Hello Community,
I got word that my screenplay did not qualify to move on in its contest. From feedback of family and peers, I do believe, biased and not, that it has great potential to be a success and even go on to be a franchise phenomenon. That said, I cannot afford to keep bleeding money into contests and services to get it out there with no guarantee of reward nor do I feel safe from plagiarism to post it on most of the free platforms out there. I have heard horror stories about those.
What could be my potential next moves? Any advice?
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Write more and move to a major city with a large film & tv community. This year is over for writers and maybe actors strike. Aim for Spring 2024. Unfortunately, many show biz ppl will quit or fired this year.
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Hey Shawn Colpitts Are you looking for advice on how to move forward with your script, or what to do next career-wise when you're done with a script that isn't selling?
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Build industry relationships/network with producers, directors, etc. on here, Shawn Colpitts. In the Lounges, Browse Section, and Blogs. It's one of the best ways to get your script read and optioned or bought.
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Thanks for the replies. I'll rebuild a bit of a community presence and keep looking. I'm hoping to get my screenplay actioned. The opinions from the readers I have gotten feedback from have all been exceptionally positive. However, none of them are in the biz. There's no way that I can move anywhere. Lol. I can't even afford to pay for contests and pitches. S'all good though. I haven't given up. I am just kind of shocked and in a bit of limbo, especially with being a newb.
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Shawn Colpitts, don't let the lack of advancement in a screenplay contest discourage you. They are just one path toward visibility, and more times than not winning a screenplay contest doesn't guarantee that your script will be optioned. Most likely you'll get some face time with an industry professional and at some point they are going to ask you what else have you written. If you have just that one project to talk about it might be a short meeting. Your next move...always be writing.
What services have you tried?
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Thus far, I only have the one screenplay. I have experience writing and being published for poetry, prose, articles and presentations, but never a screenplay. To be honest, seems much more difficult a feat to accomplish whether your work is good or not if you do not have money to invest, know anyone or have the chance to get to know them. I have not ventured too far into things outside of two contests, taking time off of work to write my project and doing a bit of online social networking. I feel horribly like it is a "pay-to-play" experience. Everywhere, with everyone and every service that I see out there, I seem to hit a paywall if I wish to progress further. Honestly, how does everyone manage to do it? I have a wife, kids, dogs, more than full-time job, financial responsibilities and obligations that all have to come before this pursuit unless there is some noticeable opportunity or progress. I am not trying to discourage, but am discouraged. All other publications were free opportunities up for potential grabs or they had heard of and come to me. Striking out the latter because I am a newb, where are the freebies? What can I invest in with any affordable time that will show benefit? It does not have to be immediate but would be nice for it to not lead to dollarsigns.
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Apologies for the formatting and missing breaks within my previous reply. Doing so from my phone, it seems to drop from what I have typed. I have to add an extra empty line and had forgotten.
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You're welcome, Shawn Colpitts. And I suggest keeping an eye on the Job Section (www.stage32.com/find-jobs). Producers, production companies, etc. post script requests and ads for writing jobs.