Anyone else submitted a PILOT script to Sundance?
Rejections and confirmation emails went out this week, and I got mine last night.
My script VERMILION made it through, and I'm on to the next round. Hooray!
Work is due for that in a couple of weeks.
Anyone else gave this a shot?
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Kody, that's big! Congratulations and good luck!
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Congrats! n Good Luck!
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congratulations! We haven't, but wishing you all the best xoxo
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As the writer of twelve full feature film scripts, nine books and a musical, I badly need a Manager. Any ideas, please?
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Good luck and keep us updated!!
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Congrats!
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Michael Faunce-Brown
I don't think I'm qualified to tell anyone how to get representation. I consider myself an outsider, mostly, since the bulk of what I do is in comics and not film and television.
However, if I were just starting out or having difficulty finding representation today, here's what I would do.
1. Network as much as I could, hopefully IN PERSON at film festivals and such. It's expensive, but I'd treat it as an investment instead of an expense. I still do this because I know how important it is, mostly at Comic Cons, so it’s not a big stretch for me.
2. I'd work hard to get to know people, especially other writers, and build genuine relationships in the industry. There are a few ways of doing this, but the main caveat would be to AVOID asking for favors. Looking like a pest is a surefire way to get pushed out of an emerging professional relationship.
3. Instead, I'd focus on building quality relationships by offering HELP (instead of asking for favors). If I know a friend has a script due, I’d offer to read it. We all know how difficult it is to get early feedback on a new project BEFORE it goes out to industry people. There’s a window of opportunity here where I might help someone that really needed it. If they accept, I’d read the work promptly, and respond quickly with thoughtful and detailed feedback. An aside: These days I write and draw for a living, so most of my ‘reading time’ is reserved for my own editing purposes, or my brain is completely friend and I’d rather do anything but look at another script. So it’s become very difficult to read work by other writers. However, when I had a normal day job and I was working my way toward becoming a writer, I’d say I had a 98% batting average on reading scripts, writing feedback, and getting it back to that writer within a few days. I think that had a very big impact on my career.
4. If that writer thought my feedback and insights were helpful, they would now have an informed opinion of my skills. Here, I’d also mention what I learned from their script(s). I know this will happen because I’ve learned something from every single script I’ve ever read, good or bad. I’d maybe mention how I’d be able to use those lessons in my own script, as I always do. I wouldn’t push the issue, but there’s a pretty good chance they’ll offer to return the favor. If they don’t, no worries. I’ll just keep writing and keep being helpful. However, if they did offer to read my work, I’d present them with my single best piece of writing. I would not send them a folder of scripts, or something that isn’t ready to be read. I’d only put forward my best work. Let the chips fall where they may. There’s a pretty good chance here they’ll never actually get to the script. I wouldn’t be a pest, but I’d maybe check in after a couple of weeks.
5. If they did get around to reading it and they thought the script was great, OR if offered brutally honest criticism, I’d thank them. I wouldn’t defend the work, and I would’t make excuses. I’d learn what I could from the feedback and improve that script, or write a new script. Along the way, and only after they’ve read my script, I’d mention that I’m actively looking for representation. An important note, I’d never put them on the spot and ask them to introduce me to an agent or manager, because those relationships are often very delicate, and having been asked many times by others, I also know it’s crossing a line and putting me on the spot. That’s not a good approach overall, but especially for industry people. Trust me, simply saying that I’m LOOKING is enough. They’ll know exactly what I mean, and they won’t feel like I’m backing them into a corner.
6. If they genuinely loved my work, they’ll want to help. And that’s the magical spot you want to be in. That’s how you get a glowing referral from another writer, and it’s those types of referrals that land representation.
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Good luck!
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Congrats and good luck!
Round two of my pilot script just got uploaded. Woot.
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That is awesome news!!
Congratulations! fantastic news! x
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That is fantastic News. As a newcomer, it's so hopeful to hear that hard work and persistence pays off! Good for you!!
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How exciting.
The SUNDANCE website says we'll be notified mid August. Anybody else have a script into the second round on this?
contragts, no never tried what do you get if you win or make it the top 3?
You win a baby's arm holding an apple.
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Ha.
Last I heard, they only invite 10 people to the episodic labs, it's a full week at the Sundance facility working and developing your script with top writers, showrunners, and producers. I haven't yet seen the list for this year, but the 2017 list was pretty spectacular (see below). For me, it'd be more about the experience than any kind of award (I don't even know if there is an actual award). From the blog posts and interviews I've read with writers that have actually been invited to the labs, it sounds like a very unique and in-depth experience.
https://www.sundance.org/blogs/news/sundance-2017-episodic-lab-fellows