Guide to Getting Your Screenplay Produced

Make sure the script is ready

If you haven't read a good book on how to write a screenplay or taken at least one screenwriting class, it is highly doubtful that you have written a screenplay that is ready for production. If you have studied the art of screenwriting, it's a good idea to read the books again, or review your class material. Good books on writing are meant to be read and re-read, well-thumbed and referenced many times during your growth as a writer. I keep my favorite books on writing within easy reach of my desk so I can remind myself of their principles as I go along. Make sure you have gotten feedback from trusted readers, people who have given you specific and honest criticism. These readers should include at least one person who works in a creative capacity in the film industry such as a writer, director, actor, editor, etc.

I recommend: When your script is ready, if you don’t already have one, submit it to literary agents (having representation is not a prerequisite to shopping your screenplay to producers, but it definitely helps).

Excellent books on screenwriting are Write Screenplays That Sell: The Ackerman Way by Hal Ackerman, and Story by Robert McKee. You should read them both if you haven’t already. There are many other good books on screenwriting of course, but these two are particularly helpful. Ackerman’s is a step-by-step guidebook, while McKee’s book is more theoretical. You can also go to mckeestory.com for information on seminars taught by Robert McKee. Check into your local continuing studies program about screenwriting classes. The Writers Guild of America at wga.org has a list of agencies and online script registration. Make sure to register your script with the WGA for your own protection and because many producers do not read unregistered scripts.

Submit your screenplay to institutions and organizations

One of the best ways to gain visibility and credibility as a screenwriter is by winning a contest or being accepted to a film lab hosted by one of several well-known film organizations. Getting into the Sundance Lab, for example, is a great feather in your cap as well as an invaluable way to network and improve your work. There are many conferences, labs, classes and workshops offered by these organizations, any one of which would be an excellent way into the process of getting your movie made. Be prepared to do more work on your screenplay and welcome the opportunity to better your work.

I recommend: The Writers Guild of America has links to organizations and institutions on their writers resources drop down menu. These include the Sundance Institute, Filmmakers Alliance and more. Submit your screenplay according to the guidelines.

What kind of movie is it?

Know your screenplay. Is it a big-budget action blockbuster, or a small "art-house" film. These are important distinctions as they inform the kind of producers and directors you will try to attract to your project. Make a list of production companies and directors that have produced movies in a similar vein. It is important to be specific about the kind of movie you want to see made because everyone who comes on board is following your vision (at least initially). Besides, you might as well start by trying for your dream team, as along as you have a list of more realistic prospects as well.

I recommend: Keep up on current industry news and what projects are in development and pre-production at variety.com and hollywoodreporter.com. Networking any way you can is absolutely key. If Participant is the production company you want, then try to get to someone who knows someone at Participant. Find out all you can about the players there, and look for possible contacts. Remember that while it is often difficult to get to the top person at a given company, there are those lower down in the hierarchy who have influence. People who work in development, for example, are sometimes looking for a great script to jumpstart their own producing careers. Online social networks such as LinkedIn and Facebook are very useful here. Make contacts any way you can.

Get an actor interested

The fastest way to get your script made is to attract a big name actor. Very often a producer will read a script and say "I'd love to do it. Bring it back when you have an actor attached and we're in business." This is obviously easier said than done. Make a list of actors you would like to see in the lead roles. This is very important as you will be asked this question a hundred times. Many actors have their own production companies and are approachable this way. Others will have to be approached through a mutual contact, or, when all else fails, through their agents and managers. Think outside the box and look at TV actors who may be looking for a feature film to star in, or a comic actor who might be seeking something more dramatic. Make sure your list includes both A-list actors and those who are more realistically approachable.

I recommend: Once you have a name or two “attached,” it is now no longer a screenplay, but a “project” that is likely to gain some traction with a producing entity.

Network. The image of the fledgling screenwriter going  everywhere with a script under his/her arm and thrusting it at whoever happens by is not far from the truth. And, guess what? It works. I know a screenwriter who got his movie made doing exactly that. He was an actor who wrote a pretty good script and then went all over town with it literally under his arm. He took it to his acting classes, auditions and meetings, to parties and to rehearsals and to the set of whatever commercial or TV show he was working on. Eventually he got some big actors interested and the movie got made. If you are working in some aspect of the movie industry, expand your community, go to parties and screenings. If you are outside the industry, find a way in. Take some acting or screenwriting classes; get a job as a production assistant. Go to variety.com for job listings and backstage.com for a list of classes. Get connected. The degrees of separation between you and the actor who can get your film financed may be fewer than you think. Consider putting together a reading of the screenplay and inviting friends and industry professionals. Often a big name actor will agree to do a reading, thereby guaranteeing an audience, without committing to the film project itself. If you do a reading, get a director and have rehearsals. There’s nothing worse than a sloppy reading, but if they are well done (a nice venue and refreshments help) they can help generate a buzz. You can try to get a director attached, but keep in mind that first time directors are a very difficult sell. Attaching yourself or your best friend in a major role in the film is similarly toxic to the process. Producers don’t want baggage. They want to be able to put together their own creative team.

Option vs. Sale

A producer may want to option your screenplay rather than buy it outright. What this means is that they pay you a small sum against a future sale for the exclusive right to shop it around for a finite period of time. Many screenplays are optioned before they are bought. The nice thing about this arrangement is that it demonstrates a certain level of confidence on the part of both parties; the producer believes enough in the script to shell out some money for it, and you have faith that the producer can get it made.

I recommend: Be sure about the producer optioning your screenplay. Does she have a track record and contacts in the industry? What is her take on the script and is it compatible with yours? These are important questions. For a period of a year to eighteen months, your screenplay is in the hands of this producer. If he/she is not passionate about it, or isn’t getting it to the right people, you’ve just wasted a lot of valuable time. Make sure to stay in communication with your producer. Know where your screenplay is going and who’s reading it. Go to the Writers Guild of America at wga.org for contracts and compensation. Review these before signing any contract. If you have any questions or doubts and you don’t have an agent representing you, get an entertainment attorney to advise you.

Do it on the cheap

With the advent of so many new technologies, making movies yourself has never been easier or cheaper. You can shoot it on High Definition Digital Video and edit on a home computer. More and more young filmmakers are going this route, making movies essentially at home and putting clips together to get financing mid-way through production or finishing the film and seeking a distribution deal on the festival circuit. There are even movies that are distributed entirely on the internet. These are valid, though obviously risky, options. The value of making the movie yourself is that it actually gets produced. The risk is financial. Where is the money coming from? If you max out your credit cards or borrow money from Aunt Ida, make sure you know what you're getting into.

I recommend: Put together a solid creative team and have a producer or production coordinator draw up a realistic budget. Even super low budget movies require a crew and cost money. Go to hdforindies.com for information on High Def cameras and  to apple.com for Final Cut and Final Cut Pro, film editing software for your home computer. Research festivals at filmfestivals.com and productionhub.com and keep in mind that all festivals are not alike and they all charge entry fees. Use online social networks to let people know what you are up to and upload clips onto YouTube. Use every available tool to get the word out.