John’s Lists and Advice on Getting Your Script Out There
John Jacobsen compiled the lists below as a follow up to an article he wrote for TheFilmSchool December newsletter–coming soon–about getting your script ’out there.’ There are bound to be loads of other tips and suggestions, please add comments at the end of the blog.
LogLine, Title, Query Letter – you have to have all three and they have to be good, even before you start writing the script.
Definition of a logline: An audience/studio/producer should be able get the full concept of the script from basically one to three sentences. They will know immediately what the whole movie is about. NEVER describe details of your script in the logline. That is what the synopsis and/or treatment is for. A properly written logline is important because most producers do not use their own money to finance a film. They read your logline. If it sounds like it is something they can then pitch to their money guys and it is the type of script their money guys are interested in, they then take the next step with regards to your script.
Write several loglines for the same film and try them out on friends until you really feel it is helping people want to read the script.
Here are some samples loglines -
“Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl seeks a way home to Kansas, befriending along the way a scarecrow without a brain, a tin woodsman without a heart, and a lion without courage.”
A logline is not the phrase that might appear on a movie poster. That’s a tagline.
This is a tagline:
“Every second counts when you have 48 hours to make a film.”
This is a logline:
“Brilliant filmmakers fight the clock to produce a film in only 48 hours.”
A logline is supposed to be short and sweet. A quick glimpse of what the script is about. NO DETAILS.
Here are a few more sample log lines from well-known features:
Independence Day - Aliens try to invade earth on Independence Day.
Liar, Liar - An attorney, because of a birthday wish, can’t tell any lies for 24 hours.
Dead Calm - A married couple, trying to recover from the death of their only child, are terrorized at sea by a handsome maniac.
The Hunt for Red October - A Soviet submarine captain uses Russia’s ultimate underwater weapon as a means to defect to the west.
The Last Boy Scout - A private detective must team up with an ex-football star to catch the killer of a topless dancer.
According to screenwriter David Anaxagoras, the six essential elements of an electrifying logline are:
1. Tone and genre
2. The protagonist’s identity and motivation
3. The inciting incident
4. The main obstacle or central conflict
5. The protagonist’s ultimate goal or desired outcome
6. The stakes, or what happens if the goal is not accomplished
So a prototype logline would look something like this:
TITLE OF MY SCREENPLAY is a GENRE with overtones of TONE about a PROTAGONIST who HAS A FLAW/MOTIVATION when THE INCITING INCIDENT HAPPENS and s/he must then overcome THE MAIN OBSTACLE in order to accomplish THE ULTIMATE GOAL or else there will be CATASTROPHIC CONSEQUENCES. >Great Article here.
Thus: “Tootsie” (1982) is a comedy about an unsuccessful actor who masquerades as a woman in order to get work, but in short order lands his dream job, becomes a star AND falls in love with the leading lady!
Blake Snyder summarized it this way, which I like a lot:
Format:
On the verge of a Stasis=Death moment, a flawed protagonist has a Catalyst and Breaks Into Twowith the B Story; but when the Midpoint happens, he/she must learn the Theme Stated, before the All Is Lost, to defeat (or stop) the flawed antagonist (from getting away with his/her plan).
Example:
On the verge of another “suit and tie” assignment, a tomboy FBI agent is assigned to go undercover in the American Miss Pageant and has a complete makeover to blend in with the other contestants; but when the pageant receives a new threat, she must learn she can be a woman and tough, beforeshe gets thrown off the case, to defeat the warped pageant organizer bent on revenge. (Miss Congeniality)
Some advice on writing a good logline:
• The logline’s job is to provide a quick sense of the story and make us want more.
• It presents the major plot of the story without character intricacies and sub-plots.
• It is the story boiled down to its essential essence.
• Many writing books encourage you to write the logline before you write the story, to clarify the intent of the story from the start.
And here are some links if you want to find out more:
• How to Write a Great Screenplay Script Logline (Associated Content)
• Writing loglines for a comedy (johnaugust.com)
• The Secrets of UCLA MFA Screenwriters, Part III: Electrifying Loglines (Man Bytes Hollywood)
Subscribe to DoneDealPro.com and you can see every spec sale and any other project in the works.
Festivals and Competitions – You want to apply to these to gain leverage – scripts that have won or even placed are separated from the pack – they have leverage and are more likely to get read.
