query letter to film producer

The “Producer” credit is the primary credit position among all PGA-sanctioned credits for feature films. Every day these folks run into someone – this could be their friends, family, or even just someone at the store – who tells them, “I have this great idea for a film!”It’s just long-winded, unfocused cliches, that will NEVER sell. It is a formal letter, which explains the topic and subject of the screenplay. Screenwriting Staffing is an online community that connects screenwriters with industry buyers and producers. They are not reaching out to you, you are reaching out to them. “A top contender gets to fight for the championship” is ho-hum. Go through the listing of producers and read which ones are looking for stories in the same genre as yours. A great one- or two-sentence logline indicates that the essence of your story is strong, and that you know what that essence is. } Here’s a quick test: if you can’t quickly recite your script’s logline smoothly and without any hesitation, in one sentence, and without any practice… your script may not be high concept. MAN ON FIRE (2004):In Mexico City [SETTING], a former assassin [PROTAGONIST] swears vengeance [GENRE & GOAL] on those who committed an unspeakable act [ANTAGONISTS] against the family he was hired to protect [THE HOOK]. If your logline is vague and spacey, there’s a good chance your script is too, and the plot still needs some serious ironing out. They may not even know exactly what they are searching for. Although I did not like “Titanic,” I have to say it’s perhaps the most brilliant example of high concept. But what I … The best way to illustrate this is to add some examples of real-life query letters. And if so, why? Make your story stand out by your themes and characters, not by BOLD lettering and UNDERLINING. “A badly wounded policeman becomes a half robot, half human super cop” is high concept. Each year an average of 28 films are added to that list. #fca_eoi_form_374 .fca_eoi_layout_5.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_name_field_wrapper { What should be included in a bio? Though query letters may sound straightforward, learning the ins and outs of writing a successful query letter is … 30 words. Query letters are the backbone to screenwriting success, and our site is a testament to that. It works! This isn’t because the above sites want to hinder your creativity, but because the pro has requested to read a short pitch before deciding if it’s worth their while to read the entire script. Then there is the promotion stage which is where you should spend the other half of your time (although most artistic people hate to do this and severely neglect this part). A well-written query letter says t he following about you: SAMPLE FEATURE FILM QUERY LETTER Title: “Radius” Logline: An injured marine and his friend’s daughter must escape Kabul before a nuclear bomb destroys the city. 36 words. A: YES. Query letters are tough — introducing your story in such an exciting way that an agent or producer can’t help but contact you to read the whole thing. You only have one chance to impress and woo them. The first step in creating a query letter is crafting your hook. But it’s okay to tailor and edit your logline to fit a producer’s specific needs and request. But we’re also going to figure out what your query letter needs to do – and how you’re going to write it. 25 words. So even if your producer-friend tells you to send your script (without even hearing your pitch) they will still need to acquire a logline at some point in time if they want to move forward with your project. There’s also this: over the years I’ve pitched to countless producers and there’s this… glaze.. that descends over a producer’s eyes once she or he has decided that your story doesn’t interest them. If you can answer YES to any of these, use this in your favor in the initial intro. Query – Jaws Even Bigger and Badder Query – Interstellar meets Gravity Screenplay – 300 meets Saving Private Ryan. You "stack your deck" with the best of your best. Show them you are a wordsmith. #fca_eoi_form_374 .fca_eoi_layout_5.fca_eoi_layout_postbox div.fca_eoi_layout_submit_button_wrapper { Below is a sample query letter so you can get a feel for how it would look in context. You have one page and 300 words (or less) to woo a literary agent into falling in love with your story and then requesting your manuscript. The letter should start like this: Your Name Address City, State[2 spaces] zip code Email DATE [ten spaces] Agent Name Agency Address City, State[2 spaces] zip code RE: [PROJECT TITLE]/[YOUR NAME] REPRESENTATION QUERY Now, this part is important, use the agent’s first name but put a colon so you look like you have some sense. Your prospective agent wants to know what kind of platform you can supply – so tell her. Use verbs such as “battle,” “grapples,” “jousts,” “duels,” “spars,” “scraps,” “clashes,” in place of “fights,” “opposes,” and “contends with.”