Last week, 7 Managers requested my action screenplay. Here's how I did it:
In the past, I extolled the virtues of
Networking and Applying to Screenwriting Competitions -- and I still do -- they're the #1 and #2 ways to get your script read by the best of Hollywood -- but after my string of non-luck in 2011, I'm ready for #3 again.
Cold Query E-mails. In three steps. Oh yeah.
1) Draft the Email
And by draft the email, I mean write a
killer logline. I've
written about this before, even with a
first draft formula, but never forget: raise the stakes, make it original, and practice pitching. I didn't feel ready to query until I rewrote my logline dozens of time with help from my friends.
Remember, agents and managers deal with pitches all the time, day after day, year after year -- and if they are going to give you the time of day, your logline needs to stand out.
Which is also why you gotta make your email short. Here's what worked for me:
Dear [First Name],
I thought you might be interested in my new script:
[TITLE] -- [Genre]
[Logline].[MOVIE #1 meets MOVIE #2].
Thank you for your time.
Best,
[Your Name]
[Personal Website]
Then you need to make a list of individual agents, managers, and development execs at those companies --
and you find their email addresses. No, not "info@BigStudio.com" off of their corporate website. You need their individual company email addresses. But how?
I've been able to find email addresses through
IMDbPro and google searches -- but mostly through networking. Working as a Hollywood assistant, you collect email addresses from major Hollywood players, or just e-mail structures like firstname.lastname@company.net. Also, fellow writer friends have shared their query lists with me too. So don't stop networking!
Then once you have compiled hundreds -- seriously, HUNDREDS -- of email addresses, then you're ready for the final step:
3) Email Everyone
That's right. Everyone. All at once. Not just the people who represent/hire writers in your genre, style, niche, etc. All of Hollywood. Paper the town. Here's why:
The tide can turn so quickly. The agent who represents comedy writers today could represent horror writers tomorrow. For example, after
The Devil Inside made a surprising box office smash this past weekend, I imagine
everyone in Hollywood might want their hands on the next found footage horror script. So you never know if you're querying the right or wrong person.
But do use some discretion. For example, I would suggest querying one rep per company unless the company is huge. If you email 1-2 reps at a time, wait a month for a response, then email another 1-2 reps at that company, you might get a better response then carpet-bombing everyone at the company with emails and expecting a personal, passionate response.
And here's the pep talk.
This is a lot of work. Not something you do in an afternoon. This takes hours and hours. Days and days. It took me weeks of working on the logline, compiling the list, drafting hundreds of emails, and then sending them all off... with only a 1% response.
After 400 something emails, I got 7 responses... and already one manager passed. But this is the number one rule of screenwriting: DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED.
So 3 months later, change the wording of the logline, and do it again. Or even better -- send out a new logline for the new script you finished in those 3 months. Because the first thing anyone will ask after a positive read is "What else do you have?" and it better be in the same brand as your last script and you better send it immediately. So keep writing and keep fighting.
Remember, no one fails in Hollywood -- you only fail if you give up.
Don't give up.
