How to Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide to Getting a Television or Film Deal FROM THE PUBLISHER
To paraphrase an old line, "Writing a screenplay is easy. Getting it
signed is hard." In today's topsy-turvy world of film production,
getting a screenplay sold and produced is no picnic, even for veterans.
For novices, it's near impossible. To play the film game, you need to
know the rules.How to Sell Your Screenplay not only lets
you in on the rules, but also lets you in on the secrets of winning the
game. Written by two veteran screenwriters, How to Sell Your
Screenplay was designed as a complete guide to getting your
screenplay seen, read, and sold.
The book begins by giving you a clear overview of the process through
which screenplays are reviewed and accepted so that you have an
insider's understanding of how the business works. It then guides you in
putting your script into the proper format so that you can make the
best--and, above all, most professional--first impression. Later
chapters introduce you to the "players," including agents, lawyers,
producers, actors, directors, and writers; guide you in preparing a
perfect pitch; provide you with the proven Square One System for query
submission; and aid you in getting the best contract possible.
Throughout, tips from experts help you swim with the sharks without
getting eaten by them. Every screenwriter dreams of getting that lucky
break. But the pros know that you need more than luck to succeed--you
need to make all the right moves. How to Sell Your
Screenplay tells you everything you need to know to help make
your own dream come true.
Joan and Lydia Wilen, professional writers for over two decades,
have sold three feature filmscripts, one CBS Movie of the Week, and one
ABC-TV Afternoon Playbreak. The Wilen sisters have also written a number
of best-selling books, including Chicken Soup & Other Folk
Remedies and The Perfect Name for the Perfect Baby; as well
as articles for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including
the New York Daily News Sunday Magazine.