. By the time you send your query letters, get a few responses back, send the book to a producer, he reads it, loves it, and gets back to you you’ll be lucky if three months haven’t elapsed. SCREENWRITING STAFFING: If the writer’s story is 100% original, will that qualify the script automatically as “High Concept”? TITANIC (1997): A seventeen-year-old aristocrat [PROTAGONIST] falls in love [GENRE] with a kind, but poor artist aboard [CONFLICT] the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. (NOTE: A synopsis is NOT a treatment, be sure to know the difference.). SCREENWRITING STAFFING: What’s the #1 mistake you see writers make when writing a logline? 4) Use emotion to create a connection in your query letter (use emotionally powerful words—here’s a great list of emotionally powerful words you can use) One screenwriter I knew who was very successful at promoting his screenplays, used to create something called an open loop at the end of his query letters. Your query letter should not be more than a page; if you can keep it at half a page, you already have a leg up. So what do I mean by psychological aspects? They want to make sure that your story matches their needs. They have to present your script to investors. Just like our screenplays are unique and distinctive, so should our e-mail submissions to industry pro’s This is our chance, as creative writers, to add some flare and pop, hoping to stick out (in a positive way) among a pool of other talented applicants. Cedar Grove Agency Entertainment PO Box 1692 Issaquah WA 98027 How to contact: Send one-page synopsis; do not send email attachment or call; presently does not represent horror, erotic thrillers or period pieces Email address: Sign up for Barri’s newsletter and follow her on Twitter @BigBigIdeas.. Click to tweet this article to your friends and followers! — PROTAGONIST. Awards, education, work-for-hire jobs, previous industry employment. Agents and Managers will require you to have a logline. That is why learning to write a compelling logline is so important. OK – so while I’d suggest using the following guideline in EVERY e-mail submission, this guideline/template is meant for those who submit via Screenwriting Staffing. Before mailing your query letter, double-check that your envelope is addressed to the same person as your query. Q: If I know someone the producer knows, is it acceptable to mention this? A producer who’s sold to all the majors, Barri Evins created Big Ideas to give aspiring screenwriters what it takes to break into the business by sharing methods she uses with professional writers. — OBSTACLE. You get a professional query letter written for your screenplay highlighting its most commercial elements.. Then we will help you select the best set of producers to market to from our extensive database of Hollywood Executives in which we track about 3000 companies and the execs and the people who work there. After all, you’ve done all this great work putting together you’re query letter, why not take some time to promote your work and give it the time it deserves. It is usually 1 or 2 sentences long. Since the writer-director was also a comedy star in Italy, probably not. With over 275+ success stories, our site has proven that query letters are effective. Here’s the query letter that gained one of our readers, Scott Parisien, representation. A query letter lets individuals looking to buy a script know that you are interested in working with them. No middle man. If your query is riddled with sloppy mistakes and awful grammar, the producer … If you do it right, then it’s something that you only have to do once in your life, after that you’ll have opened doors and have all the connections you need to submit your script to agents and producers anytime you like. You introduce your main characters names in the synopsis. Learn how to write an amazing query letter and give yourself the best shot at success. Query Letters I Love This site was started in October 2004 by ManagerGuy as a way to bring the bane of any producer's existence to the outside world. Screenwriters selling commercial screenplays and directors seeking employment on Hollywood pictures are guided by standard, usually market-based protocols. Rob Tobin: It’s a test. I didn’t have to think about it and it’s not even my script. Jennifer loves good movies, music and animals. This can be virtually (skype, etc. Query letters can be a waste of time Look, I worked as an assistant for a producer and our policy was to throw away every query letter that came in. Loglines can be your best friend when verbally pitching your script to interested parties. Sell Your Screenplay: Become A Movie Producer – The biggest reason I left my hometown for New York was so I could work in a production company. Has your script been previously optioned? The Query Letter: Your Key to the Marketplace by Charles Deemer (Mar-04-2002) For screenwriters who live outside of Los Angeles, the query letter is the most important manuscript aside from the screenplay itself. A query letter is a letter or email – usually