Someone actually wants to read my script
I am an aspiring writer/director who works for a major
studio in LA — nothing too exciting, just an entry
level position. But, the job allows me to run into
people who might be able to help me along the way.
Just tonight, I struck up a conversation with a woman who just so happens to represent the writer of the TV show at which I was working. I said that I was a writer. She then handed me her card and said that she’d like to read my scripts. I can imagine that she probably hands out her card to many aspiring actors, but I figure since she did tell me to send her myself, I might as well. How should I go about that? What should I include in the letter that I attach to the script?
– Ryan
Los Angeles (originally from Michigan)
That sound you hear is the collective gasp of one thousand readers wishing they had your luck.
Pick your best script, the one that everyone likes. Write a short letter that says basically, “I really enjoyed meeting you yesterday at WHATEVER SHOW. I promised I’d send you my script, and I’m a man of my word. Attached is TITLE OF MY SCRIPT, a GENRE set in LOCATION that a lot of people seem to like. Here’s hoping you do, too.” And be sure to include your phone number or email, both on the letter and the script (in case she loses the letter).
Hurry, man! Run! Don’t waste a day and risk her forgetting who you are.
And let us know what happens.
Articles
September 15th, 2005 at 10:26 am
Wow. I wish…that’s amazing. That is so very rare.
September 15th, 2005 at 12:26 pm
Years ago, I had a chance encounter with TIM BURTON in Las Vegas on the set of Mars Attacks! Kindest guy you’ll ever meet. We chatted, well, he talked, I stuttered. I told him about a spec (my first script ever). And he promised he’d read it. He gave me an address (right across the street from my favorite bar) and a name to deliver the script to. I raced back to LA and stayed up for 48 hours to polish MONSTER MOVIE from first draft to perfectiom. Clipped a handwritten note to it. Dropped it off and walked across the street. Yes, you read right…a handwritten note. Scribbled! After two days with no sleep. Tim never called. And I went thru a phase of trying to climb the walls of The Lot at around 2am every night to get my baby back. What I’ve learned: Warner has high walls.
September 15th, 2005 at 12:28 pm
yes, perfectioM ! not to be confused with that other word.
September 15th, 2005 at 1:00 pm
So… uh… Ryan - you and me are friends, right? Can you give me her phone number?
September 15th, 2005 at 2:17 pm
A chance encounter on an airplane back from Los Angeles led to one of my screenplays being optioned. You never know when or where, so always be prepared. Make the opportunity count. Good luck.
Mark Mark’s Screenwriting Page
September 15th, 2005 at 2:37 pm
So… uh… Mark - you and me are friends, right? Can you throw me a bone here?
September 15th, 2005 at 3:10 pm
Terry Rossio wrote a great, very inspiring article on wordplayer.com about “never waiting.”
While interning for a production company I gave my script to the head of development and an executive’s assistant. I got some great feedback…from the assistant. Was I a little overzealous? Maybe. She compared it to one of their projects that was already in development, which I didn’t know anything about. But the response I got from her was encouraging, and I have to admit I was proud of myself for having the balls to give her my script.
Life is too short. Never wait.
On the other hand, it would have been premature of me if I hadn’t polished the script first. Before I handed it over, I had several people read it, including a former professor of mine from film school.
Read Rossios’ article here: http://wordplayer.com/columns/wp44.Never.Wait.html
September 15th, 2005 at 3:21 pm
Ryan — where in Michigan are you from? I grew up in Grand Rapids.
September 15th, 2005 at 6:05 pm
Hey, we got a Michigan trifecta here. I just moved to California from southwest Michigan (grew up in Hastings, attended WMU in Kalamazoo). Good to see some Midwesterners here!
September 16th, 2005 at 9:49 am
John,
I had a similar situation happen about nine months ago. I met a producer while out with some people for drinks. After telling her about one of my scripts, she asked for a read and gave me her card. As it turned out, the script wasn’t ready to send and I began a long rewriting process that has finally ended. So my question is, would it be too late for me to contact her again? Do you think she would be put off if I called out of the blue and asked to send the script as promised?
Shawn