I also highly recommend going to the Withoutabox website where you can have festival and competition info sent directly to you and register for a series of comps all at one time. Here is a sample email:
This action-packed week delivers ample opportunities for you to connect with audiences, gain exposure, and create memories on the festival circuit. In the mix are a whopping 24 newly announced Calls for Entry, as well as rapidly expiring deadlines for Academy-qualifiers, niche fests, circuit gems, and so much more. Don’t delay: find the right opportunities for you, and submit, submit, submit!
GET YOUR OFFICIAL REJECTION!
OFFICIAL REJECTION is the new, must-see, must-have DVD for anyone serious about submitting to film festivals. In this tell-all documentary, Director Paul Osborne offers you a lighthearted and coldly realistic look at the politics, pitfalls, and rewards of the film festival circuit, shot on a twelve-month odyssey while marketing his first feature film. OFFICIAL REJECTION was released on DVD just yesterday, made available through CreateSpace at Amazon.com. Order your copies now, in time for the holidays! And after you’ve seen it, don’t forget to rate it and discuss it with the director on IMDb’s official OFFICIAL REJECTION page.
PUT YOUR OWN FILM ON THE MAP WITH AN IMDb TITLE PAGE…
It’s never too early to get the word out about your film, and there’s no better promotional foundation than an IMDb Title Page. How to get one? Your film becomes eligible to receive a title page after its first completed submission to an IMDb Qualifying Withoutabox Partner Festival! Set-up on most title pages can be expedited by linking your Withoutabox and IMDb accounts, so we encourage you to take this small step and link your accounts. Already received your emailed invitation? Accept it today! And once you have your title page, engage your audience by uploading video trailers and clips, and submitting any data changes as new production information becomes available. Check out the links for “Your IMDb Title Page” under any film project on your Withoutabox Account Home page, or submit your film today to become eligible!
WELCOME BACK TO OLD FRIENDS:
Maine International Film Festival, Waterville, ME
March 15, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Sacramento Film and Music Festival, Sacramento, CA
February 19, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Short Attention Span Digital Video Festival, San Luis Obispo, CA
May 14, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
San Francisco Documentary Festival, San Francisco, CA
June 4, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
SoCal Independent Film Festival, Huntington Beach, CA
January 11, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
C&CIIFF (CULTURE&CULTURES Intercultural International Film Festival), Lempaut Tarn, FRANCE
March 1, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save €5
2010 Eerie Horror Film Festival, Eerie, PA
December 15, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
NAFA Show-Fest International, Sydney, AUSTRALIA
December 18, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5 AUD
GI Film Festival, Arlington, VA
December 15, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Lighthouse International Film Festival, Long Beach Island, NJ
December 18, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
The Los Angeles Greek Film Festival, Los Angeles, CA
February 20, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Jersey Shore Film Festival, Deal Park, NJ
December 10, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Royal Flush Festival, New York, NY
February 12, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
EXPOSURAMA Screenplay Contest, Chicago, IL
November 30, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Sainte Maxime International Horror Film Festival, Sainte Maxime, FRANCE
December 10, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save €5
Ohio Independent Film Festival, Cleveland, OH
February 1, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Ohio Independent Screenplay Awards, Cleveland, OH
February 1, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Be Film The Underground Film Festival - BTUFF, New York, NY
February 1, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Treasure Coast International Film Festival, Port St. Lucie FL
December 1, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
AND WELCOME TO THESE BRAND NEW PARTNERS:
The Seven Rays Script-a-Scene Sponsored by Final Draft, Los Angeles, CA
December 12, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
James River Film Festival, Richmond, VA
December 31, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
GLOBIANS DOC FEST STUTTGART, Stuttgart, GERMANY
November 20, 2009 - Start-up fanfare no fee Deadline
Upgraded projects save €5
The Clearwater Film Festival, Clearwater, FL
February 1, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Table Read My Screenplay - Screenplay Contest, Vernon Hills, IL
March 15, 2010 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
LAST CHANCE EXTENDED DEADLINES - EXCLUSIVE TO WITHOUTABOX:
Fundación Octaedro Presents The People’s Award International Short Film Festival, Quito, ECUADOR
NOVEMBER 18, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
Lake County Film Festival, Vernon Hills, IL
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
KIDS FIRST! Film Festival, Santa Fe, NM
NOVEMBER 25, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
Florida Film Festival, Maitland, FL
NOVEMBER 27, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
BACK IN THE BOX SCREENPLAY COMPETITION, Los Angeles, CA
NOVEMBER 28, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
15 Minutes of Fame, Palm Bay, FL
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
Heart of Gold International Film Festival, Gympie, AUSTRALIA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15 AUD
Maverick Movie Awards, Hollywood, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
San Diego Black Film Festival, San Diego, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
