30....or $50....or $300.....is not a high price to get access to reputable people in an industry that one is trying to break into."

The point I was trying to make is who are these Producers? Look at them. https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/pitch-sessions

I would never give 30 bucks to any random producer on here without researching. I am warning everyone especially the newbies that anyone can start a production company and charge you 30 bucks to hear your pitch. I have my own production company and I would never charge you to read your script if I was considering producing it. I only do low budget/no budget productions. Just because we are creatives does not mean we have to be suckers. So beware someone like me who paid a few bucks for a dba and got a Production company name and takes all the newbie screenwriters money to finance their own getting in the biz because they are a newbie or an outright crook. I effin' hate Hollywood and their system and if they ever come to me-they come to me on my terms.

Laura: well, for $30 you could have seen Lee Ving and the new lineup of Fear a couple nights ago at The Dive Bar here in Las Vegas. It was a well-spent $30. Beef, beef, beef....beef baloney! Heh-heh.

I think the people who hear pitches here on Stage32 are pretty well-vetted by Stage32 reps. I've pitched to people here and they are pretty well-established in the industry.

You're right about how anyone can claim to be a producer...etc....and it's up to writers to do their due diligence before spending money. The point is, in my opinion, is that as a writer....you're a business, and a business person....and it costs money to establish yourself as a business and a business person...and especially in a business type where the product (writers) exceeds the demand. I don't have anything against people who try to do things low-budget/no-budget.....more power to you.....but in my opinion it costs money to try to break into this business for the most part....and especially if a writer has no connections to begin with. That's just the way it is, for the most part, and if someone wants to gain entry and doesn't have connections or relationships....here is a good way to gain entry.

I believe they're vetted here. Plus, I think it's as much about letting those people see how well you pitch, the quality of your concepts, and so forth, as it is the pitch itself. If you've ever sat through a half-dozen online pitches, you understand that these producers deserve that money. :D

I've taught a class on Stage 32. If you are wondering what percentage of the fees go to teachers/producers/pitch takers, etc., you should ask Stage 32. We teachers/producers/pitch takes do NOT receive the majority of that $30 pitch fee, $99 class, etc. I imagine Stage 32 must pay its bills to keep the lights on, just like everyone else does, and I am sympathetic to Stage 32's overhead needs. It's uninformed to suggest that we teachers/producers/pitch takers are the primary beneficiaries of your $30.