Filmmaking / Directing : Help!!! by Timmy Price

There are a number of working Playwrites on here that could help you Tim.

I am listening...

If you are comfortable and confident with your work I say submit it to festivals. Its the easy way for people in the industry to look at your scripts. Look with something that have multiple levels too. Thats means the more it advances the more people that read it. The Laurels are a badge of honor on your script. And you have a better chance at selling them at the festivals too then submitting them to production companies. At least you know someone will read you script.

Well, the idea is to make the film and then submit it to a film festival.. My problem is I am at the point where I do not know how to move forward... I was unaware you could submit a script by itself to a film festival... Shows what an idiot I am...

Usually more scripts are submitted to festivals then films because of that fact. Trust me when I say this, that why it's import to research festivals.

Yeah I have been... I am originally from Austin and lived right in the middle of SXSW, but that one seems to be an upper tier festival... I was looking at Santa Fe or possibly one her in Northern California where I currently live...

There are plenty of options for you. Festivals and competitions are a way to get noticed, but research the ones that actually mean something as there are literally thousands. Make sure your script is as good as possible before submitting and don't underestimate yourself. Get other writers to read it for you and if you can afford it, have a few pro critiques. Don't put too much stock in a single review from ANYONE because we all have our opinions. If you want to make it yourself, there are books for that too. One I know of offhand is "From Reel to Deal". It talks about movie-making on all budgets. You can find a lot of the people you need here or other networking sites.

The beauty of a festival is that you can submit your work anywhere in the world without leaving your house. So don't just think local!

Hi, if you want to get it produced, I would budget it then find a producer who will get it done :) If you can find the funds that is even better!

@timmy I put my award-winning script up here. Check it out. So you can see something that has gone through the process. It's called The Rise of Kings.

@Melvin, thank you for the advice, I am currently doing exactly as you have instructed. @Deanna, Thank you as well. I have a producer and am able to fund most of the shoot right now. @Patrick, amazing script, and I appreciate the read. It lets me know what I am doing right and what I need to work on...

Thanks Timmy. Its just something that I love to do and want to make a career out of.

Triggerstreet, dude. Join up to http://labs.triggerstreet.com/ and submit your work for review from peers. I found this the best way to get great feedback (don't get me wrong, there is also some sh#t you get too) on my work, so I can then fine tune, rework, move one, etc. It's an invaluable site for any aspiring writer.

Ok, I have a fear. I do not want to post my scripts because I fear them being stolen, plagiarized, etc.... I realize I am being slightly paranoid and possibly a little arrogant, but just feel weird... Make me feel better about this...

Copyright them. Simple. BUT in reality, your ideas are fair game, it's the way you INTERPRET them that is in-stealable (un-stealable???) So, you could have an idea about two sheep who take a rocket to the moon, in the genre of comedy. I could steal your idea and make a horror from it, and that's OK! But really, in the grand scheme of things, us writers are a vain bunch, and we all think our work is better than any other writer's anyway, so why would they want to steal yours? You are severely limiting yourself and career prospects by not posting scripts, just make sure you copyright them.

The idea of being an artist to get your work seen. How can you get it seen if you don't want to put it out there? We say Hollywood need fresh ideas but no one wants to share them because they are afraid they will get stole. If mine gets stolen I will speak up but it doesn't mean I am not creating new and better ones at the same time. No one can write your idea like you can. ;-) Always remember that.