Thin Line Film Fest, Denton, TX
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - WAB Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
THESE BIG DEADLINES APPROACHING FAST:
360 | 365 Film Festival, Rochester, NY
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Black Maria Film + Video Festival, Jersey City, NJ
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Boston International Film Festival, Boston, MA
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Cinema Society of San Diego, San Diego, CA
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
DALLAS International Film Festival, Dallas, TX
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Florida Film Festival, Maitland, FL
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
GLOBIANS DOC FEST STUTTGART, Stuttgart, GERMANY
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Start-up fanfare Deadline
NO ENTRY FEE
Newport Beach Film Festival, Newport Beach, CA
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Thanksgiving Special Deadline
Upgraded projects save $10
Steeltown Film Factory, Pittsburgh, PA
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Tregor Film Fest, Lannion, FRANCE
NOVEMBER 20, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Boston International Film Festival, Boston, MA
NOVEMBER 22, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline (Screenplay Submissions)
Upgraded projects save $5
Rainier Independent Film Festival, Rainier, WA
NOVEMBER 22, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Vineyard Film Festival, Strovolos, CYPRUS
NOVEMBER 22, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
NO ENTRY FEE
Athens International Film + Video Festival (Ohio), Athens, OH
NOVEMBER 23, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Blazing Reel Short Film Competition, Atlanta, GA
NOVEMBER 25, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
FirstGlance Film Fest Hollywood, Hollywood, CA
NOVEMBER 25, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Black Maria Film + Video Festival, Jersey City, NJ
NOVEMBER 27, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Boston Underground Film Festival, Boston, MA
NOVEMBER 27, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Charlotte Film Festival, Charlotte, NC
NOVEMBER 27, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
New Hope Film Festival, New Hope, PA
NOVEMBER 27, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Peace on Earth Film Festival, Chicago, IL
NOVEMBER 27, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $10
Phoenix Film Festival, Phoenix, AZ
NOVEMBER 27, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Foursite Film Festival, Ogden, UT
NOVEMBER 28, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
14th Annual FADE IN AWARDS, Beverly Hills, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Amelia Island Film Festival, Amelia Island, FL
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Bare Bones International Film Festival, Muskogee, OK
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $10
Boston Science Fiction Film Festival, Boston, MA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
COLORADO FILM FESTIVAL, Lakewood, CO
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $8
Canadian Short Screenplay Competition, Regina, CANADA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Chicago International Movies and Music Festival, Chicago, IL
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Cleveland International Film Festival, Cleveland, OH
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Extended Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Documentary Fortnight, New York, NY
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Fresno Film Festival, Fresno, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
GLOBIANS DOC FEST BERLIN, Berlin, GERMANY
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - November Deadline
Upgraded projects save €5
Gen Art Film Festival, New York, NY
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Independent Film Festival of Boston, Boston, MA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
OFFICIAL BEST OF FEST AWARDS, Seattle, WA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Late Deadline
NO ENTRY FEE
Paranoia Horror and Sci-Fi Convention & Film Festival, Long Beach, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Phangan Film Festival, Koh Phangan, THAILAND
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Late, late, late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $15
ReelHeART International Film Festival, Toronto, CANADA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, San Luis Obispo, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Late Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Santa Barbara Minute Film Festival, Santa Barbara, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
The Sexy International Paris Film Festival (SIPFF), Paris, FRANCE
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save €5
The Trailer Festival, Los Angeles, CA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
Underground Exposure, Minneapolis, MN
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Earlybird Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
West Chester International Short Film Festival, West Chester, PA
NOVEMBER 30, 2009 - Regular Deadline
Upgraded projects save $5
The following information on festivals and contests has been garnered from emails sent to TheFilmSchool. Follow the links provided, but please do not contact the school if you have further questions.
Page http://www.internationalscreenwritingawards.com/
Slamdance http://www.slamdance.com/ Deadline in 13 days. Great coverage - cheap. Here’s a contest tip for you. If they offer coverage, and you can afford it, sign up for it. Not only is it usually a really cheap way to get decent notes, it also assures you that they have had to read your entire script. I talked to some drunk readers in (insert famous film festival name here) and really picked their brains and they said that they’re only required to read the first 30 pages .
