Hello everyone. I'm a screenwriter and have gone to writers conferences for the last six or seven years. I met a lot of people like me who are trying to get published or sold. I have entered various competitions; won a few competitions or came in semi-finals. I thought about finding actors that would like to read my script and help point out the flaws so that I can fix the problem. I've written about eleven feature scripts and a lot of screenplay shorts. Has anybody done this and what was your experience?
Screenwriting : How Do I Expand to the Next Level in Screenwriting? by Thomas J. Herring
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You could try to write a short or no-budget. You will always find actors, directors... in a similar situation like you. Get a "cheap" HD camera and just do it. Send it to any festival you can google. That's sometimes the only and maybe the best way to get some attention. And usually it helps all your helpers too.
Seems we're on the same trajectory. Once you sell or option IMO represents the breaking point between aspiring and professional. My current game plan is to enter contests and continue to write.
yeah I have been thinking if I ever get any interest in my current script that I won't just sell to whoever comes along. If you don't find the right people to produce your script you'll never have much to show for your efforts.
Hi Thomas, First off, some writers like hearing their script read out loud with actors in a table read. It can help with clunky dialogue or scenes that may drag on too long, etc. Also, you'd be getting a bunch of people's opinions on your screenplay, albeit their comments and suggestions may be only cursory and of marginal value -- there might be something of use in there, but I wouldn't expect much. The real value, as I mentioned, is hearing the dialogue read out loud by real actors so you can tell if it flows well and sounds authentic. The story and structure problems, if there are any, probably won't be as obvious. I don't know what kind of conferences you've been to or what competitions you've entered, but most of them aren't worth the money. There are really only a handful of competitions that mean anything to industry players -- like Austin, Nicholl and maybe PAGE and one or two others. That's it. If you entered those and placed highly or won, you should be getting offers of representation. If it's the Sarasota Springs Screenwriting Competition (or something like that), unfortunately that doesn't really mean anything to agents and managers. Have you ever had your script covered, either paid or via an industry friend? If not, that's probably the best way to really break down what the issues in your screenplay(s) are. Actors, friends, co-workers, other aspiring screenwriters can only tell you so much. Just a suggestion if you're having a hard time discerning what, if anything, is the problem with one of your scripts. There is so much going on in your OP that I wanted to comment on a couple of the questions/issues you had, but I'm sure you have a more detailed story than what's posted there and I could probably drone on and on and on with advice and suggestions, but I won't. I'll end here. Good luck with your writing though! :)
Thank you and you're right. I've worked a lot on the artistic side and now it's time to move to the marking portion. I'm already signed up for the next Willamette Writers Conference this coming August. I want to be prepared to pitch my script without stumbling and losing focus.