Screenwriting : What path are you taking with your scripts? by WL Wright

I have decided to build me. Build a reputation and build a presence. This is built on honesty and nothing being hidden. That is why I use my real name on every site I visit.

I think of it as selling real estate. You can see the house online. Street view the neighbourhood. You can check crime stats. All before visiting the address. The only thing left is an inspection and price.

If people know me, not a persona, the real Craig. Then the only thing left is “do I have a script they like?”

This will alienate some people. It is better we learn that we will not be able to work together now.

I host things of Script Revolution. And reach out to people.

I have scripts on Script Revolution too but do you think that can result in something? I don't know their stats at all and never inquired. I get your idea but have you got interest yet from that? Or is that a new path you decided to do so jury is out still? Or Is it just Jimmy crack corn and if you build it they will come? Thanks for sharing.

Hi WL,

I used InkTip for a while and just got sick of sending out endless pitches.

I have sold two script on script revolution. The Valley which is yet to appear in IMDB and The Hostage which you can find by searching me Craig D Griffiths (middle initial other there are heaps of us). Both are on a break for obvious reasons.

I find script revolution to be far less LA. One sale was in New York and the other was London. I am in Sydney so I don’t care where it is made.

I write contained thrillers. So the indie world are my people. I am pushing for The Valley go take advantage of a grant in Wales. I love that place, so I would fly 25 hours to visit the set.

Wow that is so cool to know! Thanks for sharing and cheers to you for the success twice over. Did they reach out to you? Or did you reach out to them? Sounds like you did but I am not sure. I know Script Revolution sends out a "don't contact them" message for every contact that happens lol. I have been treating that as the holy grail. lol

Why does it have to be one or the other? What you need to do is get a great screenplay read. That can be the result of a contest or querying or networking or just by accident. The hardest part is writing that great screenplay.

Script Revolution is still gaining traction but you can check out some success stories here. Six success stories in the past month including options and sales. Always try to diversify your marketing efforts and don't rely on one route. The main idea behind SR is you can effectively fire and forget with it running the background.

I always recommend against chasing up people who've read material and wait for them to reach out if interested. The reality is this can take a long time to happen.

Thanks CJ appreciate that mystery ending. lolI appreciate you sharing. Hey William just want to know what is the best thing to make things happen. Like CJ 's response, now I know there's another way I didn't know about and that is cool.

making movies or becoming a career screenwriter? Both are marathon jobs, all-in lifestyles. There's no cheat codes, short cuts.

Spike Lee posted his failed movie ideas - over 7 w/ Big Star as leads. Guillermo del toro (2 Oscars) has over 10 scripts/ideas collecting dust.

Beck & Woods revealed their path to success: they started making movies in High School & college, into their 30s. Years of hustling and creating indie content to be in a position to make "A Quiet Place."

Everyone seems to be making stuff independently than just writing scripts.

WL, I've not only got all my screenplays posted right here on Stage 32 and on Script Revolution...I've also entered competitions during the last twelve months (The Script Lab's 2019 Free Screenplay Contest, Script Pipeline's 2020 Screenplay Contest, and Stage 32's Comedy Writing Contest).

And yesterday, I joined ISA...and even submitted my "Andrea" script.

As long as I can get a screenplay of mine read (and, of course, eventually produced), I'm happy with it...regardless of method.

All the VERY BEST to you, WL!

There is no best way. You only know what worked after it worked. But all of the ways begin with the script - and that is the part most people don't do. They have a script that they think is great, but what they need is a script that people who hate them and want them to fall think is great.

Hey Jim I just joined ISA today too. lol I have been getting their emails for a while but nothing fit the scripts I wrote, until today so I jumped in. All the best to you too thanks! Hey William thanks for yours too of course! It's all helpful when you're scratching your head wondering. lol

I don’t harass anyone other than a quick “thanks for downloading my script. I hope you enjoy it. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions. Regards Craig”.

I would say 70-80% of downloads are from other writers. Some comments I get are prompts good conversations about my work. This has prompted some changes.

Good to know Craig. Thanks for sharing it! You too Dan I missed you earlier. All your comments help.

I have used a service, attended a film festival and sent my screenplays to 3 contests

I think everyone has a different path. I'm trying ALL the stuff ... relationship building in my community and local screen industry, networking online (every day) and at film fests and markets, engaging a consultant, contesting, sending queries, and producing the super-low budget stuff myself. Why not give it ALL a go?! :)

Thanks Jeff and of course good luck! Pamela thanks to you as well. So both of you are going to festivals and do you pitch your work there? Or is it a hob nob network thing? Also Pamela WOW you are doing it yourself? That's great! All food for thought but I don't think producing is in my league right now.

