BREAKING INTO THE BUSINESS

How can you get them to pay attention?

We recently gave away 24 free half-hour consults and were consistently asked the same thing: how the @#$% do I break into this business?

First off, let’s dispel some common myths and fears.

You can get a running start even if you don’t live in Los Angeles. Look, truth of the matter–much of the movie industry has left Los Angeles and moved to greener pastures. Places with lower taxes and higher incentives. For some productions, it means going overseas and for others, it means going to other states with lower costs and better incentives. In other words, movies and TV shows are being shot right where you are. And there’s an infrastructure that you can and should become a part of.

The next common concern for writers: “I graduated with a degree in XYZ instead of film.” First up: yes, you need to learn your craft! No, you can’t just roll out of bed one morning and decide “I’m a writer now.” That would be akin to coming up with the idea of “Oh, okay, I’m a surgeon. Let me operate on this person.” Now, that’d be ridiculous, right? However, that doesn’t mean that film school is the only place where you can learn how to write a screenplay. There are plenty of classes, courses, writing groups, and books out there to teach you the nuts and bolts of the craft.

Is there a downside to not having gone to film school? Sure! You’ve missed out on the networking aspect of the whole thing. This business is all about who you know. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start networking right here and now. This is a link to an article on how to do this.

So okay, you’ve learned your craft. You’ve got at least a couple of polished scripts (preferably in the same genre – see video link below for more on that topic) as well as a whole list of ideas for future scripts. What now?

Here are ways you can get the industry to pay attention to you.

1. Contests

The big caveat here is: do your research. The industry only pays attention to very few contests (and you, the writer, are expected to know which contests those are). Don’t waste your time and money on something that won’t do you any good (or, worse, make you seem like an amateur if you put it in a cover letter). Check out our article here.

2. Online Pitching

There are several companies (e.g. Stage32 or Roadmap Writers) where you can purchase face-to-face Zoom pitches. The big caveat here is the same as above: do your research. Make sure the people taking pitches are actually there to find new talent and material. Sometimes it’s just some extra money for them. Avoid “former” anything. Quick sidebar on research: get an IMDbPro subscription if you haven’t yet and look up whoever you’re considering.

3. Query Letters

Look, 98% of cold queries will never go anywhere. However, then there’s the 2% that will. Put your IMDbPro subscription to good use and research the producers who make material similar to yours in genre, subject matter and budget range and get in touch with them. The same goes for managers. In particular if you have independent third-party validation or momentum (e.g. there’s some heat on you because of a contest win). Check out our query letter videos here and here.

4. Shoot Something

Can you shoot a 5 or 6-minute short/proof of concept of your feature? If it turns out well, take it to festivals. It’s a great way to meet people and get attention. It also gives you something to point to–watching a 5-minute short is a much easier ask than reading a feature-length script.

How do you deal with frustration?

I know some of you will groan, “But I’m already doing all of this.” Great! Keep it up! Look, breaking into this business is hard. The only time it’s easy is when somebody opens the door for you and walks you in. And that usually only happens if you have deep connections–your family is in the business–or a lot of money, so you can buy your way in. Most of us aren’t this fortunate. So it’ll take longer — sometimes much longer. (Bright side: you’ll know you did it yourself.)

Here are the basic steps that you’ll need to take over and over again

1. Write.

2. Always improve your craft and push yourself to be better.

3. Network.

4. Sell. (See the above ways on how to do that.)

Now go get ’em.