From the category archives:

Screenwriting FAQ

How to get your novel turned into a movie

September 14, 2011

I got this question recently: “I own the rights to a novel of great, although lesser known, historical figure. I think this person’s life would make a great movie. How can I get this novel / person’s life turned into a movie?” I have written some posts that might help in trying to get your [...]

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Will you polish or rewrite my screenplay for me?

August 24, 2011

I want to take a moment and thank everyone who reads this blog. I started this blog over 2.5 years ago and really didn’t know where it would end up (I still don’t). I really have enjoyed helping people try and sell their screenplays and I hope that I can continue to do so. So [...]

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Should you try and make your screenplay on a low budget?

August 17, 2011

I got this question recently: “When I posted on FB that I’m concluding my revision of this script, an acquaintance from Santa Fe, who has worked on a couple of shoots with my movie-grip son, commented that I should talk to him; he’s a cinematographer and producer of 3 short films. He said his crews [...]

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Should I mail a query letter to a producers home?

August 10, 2011

I got this question recently. “A well known producer lives in my area and I know his home address. He has an interest in the local area and my script takes place here. Do you think mailing my query letter directly to his home is unprofessional?” Yes, mailing it to his home is certainly “unprofessional.” [...]

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Babz Buzz

July 27, 2011

A few weeks ago I did a producer email / fax blast for a client of the Silver Bitela Agency. Babz Bitela, his agent, seemed happy with the service and contacted me to learn more about it. We struck up a conversation (mostly via email) and she told me about her monthly radio show about [...]

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Getting an agent when you have an offer on the table

July 20, 2011

I got this question recently: “Regarding whether or not to get an agent…If I get a purchase or option offer from a producer isn’t it a good idea to contact a reputable agent – who will jump at the chance to represent me – to negotiate the contract?” The sad truth is that you’ll still [...]

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Sending your screenplay to production companies and agents at the same time

June 29, 2011

I got this question recently: “I plan to contact production companies AND agents simultaneously. Is that ok? Or is it a turnoff for agents that I sent out the material?” For people who are just starting out and trying to get some traction for their screenplays I usually recommend sending your material first to an [...]

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Should you include marketing ideas in your screenplay query letter?

June 22, 2011

I got this question recently: “I have some very interesting marketing ideas for my screenplay that could produce hundreds of millions for the production company. But for my first shot with the query letter should I mention anything about marketing ideas or not? And do I attach a synopsis, or just stick with a pitch [...]

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At first the project seemed to be on track then it went off the rails

June 15, 2011

I got this question recently: “I’m trying to sell the movie rights to my novel. I signed with a New York City agency and I thought, because of there positive response, that everything was going just right. At contract renewal time though, they did not renew. They were so enthusiastic and then nothing. What happened?” [...]

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Do you have any questions about selling your screenplay?

June 8, 2011

If you have any questions about how to sell your screenplay please email them to me or post them in the comment section of this thread. While I might not answer your question immediately, I will try to answer all questions. Please have a look through our archives using the search feature (in the sidebar [...]

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