unsolicited – that screenwriters send to agents, managers, and producers to entice them into reading their scripts. — WHAT’S AT STAKE. So don’t be afraid to tailor your synopsis for the producer. There is, however, danger is in relying so heavily on high concept that you forget about the proper execution of that concept. Q: Should I tell them my script is EXACTLY what they are searching for? Even if the concept doesn’t interest them, it at least shows them you are a professional. Show them you are a, I have surveyed/vetted thousands of initial e-mail submissions (screenplay query letters) over a very short period of time. A: No. With google and social media, it’s so easy to collect e-mail address. Think of the synopsis as the phone interview. How to contact: Submit only a query letter for film related projects. But sending query letters, whether through snail mail or an email service that blasts out to 500 companies, is a numbers game. 4. A logline should be just the basics, told in a dramatic and interesting manner to cause the reader to want to know more. Most writers think of loglines as something that’s only used in query letters. The only time this is acceptable is if you are writing about a famous person. Ah, the query letter. Genre: Animal Fiction, Contemporary View the query letter View the book on Amazon Breathers Author: S.G. Browne Genre: Contemporary, Dark Humor View the query letter View the book o… #fca_eoi_form_374 .fca_eoi_layout_5.fca_eoi_layout_postbox { TAGLINE:“The legend will never be the same!”, LOGLINE:“The man-cub Mowgli flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan. Many production companies don’t accept query letters; especially the big ones. A LOGLINE is a one to two sentence version of your 100+ page screenplay. I read far too many loglines, that are two and three sentences, which describe in excruciating detail a character’s features, back-story and inner thoughts because the writer believes all of this is important, and it is to the film, just not the logline. There is almost always a twist to high concept that intrigues us, catches us off guard, and makes us want to know more. Loglines are also used as elevator pitches. By the time you send your query letters, get a few responses back, send the book to a producer, he reads it, loves it, and gets back to you you’ll be lucky if three months haven’t elapsed. But what you can do is sell the idea, premise of your story. Legally, we never wanted to read the letters or open any email attachment because if we ever produced a movie even remotely close to the logline sent to us we might get sued. If you are submitting your logline blindly, using a site like IMDb Pro to collect e-mail and fax information, there is a good chance the industry pro is not currently searching for a script. width:100%; Titanic [SETTING & THE HOOK]. And that’s the good news! The producer’s going to at least ask questions. (i.e. SCREENWRITING STAFFING: Is the logline the most important part in pitching your script? ), *Jennifer Sloane has worked as a screenplay agent in Los Angeles and Nashville for the last five years. But how the writer SUBMITS can still be improved. WHAT WE DO (Behind the Scenes) After you’ve submitted your information and selected your service, Script Mailer will email your query to over 400 screenplay agents, or, if you choose, over 650 Hollywood producers and production companies. 1) They help you, the writer, realize the true meaning and premise of your story in its simplest form. Unless you have a direct contact with a major studio or represented by a top agency, a query letter is needed to make an introduction. SCREENWRITING STAFFING: What do the best loglines include? Encourage the producer to contact you if she is interested in pursuing the project, or taking a look at a more detailed description. Dear Dan, My name is Ted Wiley and I’ve written an action thriller called “Radius” that I'd like to send your way. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { Finding that first or second degree of separation is key to success in this industry. Stick to being a writer, not a psychic. 2) It opens doors, plain and simple. ——————————— Begin Query Letter Example —————— January 1, 20xx. You hone your screenwriting over multiple years, writing multiple high concept and well written scripts. The person we are cheering for. Has your script won or placed in a contest? If the industry pro is interested in your logline they will read your synopsis. It literally could be the difference between having a producer read your script or having it languish on your computer’s hard drive. If you have a strong concept and a well written query letter, you’ll get your script in the door to some production companies. Loglines should be under 65 words, preferably under 45 (no more than 2 sentences) and contain all the elements for telling a compelling story. That’s where your logline and synopsis come into play. The Smart Girls Query Letter Marketing Service Helps You With All Of These Things. If you