Austin – highly recommended: http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/.
http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/index.html. The prize is $30,000 and (all the respect in the world.) You can do the whole thing online. The best of the best
A random festival list I had built at one time:
American Film Institute
Amnesty International Film Festival
Ann Arbor Film Festival
Atlanta Film and Video Festival
Atlantic Film Festival
Austin Film Festival
Austin Lesbian and Gay International Film Festival
Autrans Mountain Film Festival
Berlin Film Festival
Big Sky Film Festival
Black Maria Film Festival
Boston Film Festival
Boston Jewish Film Festival
Brisbane International Film Festival
Cannes Film Festival
Carolina Film and Video Festival
Chicago International Film Festival
Chicago Underground Film Festival
Cork Film Festival
Dallas Video Festival
Dutch Film Festival
Eerie Horror Film Festival
Espoo Cine Film Festival
Exground on Screen
Festival Videoart de Locarno
Flanders International Film Festival - Ghent
Göteborg Film Festival
Gijon International Film Festival For Young People
H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival
Hamptons International Film Festival
Heartland Film Festival
Helsinki Film Festival
Houston International Worldfest
Impakt Festival
International Documentary Filmfestival Amsterdam
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Internationales Leipziger Festival
Israel Film Festival
Italian Film Festival
Jerusalem Fim Festival
Locarno International Film Festival
London Film Festival
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival
Mill Valley Film Festival
Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival
Montreal World Film Festival
Moving Pictures - The Travelling Canadian Film Festival
Nantucket Film Festival
New England Film
NewPort Beach Film Festival
Newport International Film Festival
New York Film Festival
New York Underground Film Festival
Ourense Film Festival
Pan-African Film & Television Festival of Ouagadougou
Philadelphia Film Festival
Polish Film Festival in Los Angeles
Portland International Film Festival
ResFest Digital Film Festival
Rhode Island International Film Fest
Riverside Film Festival
San Francisco International Asian American Film Festival
San Francisco International Film Festival
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival
San Sebastian Film Festival
Seattle International Film Festival
Sedona International Film Festival
Slamdance International Film Festival
Jewish Film Festivals Worldwide
South Beach Film Festival of Miami Beach
Stockholm Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
SXSW Film Festival
Sydney Film Festival
Tampere International Short Film Festival
Three Rivers Film Festival
Toronto Film Festival
Turin International Festival of Young Cinema
Uppsala International Short Film Festival
Vienna’s International Film Festival
Virginia Film Festiva
Vision Fest
Wine Country Film Festival
World Festival of Animated Films
World Population Film/Video Festival
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival
Leverage – it’s all about leverage. Who are you, why should I read your script? Leverage comes when you are a star, like Robert Redford. I am pretty much sure anyone will read his scripts. It also comes when you are friends to a star (“Judd Apatow called and said you have to read this script.”). For most of us, leverage has to be gained other ways. You win a festival. You have a good agent. You have a good entertainment attorney in LA. You directed a hot short. You wore hot shorts (never underestimate the power of the right clothing). Few are born with leverage – they went out and got it, so that means you can, too. Think big or don’t bother.
Agents, Managers, and Lawyers – agents are hard to get but not impossible. Remember, they are looking for you. They want to find the next great writer. When you send a query to an agent, unless that agent has specifically requested a contact by e-mail or phone, the best approach is to contact that agent by regular mail. Almost universally, agents don’t want unsolicited manuscripts. So don’t send the full manuscript unless requested, a good way to make a first contact is to start with an initial query letter and 1-2 pages of amore detailed description about your project and yourself. Two of the best are “The Guide to Literary Agents” and “The Agents Directory.” Both of these books are published annually. Studios, Producers, and Indies
Look for agencies that accept your script’s genre. For example, if your script is a horror film, look for agents that like horror. Choose those agencies that are newer and are just beginning to establish their agencies. Attend a writer’s conference. These can be excellent places to not only learn more about agents, since you get to actually interact with them, but you can learn what an agent is looking for. The WGA provides a list which is updated bi-monthly on its website.
Doing It Yourself – in the end, you are always doing it yourself. Don’t wait for money to come to you. You want your movie made, GO OUT AND GET IT MADE. If you commit to it, it will happen, or as Shakespeare said, “Be bold and mighty forces will follow.”
