Film festival contacts
I am an aspiring screenwriter with several screenplays nearing completion. I envision my screenplays as independent films, with low budgets and talented character actors. I will need a director. I’ve been told excellent director contacts can be made at film festivals. Is this good advice?
–Kristy B.
It’s great advice. In fact, I intend to steal it as soon as I get the chance.
Early in their careers, most independent directors aren’t exactly getting besieged with scripts for them to direct, so you have a pretty good shot of getting them to actually read it. Having been through the festival grinder a few times, my only advice would be to try to find a relaxed moment to talk about the project, and not swarm the stage after a Q&A session.
If you don’t have a chance to meet the director at the festival, you can probably find contact information in a program or at the festival office. Drop a note telling the director how much you liked her movie and a few paragraphs describing what your script is about, and asking if you could send it to her.
It’s certainly not foolproof, but it would be a good way to get your foot in the door with a director you hope to work with.
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December 13th, 2007 at 11:03 pm
He speaks the truth Kristy, as a independent director myself (only of a year) I have found myself in a spot of bother trying to find scripts. In Australia It is difficult to find decent script writers when you are starting out. If a script write came to me asking to read some scripts I would be happy :D