Readers/Agents/Executives love your script…they praise it to no end…they call you the love child of William Goldman and Norah Ephron…and yet, nothing happens. Apparently, your script left them so stunned and overwhelmed, a state of paralysis/inaction took over…which is bad news for you.
Parker Longabaugh Story 1: A reader once commented on my script, “I am supremely confident about this script’s salability quotient.” They were so “confident,” they didn’t bother to share it or pass it along to their bosses…apparently, they didn’t feel like making $$$ (lol)
So, you do as I did, you bounce around from reader/agent/executive, dropping $$$, in the hopes of meeting that one person, who will walk your script to their higher ups, on a silver platter. This is known as “waiting for it to happen.” And some of you, it seems, have been waiting for a long time. Perhaps it’s time to try a different tack.
Making It Happen
Parker Longbaugh Human Behavior Insight 1: People are lazy/risk averse.
People want a sure thing, it saves time, effort and prevents them from appearing foolish to their peers, if it turns out they were wrong. Even after thirty-six years, Ishtar continues to leave a bad taste in people’s mouths.
Parker Longabaugh Human Behavior Insight 2: Everyone is now a brand.
Everyone wants to be the next celebrity/influencer/cult leader. As such, there’s never been a time in history, where people have been more willing/comfortable being in front of a camera/smartphone.
Parker Longabaugh “Hollywood” Truth 1: “Hollywood” loves Intellectual Property
If a book sells millions of copies, it’s expected, a majority of those eyeballs will buy tickets or stream it…risk minimized.
So, what does this mean to you? It means you should PERFORM A TABLE READ OF YOUR SCRIPT.
Record your table read and post/share it EVERYWHERE. A table read is proof of concept…it makes your script “real.” And if the praise your script(s) has been receiving is genuine, your table read will gain a huge following, generating a ton of word of mouth promotion…making it difficult for the decision makers to ignore you. Besides, the universe loves/awards action.
Table Read How-Tos
Search online: Backstage Magazine Table Read. Read the article
Search online: Studiobinder Table read. Read the article
Finding Talent
Post “Actors Wanted” ads everywhere: Facebook, Instagram Twitter, Craig’s List
Contact local theatre groups, college/high school drama clubs
If the actors are spread around the world, perform the table read via Zoom
Time for you to get off the bench and into the game, NOW. I believe in you and I REALLY want to watch your table read.
The world wants to be entertained, so go ahead and give them what they want.
Hope this helps.
Next time, I’ll share how I went about my first table read.
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What? If ppl are saying your writing is Goldman/Ephron level, your script will be passed around. 100%.
Network with peers & filmmakers; they the ones who will remember you, maybe vouch/put money in your pocket.
I gave my script to a famous screenwriter and he liked my imagination and forwarded my script to an agency. I never asked him, he just did it on his own. Selfless gestures. Dont pressure peers & strangers. Either they want to assist or not. GL!
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Great advice, Parker Longabaugh! I never looked at a table read as a proof of concept, but you're right, it makes your script “real," and a table read could get decision makers' attention if it became big enough. That's one reason to record a table read (so it can get passed around online). Looking forward to hearing about your first table read.
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What is your script about? Logline? Genre? Have you posted it somewhere?
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Maurice Vaughan, thank you kindly.
You're welcome, Parker Longabaugh.
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Back in 1981, I had lunch with William Goldman (we had the same agent) he was in the process of writing his book "Adventures in the Screen Trade" and he said that in Hollywood "NO" is the default position. Never heard a better or more succinct way to describe it.
Harsher truths have never been spoken. Thank you for sharing this, Parker. I, especially, agree with the second insight: everyone is DYING to get attention these days. The Generation Z'ers are the perfect example of that. Without turning it into a sociocultural debate, there are a lot of things wrong within this generation.
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Michael Elliott, jealous! Marcel Gault Jr., there's never been a better time to find talent.
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Ooh I've never heard anyone else suggest a table read before selling a script. I like it. It also seems like it would scratch an itch for production like seeing someone else perform it with the right number of actors would make you a little more hopeful of seeing it produced one day.
I wonder if you could use video story pitches as additional material for getting your script noticed...?
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Whitney Moore, I like the way you think
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During my years in Government I saw many restructure. Most people panic. I love them. When things are in flux you can influence and manipulate. It is harder to get movement started.
Same for your career. If you are doing things that make movement, you just have to steer it toward success.
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yes, sir Craig D Griffiths
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Parker Longabaugh That is an interesting idea. I co-wrote two screenplays with a well-known actress and she had some of her actor friends do a table reading on both of them. I wish I had thought of that and had them film at least a portion of it.
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Dan Guardino ugh...but now you know :)
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I've always been a proponent of table reads and the idea of recording one as a sales tool is really smart and cool. Obviously need test cases to see how that goes but usually easier to folks to click a link or listen to something than it is to get them to read. Please keep us in the loop.
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I really like the idea of Table Reads as a relatively inexpensive way to market a script.
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Sam Sokolow, I definitely will. My first table read was a real sh*t show, but fortunately, I smartened up with each one.
Thesy Liebe, me too :)
Timothy Liebe, right on!
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PL, is your name a combination of Butch & Sundance's real last names?
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My screenwriting classes with Yvette Vargas offered table reads with professional voice actors at the end of each class, and we did our own table reads weekly among the class members with where we gotten at that point. Given my pilot is set in Steampunk Victorian England with an Anglo-Swiss woman, an educated Hindustani-Britsh constable, a working-class British constable, and Holmsian characters like Inspector Anthony Hopkins, Mycroft Holmes, and Dr. Watson, the accents got kind of hilarious—especially the working-class Brit Constable where everybody trotted out their Best Dick Van Dyke in MARY POPPINS impersonations!
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Mark Garbett, my parents were Goldman fans
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Timothy Liebe, I would've LOVED to have seen that! When re-working scenes, I have my actor buddies read the lines...gives me much better feel for the dialogue and scene direction...it's definitely more effective to hear others recite your words