Hey CJ wow was that a lot of food for thought lol. Thanks for sharing and as to me all of this has been helpful because even if everyone isn't an "expert" well it helps in different ways in the commiseration.Yes it can throw you off it's just plain wrong of course. Yours even added more as to networking and I appreciate the truth of that. Script 32's pitch meeting etc seems to tie right into what you are actually saying but yep, I am going to have to get over my anxiety about doing that because of the unknown nature of it lol I might even get my writing partner to do it for one of my scripts. lol

Having a rep is not all that but it's better than nothing. Meaning someone (your personal salesperson) believes in your work. No matter what target/film industry you're after, having someone in your corner is a shot of confidence. It is your Rep's job to know the Employers/Buyers.

But that nothing cost- reps don't work for free and you need to supply them with ideas. (lots of ideas). Who here is making enough $$$$ that they could take 10-20% off their paychecks to pay commission fees/lawyer and still make a full-time living off screenwriting?

If successful Oscar winning filmmakers and Box office earners are getting rejected often, how does a nobody with 1 or 2 ideas is gonna compete on the same platform, same Reps/Agencies? It's also why so many filmmakers/writers work with the same people. They paid their dues together.

I have a group of other screenwriters and we meet once a week to discuss where we're going, whether or not we are writing or in a phase of writing, commiserating when that phase is "My writing sucks" (haven't we all been there?), and encouraging one another. I'm in a class right now where I'm revamping a script I've been working on for five years and another class where I'm starting a new script. I've pitched to a couple of execs here on Stage 32, and have been gratified at the encouragement. Plus, I'm writing short stage plays for competitions and last night, I attended a play reading via Zoom from a local theater company. One thing I'm starting to wonder now is how I might need to change a few of my scripts to meet the times. Our world is changing, but I also want to be part of dreaming up a better world for the future. In fact, I think that should be a topic.

Hey Dan I appreciate your sharing but I know agents/managers open doors and heck everyone pays a commission to people that know how to make that deal and make it way sweeter than most of us could do on our own. I believe they pay for themselves in reality. It's also yes, faith or better said I think love and devotion. I think everyone needs to be at love and devotion for any script to be made unless the screenwriter has a string of smash hits. The scripts I have out there, I, like other writers, at at love and devotion. I have one that there are more than just me and it's my prime hope for more reasons than one. lol But I write on....It's not like I have a choice, I write anyway, make up a new story anyway, it's what I do, paid or not. lol

That's cool Richard. I have a writing partner it's a smaller group but we are brutally honest with each other and have knock down drag outs on things. lol Not literally of course. Thanks for sharing about your experience with the pitch service here. People don't change, only clothes, cars and bars change. My world view in 9 words. lol

GREAT QUESTION. It is an old magicians method to get you focused here, right here, right now, and then over there they are doing some thing you didn't realize was also working towards the same goal. There is a youtube video about changing your focus.

Nice to meet you all! It's comforting to know that my screenwriting frustrations and struggles are universal. I've written four screenplays, and have two others in various stages. I have submitted a couple of them into several contests, and have placed in the top 10 (Finalists) in one contest, and Semi-Finalist and Quarter-Finalists in others. It is very frustrating when the same screenplay that was a Finalist in one contest (Table Read my Screenplay) doesn't even qualify as a Quarter-Finalists in others. Are any of you having the same problem?

Hey Tamara thanks for sharing too! I think competitions vary on results achieved by winning or placing. But many of the agents/managers I have looked up have a notice that if you haven't won or placed in a competition don't bother but if you have then do bother lol. So if nothing else maybe it gets your foot in the door for a agent/manager. Hey Charles thanks to you too.

I always thought competitions were the answer too, and they're a great way to get in the room with the right people should you win, but of the 5 or so submissions over the years I've never even placed. I'm finding it better to finish a story and then have it read and critiqued by industry readers that read hundreds of scripts. Instead of just waiting to see if you placed in a contest you get to see exactly what's going on with your script so you can rework it. Once my revisions are done I'll likely pitch someone directly.

I'd love to pitch, but I get so nervous! I'm afraid, I'll just blank!

Hey Tamara lol you aren't alone me too, maybe it's everyone? Maybe everyone just fights through it. lol

Hey Peter I read a post that said his script is being made into a movie and it never won a single competition but he found a manager who loved his script too. The point of his post was to not dump your script because it didn't win a competition. Coverfly says you need 5 competition results for their algorithms to know the "truth" about your script. lol Right now I think I am going with writing a low budget one. I got tired of editing my scripts to bring them in line with what they were missing or needed to cut out to comply with their wishes. lol I only had one feature to go but blah later on that. lol

Very true. We only need one "Yes!"

WL, that was basically the consensus from the industry reader, said a great unproduceable script can still generate buzz around your writing which could lead to being signed / staffed.

None right now.

It is my goal to do the whole workflow pretty much on my own. Tonight I start another script.

Wow well that's amazing so many are ready to shoot their own. I never even considered doing that and I only heard of writers doing that here.. Everywhere else I commiserate they are writers, period, end of discussion, it stop's there. lol