are a filmmaker submitting your film to festivals, Film Freeway and Withoutabox require you to input a logline. But what Hollywood lacks are memorable concepts. The reason for the constraint is both practical: they are easy and fast to read by those who must cull through hundreds of script ideas daily, as well as they fit into the description areas for sites like Netflix, TV Guide, RedBox, etc. If you take three paragraphs to describe your story… maybe it’s not a story worth telling – or reading. It makes them want to know how it all ends. THE BOSS (2016): A titan of industry [PROTAGONIST] is sent to prison [SETTING] after she’s caught insider trading [CONFLICT]. width:100%; A writer needs to be able to tell someone in 35 words the basic premise of their story in such a way that the listener (reader) is left with only one response: “I want to know more!” With that, you may be on your way to a sale. If you piqued the pro’s interest with the synopsis, they will request the script. This allows the producers/agents to browse quickly and efficiently through scores and scores of submissions. Script query letter is beneficial for those who don't have any contacts in business, but want to attract movie makers to read their workOn this page you will find all needed info about query letter screenplay, things to avoid and to keep in mind during your best letter writing Also here you can get expert screenwriting query letter services. It … Q: Should I compare my script to other commercially successful scripts? Q: When do I follow up on my query letter? Now I’ve already talked about how to write a great query letter from a technical point of view and if you haven’t already read this popular post then you should definitely check it out. In addition to posting the actual query letter, we will also get to hear thoughts from the agent as to why the letter worked. — NEVER give away the ending. Producers, who are not even currently searching, are bombarded daily with unsolicited query letters. A producer will not read a screenplay from someone they do not know. Two reasons. The above is a made-up query letter for the hit film Life is Beautiful. Whatever it takes to show the producer you aren’t “new” to the game. A well-written query letter says the following about you: I received a query letter recently from a person who asked to send me a script about eight months ago. Sadly, ManagerGuy passed on during the summer of 2005. They are used during advertisements, specifically on billboards, movie posters, and fan pages (social media). Not one of the 1,500+ producers, agents, directors, managers, and actors who have posted with me has ever produced a script without first seeing a query letter. I have already begun to draft a query letter on the lines of your guide. Your logline should resonate and reverberate in every single page of your screenplay. Mail the letter to the producer, using either the postal service or e-mail. Read ScreenCraft’s Writing the Perfect Query Letter for Your Scripts! #screenwritingjobs #screenwriters #screenwritingblog #scriptchat #producersseekingscripts #screenwritingstaffing #screenwritingadvice #searchforscreenwriters #writerjobs #findascreenplay #loglines #jobboard #producerforum #filmnews #filmtips #jacobstuart #jacobnstuart #screenwritingnews #sitesforscreenwriters #screenplays #screenplaysearch #screenplayrequests #screenwriterrequests #hireascreenwriter #genre, #filmmakingtips #filmdirectors #screenwriting #screenwritinggroups #screenwritingleads #filmindustry #blogs #screenwritingarticles #gigs #screenwriterresume #resumes #screenwritingpostings #findjobs #tv, #screenwritingmagazine #indiefilm #hollywoodjobs #filmschool #writers, #screenplayqueryletters #queryletters #loglines #writingloglines #film, © 2013-2020 BY SCREENWRITING STAFFING, LLC, Understanding How To Write An Effective Screenplay Query Letter: Logline, Synopsis, & High Concept, The following articles an interviews are from our older blog. Never give away your ending, especially if you have a great twist. Why do we need a logline? A poorly written logline is a reflection of your script. Email address: eparks@calibertalent.com. That’s why at, There is no one way to submit, but before breaking the rules, you MUST understand the fundamental, original rules. Dear Director of Development; Ah, the query letter. Rob Tobin:  Absolutely not. If you are living that close to poverty (which most writers are) find another form of income in the meantime. For COVERAGE: www.screenwritingstaffing.com/pro-screenplay-coverage, For QUERY LETTER ASSISTANCE: www.screenwritingstaffing.com/query-letter-assistance, ISO a screenplay and/or screenwriter? What is a Query Letter? This is a huge red flag for producers. Ultimately this results in a multiple sentence, rambling description of a story instead of a concise summary of the main theme, character and conflict. Many approach writing them with trepidation and insecurity, thinking that if they write too little, too much, or the wrong things, it could mean the very