Screenwriting : Strike a Pose by Thomas Pollart

Thomas Pollart

Strike a Pose

You're a literary agent with a stack of scripts to read before you head off to the coast for vacation. One script has art work posted on the cover with the log line.

A Florida noir once upon a time, an early morning bank robbery and a seemingly unrelated, a dozen years prior, daring nighttime art heist, weaves and intersects its way through a tale of mayhem and creative independence. >

Which script do you read first? Are posters visual “loglines” that instantly leave a memorable impression over the competition? '

Craig D Griffiths

The next one in the pile.

Think of it this way. There is a line of cars you have to wash. One car is parked backwards. Do you say.

A) wow that car is parked backwards. I better go wash it first.

B) wash all the cars and when you get to the backward car wonder why someone would do that.

Being unique is great, I am a champion of it. But do you want to be know as the great writer or the person with funky covers?

I started a thread about building a reputation. This may be a good tactic. But what does it build?

Doug Nelson

When they are paying me -- It's First In, First Out (FIFO).

Danny Manus

whatever OTHER script is in my pile. Only an amateur script would have that on the cover. i wouldn't even bother reading page 1.

Kiril Maksimoski

Don't quite understand this post. Ure offering your logline here or just asking general question? Bout the "art-work", gotta agree with the rest...sends the script right into "Birdemic" / "Sharkando" league...

CJ Walley

Assuming both scripts are from unknown writers, I'd start with whichever logline sounds like it aligns with my contact's more immediate needs. If both feel about the same, I'd read the shortest first out of efficiency. If both were the same length, I'd read the one that was submitted first. If both came in at the same time, I might be swayed by one having some sort of synopsis/pitch, providing it suggests the script meets my needs. I wouldn't judge either based on what the cover looks like because it's my job to source quality writing that has market appeal.

Tony Ray

In addition to what everyone else has said, I would suggest working on your synopsis. All you really told us is that it's a noir taking place in Miami 1972. We don't know anything else about the story, the characters, plot, etc.

Jim Boston

Thomas, I'd have to agree with Danny and Kiril in that I'd read the first one that didn't have artwork on the cover.

Me, I thought telling the story itself (and telling it so that it's believable) came first.

Still, I wish you all the VERY BEST!

Doug Nelson

Nah CJ, you're applying to many caveats up front - judging a book by its cover. If you're being paid to read it - then you READ it using the FIFO process.

Erik A. Jacobson

What's the "or else" in this story? What's at risk? The Dolphins' record?

Rob Jones

Are all those different sentences describing the different scripts you're asking us which one a literary agent would hypothetically choose?

I don't understand what's going on here. Or that picture.

Thomas Pollart

Multiple story lines weaving and intersecting way its way through a tale of mayhem and creative independence . ... Like Pulp Fiction, the various colorful characters eventually run into each other, doubling and tripling the drama and excitement .. . Story telling 101

Debbie Croysdale

I’d read the one with the best log-line. The fact one has a Retro photo doesn’t mean that script will be shit but maybe sender naive of Hollywoods rules of etiquette.

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