How to write a professional query letter for your screenplay

When you submit your screenplay to a producer or director you’re going to need to submit a professional query letter before you send the full script.  Please don’t take this post as gospel.  There is more than one way to write a good query letter and my approach may not be for you.  Hopefully it will give you a few ideas about how to write a good query letter but please also try and develop your own style and voice.

Keep in mind the main goal of what you’re trying to do.  You’re trying to get the person who reads your query letter to request the full script.  That’s really all there is to it.  While this seems obvious always keep it in mind and if there’s something in the query letter that doesn’t serve that purpose cut it.

I like to open my query letter with a log line pitching my script.  I’ll often include two log lines depending on where I’ve found the listing and what I think they might like.  It seems like including two log lines increases my success rate quite a bit as the person might not like one story idea but might like the other.  Unless the producer has requested scripts in a very specific genre I typically choose log lines for scripts in very different genres to mix it up a bit.  In addition, quite often the producer will request both scripts.  I’ve never tried including 3 log lines in one query letter, mainly because that seems like too much, but who knows, that might work even better.  I should probably test it and see.

After the log lines I include a brief paragraph about my writing background.  I list my writing credits, mention a script or two that is currently optioned.  I feel like this will separate me from the pack a bit since many people don’t have any writing credits.

If you don’t have any credits you can list whatever credentials you have that are pertinent to the script you’re pitching.  For instance if your script is a police drama and you were a cop mention that in your letter.  It adds authenticity to your script and a producer will like that.  If your script is a comedy and you’re currently a member of a local improv group mention that.  The producer might be from the same area of the country as you and might have heard of the improv group (you never know) or they might have done a bit of improv themselves back in the day and really respect the talent and dedication it takes to be an active member of an improv group.  Use whatever credits you have no matter how small they might be.  Don’t underestimate yourself.  Did you work as a journalist for a few years?  That’s professional writing experience.  Did you win an award in college for a short play you wrote?  That’s worth mentioning.  Did you earn an MFA?  That might be impressive to a producer.  There’s usually a reason why you wrote a script which gives you some extra credibility and you should think about that and try and tie that in with your writing credentials for the script you’re pitching. I expanded on this in my post What Should The Query Letter Say When You Have No Screenplay Credits?.

I then close the letter with a “thank you” and a link to my screenwriting website.  If you don’t have a website, get one.  This is a great way to post loglines and synopses for all your scripts.  I’ve had many people read my query letter, not like either of the scripts I pitched, and then go to my website and request something else.

I’ve pasted an example of my query letter below.

If you print out your query letter for faxing or mailing use the MS Word Headers/Footers feature to add a header with your name and a footer with your complete contact information.

As you might have noticed from reading the query letter, I usually include a 1 page synopsis of the script along with this query letter. I’ll go into the basics of writing a synopsis in a future post.

Make sure you include contact information at the end of the letter, too, so it’s easy for the producer to either email you or call you.  It used to be considered polite to include a self-addressed stamped postcard so that the producer could easily respond to you but I’ve phased that out over the years as it seems most people will just email you or call you to request the full script.

Always address your query letter to a specific person at the company. You can usually find this information where you found the address information. The HCD usually lists employee names with titles. Read my post Who Do You Address Your Screenplay Query Letter To? for more details.

I’ve heard of people who have written off-the wall zany query letters and had success with them.  After all, you need to stand out from the crowd.  However, this can backfire too.  If you’re pitching a comedy and you try and make your query letter funny, and it’s not funny, no one is going to read the script.  I’ve found that a straight-forward description of the characters and situations in a comedy script often gives the reader a sense of how funny the script might be without distracting them with jokes in the query letter.

Things you should avoid:

Do not beg.  Avoid writing things like, “I know I have the talent, I just need somehow to give me a chance.”  There’s the old saying “show me don’t tell me.”  If you’re so talented let your writing speak for itself.

To not write about how great your script is.  Avoid writing things like, “I’ve written a modern masterpiece that is destined to become one of the top box office hits of all time.”  Again, let your writing do the talking.

Do not mention any names that you think would be perfect for your project.  Avoid writing things like “I think Spielberg would be the perfect director and I have Tom Cruise in mind for the lead.”  It’s unlikely that anyone reading your query letter has any connection to anyone you might mention.  However, if you have a personal connection with name talent and they’ve agreed to help you with the project that is worth mentioning.  But make sure it’s the truth because you will be called out on this.

Do not mention how much money you think you should make for the script.  You’re trying to get people to read the script not negotiate a deal.  It’s irrelevant at this stage.

Notice none of these “things to avoid” are in any way helping you get the producer to read your material.  They’re all turnoffs and the only thing you’re trying to do with a query letter is get people to request the full script from you.  Don’t write anything that doesn’t help you do that.

While these “things to avoid” may seem comical to some, I’ve worked for a few agents and production companies and have seen these sorts of letters and worse.

I read a piece of advice years ago about how to be treated like a professional when you haven’t actually sold or optioned anything.  It went something like this: “if you act professional you’ll be treated like a professional.”  It’s really that simple.

There are many small details to the query letter which I’ve written about in other posts. Check out the query letters tag which can be found here http://www.sellingyourscreenplay.com/tag/query-letters/ for more details about writing a professional query letter.

If you’re wondering how to find companies to send your query letter to check out my post Getting your screenplay to producers and production companies.

Tagged as: query letters

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