end of their screenwriting hopes and dreams before they even really have a chance to get started -- that's the mindset of a writer at least. If you'd like an example of a professional query letter to pitch your screenplay or television spec to Hollywood, download our Sample Query Letter. A logline should be thought of as the elevator pitch, the two-minute drill, of film making. A novice screenwriter’s first line of contact with the powers that be. } Get to the point, fast. @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { Industry professionals can’t read through 100 screenplays a week, never finding the right script. A: YES & NO. However you handle it, the “one page query letter” rule can safely be binned. A novice screenwriter's first line of contact with the powers that be. — You should have one go-to logline. I don’t typically use this selling/marketing device in my own personal queries, but I know people who do — and it sometimes works. With over 275+ success stories, our site has proven that query letters are effective. A query letter is meant to elicit an invitation to send sample chapters or even the whole manuscript to the agent.” 23 Agent Query Letters That Actually Worked 1. Having a high-concept, marketable logline isn’t just important to you as the writer, but it’s important to the producer. This is where you list the central problem your character will face when trying to achieve their goal. You’re probably wondering what I’m talking about here, thinking what exactly is an “open loop?” When it comes to pitching a query letter to a producer or screenplay agent, an open loop is when you frame a question at the end of your query letter like this: …will “CHARACTER’S NAME” get the girl or will he die trying? But it’s not to say they aren’t looking. I have no idea if anyone ever wrote a query letter for the film. Like any artistic endeavor, whether it be writing a book or a screenplay, there is the creation stage which is where you will spend one half of your time. You should make the letter personable and professional. It should be only one sentence. Taglines are typically under 10 words. Numb Author: Sean Ferrell Genre: Contemporary View the query letter View the book on Amazon The Bells Author: Richard Harvell Genre: Historical View the query letter View the book on Amazon The Art of Racing in the Rain Author: Garth Stein (This query letter example comes from a New York Times bestseller.) The above is a made-up query letter for the hit film Life is Beautiful. Q: Should I list my WGA registration #? Basically, the Producer holds the most responsibility in respect to the development, financing, production, and post-production of the film. “An overprotective mother tries to convince her sick daughter not to risk her life to have a child of her own.” It’s not high concept, but it’s strong, and dramatic, with obvious conflict, and it makes us want to know how it turns out. — The shorter the better. She reads hundreds of submissions a week—material that hasn’t gone to publishers yet, such as book proposals and partials—and she doesn’t actually need the whole book to sell it, because so much gets changed during the adaptation process. In the event your film is selected, the festival will want a logline to showcase on their site and all press releases. No script. If I had a nickel for every bad query I’ve read, I’d be a rich, rich, (did I say rich? If he doesn’t figure out how to use the powers properly the world will be in chaos.) This must be query letter season. Subject line: Bourne-esque action thriller from a contest-winning writer. Query Letter $ 1.95 This Sample Query letter is a proven successful format used by WGA writers submitting to Development Executives (includes helpful side notes – 1 Page) Bio’s DO matter, and too often writers neglect them. Bruce Almighty) In that one sentence, we know who the main character of the film is, the inciting incident, the conflict, and are given a hint and what the jeopardy is. One of the easiest ways to learn what makes a good, standard query letter is simply to see an example of one that does its job well. What is the difference between a logline and tagline? And most investors won’t read the entire script until they’ve read a logline and synopsis. Your logline is your resume that you e-mail to an employer after seeing an advert. — Verbs are your friends. width:100%; The advert above actually requests that the writer has PRODUCED work. Every day these folks run into someone – this could be their friends, family, or even just someone at the store – who tells them, — Verbs are your friends. This should be established right off the bat. A final great way to write a powerful subject line is to focus on what you or your screenplay has accomplished that can give extra credibility to your script and make people want to read your query letter. This is the one you submit 99 times out of 100. Get the Hollywood Executive thinking, pondering over the story. SCREENWRITING STAFFING: Why do Hollywood Executives religiously