The usual method screenwriters use to sell their scripts is to
submit a query to several movie studios and hope that they will
reply and ask to read their script. There is another approach that
may open more doors for you. I call it the Reverse Approach to
Selling Your Screenplay because instead of waiting around hoping
someone will ask to read your script you give it to someone who
wants to read it who will then recommend your script for you.
But how do
you find this person who will "want" to read your script? Through
the
Nicholl's Fellowship Competition! If you have written a script
that is marketable this is probably the best venue for getting your
script read. Yes it will cost you $30 to enter the competition but
you would have spent much more than $30 to photocopy your screenplay,
submit query letters, and pay for postage to mail out your script.
So here's how it works. The people at the fellowship have several
readers each who likes specific types of movies (comedy, thrillers,
action, etc.). They match up your script to someone who likes
to read that genre and if they like your script it gets recommended.
To whom exactly? Here's the best part - not only does your script
have a shot at a $30,000 award, if it really stands out they will
recommend your script to studios and agents. Yes you heard me right
- they do the legwork for you and all you had to do was write a
marketable script and pay $30 to get it into the right hands.
And
the doors open further because once your script is recommended to someone
in the industry the next question they have for you is: You got any
more? And if you have more scripts for sale you now have a shot at
getting them produced without having to try and pitch each one
individually. If you don't believe me check out
their website.
Now don't just sit around doing nothing while you're waiting to hear back from them! Start writing your next script immediately so that by the time they come knocking on your door you have something else to show them!
And if you don't have any more scripts written you check out my
handbooks which make it easier
to write scripts.