Screenwriting : Screenwriting, Networking, Learning by Josiah Bhola Hillaire

If you want to be the best writer: read good scripts! Learn storytelling, story structures (and each genre has a variation on structure). Scriptslug has scripts you can download (free), check out John Truby on YouTube (free). Invest in yourself, and put in the sweat equity and you will be above all in your ability to write and tell an amazing story.

Learn from experience. Always learn from your success and your mistakes. Keep sharing and searching. It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll.

Are there any film co-operatives in your area? These types of places are a great way to work with similar minded people. You can also volunteer at a local public access TV station. It's amazing what you can learn there like the concepts of shooting and editing. I went to film school but where I really learned to hone my craft was as a volunteer at a community channel. You certainly learn how to shoot better when you're the one who has to edit what you shot and vice versa.

Hey, Josiah Bhola Hillaire. Everyone gave you great advice.

How many finished scripts do you have that you can use as writing samples (to get writing jobs)? If you don't have any short scripts already written, you could write some and use them as samples.

I just checked out your loglines for DEARLY BELOVED and RAVEN. I think the loglines need work, and I think they need script posters. Better loglines and script posters might attract producers, directors, etc. to the scripts. I posted a logline template on the DEARLY BELOVED page.

I'm not sure what your email query letters look like, but here's a query letter template. It might help you get script requests.

I think of a catchy subject line.

I always start a query letter with "Hi, _________,"

Then I let the person (executive, director, producer, etc.) know why I'm emailing.

After that, I mention the logline. Some script leads tell you that the producers, companies, etc. only accept loglines in query letters, so I exclude a synopsis.

If the script leads say the producers, companies, etc. are open to more than a logline, I include a short synopsis. Sometimes I also include what's special/unique about the script (usually just one sentence) and a small paragraph about how many characters are in the script, how many locations are in the script, etc., but I like to keep my query letters brief, so I don't always include this information. Producers, agents, etc. get a lot of query letters, so they don't have time to read a long query letter.

Next, I mention that a treatment and a pitch deck are available, then I thank the person for hearing my pitch.

Sometimes I add a short bio but not always (because I like to keep my query letters brief).

I end the email with my name and contact info.

QUERY LETTER:

A catchy subject line: The House is ALIVE! - "Escape the House" - Horror/Comedy Script Pitch

Hi, ______,

How are you doing? My name is Maurice Vaughan. I found your post on _________________ (or I'll mention who referred me to the person that I'm emailing). I have a Horror/Comedy feature script about a living house that wants a family and a maid. It's titled "Escape the House." (I put the title in red bold)

Logline: After a disobedient teen and her mom move to a small town, the family and a neighbor try to escape from a living house that wants a daughter, wife, and live-in maid.

Picture “Monster House” as a live-action movie (I put this in red bold).

Short Synopsis: A disobedient teenager named Julie and her mom, Andrea, move into a small-town house that’s alive. Knowing it’s alive, their new neighbor, Harriet, tells them they need to move out. The house introduces itself as Hank and says it wants Andrea and Julie to be its family; to replace its wife and daughter who died. They say no, so it locks them inside and says they’re not leaving. It tells Harriet she will be the family’s maid. Julie, Andrea, and Harriet try to escape, but the house prevents them from getting out. After Julie and Andrea find out about the house’s main weakness, they injure it and escape.

The full synopsis is in the treatment. A pitch deck is available. Thanks for hearing my pitch.

Maurice Vaughan

Contact Info

Hi Josiah - first off, you’re in the right place. Stage 32 has amazing resources for screenwriting and networking. Socialize on the platform, look into joining the Writers’ Room, spend time in the screenwriting lounge and read as many scripts as you can. I’m the Director of Education here at Stage 32. If I can ever recommend any of our education or be of any help on your Stage 32 journey please email me at edu@stage32.com.

Thank you

Maurice Vaughan I have a lot of finished scripts I wrote, but they need a lot of work. I’m doing my best to fix and edit, but I agree, my loglines need work.

That's great that you're fixing and editing your scripts, Josiah Bhola Hillaire. You want your portfolio to represent your current writing ability.

To be the best requires passion, dedication, and perseverance. Looks like you possess all three. Keep making it work and rise

I believe that the first step you are already performing. Professional growth is essential, we can even say personal, so that when promising opportunities come along, you will be able to work in the best possible way.

Go to film festivals to strictly get numbers. Or find local film guys and try to get on the crew. I screenwrite too but I realized that to limit myself to be recognized by solely relying on the screenplay craft would take a long time. Offer yourself for free as much as you can but not forever.