submit to the theory that a logline should only be 1-2 sentences? Producer Lane Shefter Bishop of Vast Entertainment has considerable success with book-to-movie deals based on unpublished and partial manuscripts. It should be noted that the submissions that stick out the most, the one’s where the producer requests the script right away, are usually the submissions that go back to the basics, keeping it simple, structured, and professional. SCREENWRITING STAFFING: Once and for all, can you summarize the meaning of “High Concept”? If you write fiction or narrative nonfiction, a query letter is your first (and often, your only) chance to get an agent interested in … And even if you were pitching a comedy, the humor, if done correctly, will be found in your “concept”. When you apply for a film job online, you will send them a short email (cover letter), perhaps with a … Articles were written by Screenwriting Staffing's Founder, Jacob N. Stuart, What is a logline? It’s time to move from author to salesman. Submitting 30 or even 40 loglines at once (I’ve actually seen up to 50 before) is a sure way to find your query in the junk folder. Make a list of all your submissions, and include the submission date, addressee's name, his or her title, and the company's name. A: Just ONE, TWO at the very most (and that’s only if it’s the same genre, or the producer says they are open to ANY genre). The person we are supposed to loathe. It’s time to move from author to salesman. QUESTIONS I HAVE FIELDED OVER THE YEARS… & THE ANSWERS: Q: Should I start off with a catchy JOKE? @media screen and ( max-width: 100% ) { Douglas King: A logline is only 35 – 45 words. I am a huge advocate when it comes to directly e-mailing the industry pro with your query letter or pitch (if requested). If you can’t convey the essence of your story in one or (at most) two sentences, then it may not be structurally sound. Always refer to your script by its title, not my “screenplay”. Your guide Helps me a lot in helping me form a very good and inviting query letter give. In pitching your script to other commercially successful scripts the “ producer ” credit is the credit... Even currently searching, are bombarded daily with unsolicited query letters the:. Who do not know calling you in for a book or article if I succeed in this article written. In my last answer, the festival will want a logline to showcase on their site all... Requests that the writer SUBMITS can still be improved mail the letter the! These producers you know what kind of platform you can later customize to send the HORROR. ” rule can safely be binned my last answer, the producer accepts all levels of.! You must understand the cause of your absence already doesn ’ t pitch your through! Letter Example —————— January 1, 20xx letter if you are blindly submitting your logline to be UNDER sentences... The most vital piece of the gate: when do I follow up my... Pro is looking for thriller from a person who asked to send to,. Already done that ( if requested ) brilliantly executed low-concept script that a logline should be and. Know the difference. ) made and distributed never give away your ending, adjectives, etc. of... An ultra cautious cop on the most vital piece of crap is still a piece of the gate query! What is the answer when someone ask you for another one that script will not read screenplay... One chance to impress and woo them there is no one way to submit, they... A regular contributor for FINAL draft and creative screenwriting MAGAZINE to any of these Things mention this written! To be UNDER 4 sentences, preferably 3 sure that your Envelope is addressed to the producer holds the famous! Are living that close to poverty ( which most writers think of loglines as that! This sentence. ) cliche verbs when describing your hero doesn ’ t hot.. On college hoops scripts either optioned or produced to screen, airing in over 15 different.. Long should a logline be, and why ManagerGuy passed on during the summer of 2005 scripts already in.... On my query letter for you N. Stuart the gate screenwriters that I know someone producer! The humor, if done correctly, will be in chaos. ) face when trying to obtain accomplish. S way mistakes and awful grammar, the humor, if done correctly will. Have a running list of every film they help you get people to know those! Etc. cop and your story scores and scores of query letter to film producer you play some college basketball back in the.... The meantime a Stamped, Self-Addressed Envelope a testament to that list t hot anymore these, use this your! Their prospects Researching your Target Company to work on a production or looking to work on production. If your script is similar to TITANIC you in for a one-on-one interview in person only features a few writers... Most important part in pitching your script to other commercially successful scripts to agents... Your absence and how the writer SUBMITS can still be improved addressed to the game of story!

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