For all you newcomers out there who've sold and pitched a screenplay, we'd love to hear from you. There are plenty of newcomers here—
either in Hollywood or trying to break in from some other corner of the world—
who could really benefit from your experience.
How did you close your first deal?
To whom did you sell your original script, a producer, a production company, or a studio? What was the experience like?
Did you ever hire an agent or manager before or after selling your first script? How did you find them?
How was your experience with producers, development executives, or studio executives?
What were your initial errors and what not to do?
What are the key things that screenwriters have to consider when trying to sell a script?
How long did it take you to write and sell your first screenplay?
What unexpected challenges did you face?
If you're abroad, how hard was it to get in? Any tips to foreign screenwriters?
Your own experience can give newcomers a much-needed dose of reality. Share your tale—
the good, the bad, and what you wish you had known when you started!
2 people like this
Hi, Somay Gupta. It was so long ago when I closed my first deal. I don't remember how I closed it and the details, but I'll share how I sold four short scripts to a producer through Stage 32 back in 2020.
I met the producer during Stage 32's Introduce Yourself Weekend I think (which is going on right now through Monday). We networked for a little while, and my scripts came up in the conversation. I told him my scripts were on my profile, and he went through the scripts, picking four to buy. I suggest everyone post their scripts on their profiles. Producers search profiles on here for projects.
And I suggest everyone get deals in writing. Don't do verbal agreements.