Screenwriting -- How to get Hollywood to pay attention (and Money)

Notes taken from Luke Ryan's session at London Screenwriters' Festival 2012

Most Important Things

Know and understand who you're pitching and querying to.

• AGENTS -- want to make money -- lots of money.
• MANAGERS -- want to be producers -- they take an active part in developing you as a writer.
• PRODUCERS -- want to get movies made.
• STUDIO EXECUTIVES -- don't want to get fired.
• ASSISTANTS -- want promotion.
• LAWYERS -- want to argue, I'm sure the money's a bonus as well.
• TALENT -- Actors want to stay exactly where they are.
• READERS -- want to be writers -- as writers, you need to take away the reasons for them to say NO!

Writers earn a living by writing.

• Majority of work through assignments.
• Assignments gained through reputation for great creative delivery.
• Need an AMAZING SAMPLE.
• That SAMPLE SHOULD BE A SPEC.
• Well written, story told well.
• Selling it is a bonus.

As a writer you should be easy to work with.
And have excellent ideas for projects.

PURPOSE OF PITCH

To make the person you're pitching to say:

"I have to READ/BUY that!"

Using as few words as possible.

CONFLICT most important component of STORY.

Testing HERO.

CONCEPT and PREMISE

Concept = BIG IDEA
Premise = The way into the BIG IDEA.

Ideally the story needs to be:

• FOUR QUADRANT
• INTERNATIONAL
• HIGH CONCEPT -- Easy to get/sell
• A huge event -- TENT POLE -- SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER

LOGLINES

A Good logline:

Captures the most interesting ideas in the story within one or two sentences.
Gives us a clear idea of character, tone and stakes.
Two vital parts

The BUT and the MUST.

GIVES US A

A (CHARACTER) sets out to (ACHIEVE A GOAL),  but (RUNS INTO AN UNEXPECTED & SOMETIMES IRONIC OBSTACLE) and must (GROW IN A WAY TO TRIUMPH OR FACE CERTAIN DOOM).

Is this something other people want to see?
Is this something I can write the hell out of?

QUERYING

-- Managers
-- Agents
-- Producers

ALWAYS REMEMBER TO WORK THE ASSISTANTS

Find out who writes like/similar to you?

Actually do a proper letter rather than email.

1. Polite opening
2. Logline
3. A paragraph about who you are.
4. Past accomplishments
5. What you're currently working on.
6. What projects are you finishing next.