Every year more than 40,000 screenplays are registered with the Writers Guild of America. Only 1 out of 100 screenplays are sold; fewer than 1 out of 13 screenplays are made. The following tips may help you overcome those odds.
First, know how to write. Because the first reader of your work will look for any reason to reject it and to move to the next screenplay in his/her large pile, if you write well, the reader may place your work with those under deliberation. Writing well is more than spelling words correctly and using grammar and mechanics properly; writing well includes creating emotive characters, an engrossing dialogue, and a sound plot.
Second, analyze movies and screenplays. You do not need to enroll in a film school to write a screenplay, but you do need to know the elements of a successful one. Analyze movies that received critical acclaim--dividing each into scenes, describing the characters, and outlining the plots. Divide your favorite movies into five- or ten-minute segments to study action and pace. The protagonist should intrigue you soon after the opening scene. Ten minutes into Tootsie (1982), we realize that Dustin Hoffman's Michael Dorsey is an ambitious but difficult New York actor. The rising action should be clear to you within 20 minutes. In Groundhog Day (1993), Bill Murray's Phil Connors wakes at 6 a.m. on February 2 for the second time. Be attentive to details. In Chinatown (1974), a drama about corruption in Los Angeles' water department, the director, Roman Polanski, included the sound of dripping or rushing water in almost every scene.
Public libraries, film schools, screenwriters' websites, and the Writers Guild have screenplays, especially of popular movies. Actively read as many as you can--focusing on characters, dialogue, plot and format.
Third, format your screenplay in accordance with Hollywood standards. Purchase software to help you standardize your work, preventing hours of frustration. Use it to create margins, headers, capitalizations and indentations.
Fourth, captivate your reader early. Studios, producers, directors, agents, managers, and some actors employ readers to critique screenplays so that only the best reach important desks. Most readers will decide within the first 10 pages whether or not a screenplay is acceptable. It is the only way they are able to critique their piles of 10 to 20 screenplays every night. Because he/she is the first--and thus most important--gatekeeper your screenplay must impress, you must gain the reader's attention early so that he/she continues to turn the pages.
Fifth, limit the length of your screenplay from 100 to 120 pages. The first thing a reader will do is turn to the last page of your screenplay to see how long it is. Try not to evoke a premature groan from the reader. Furthermore, theater owners prefer two-hour movies that they can screen six times per day rather than four times. Each page of your screenplay will equate to a minute of dramatic time.
Sixth, register your work. Protect your unique intellectual property by filing for a copyright and by registering your work with the Writers Guild of America. Do such after you complete your first draft.
Seventh, know the market. Finishing your screenplay is only half the battle, and it is the easiest half because it is the part most within your control. It is important to know who is buying what and who is producing what. Most studios and production companies will not read your screenplay unless a reputable agent, manager or attorney submits it. Smaller companies may read it if they deal in the genre. To ensure you are not sending your tragedy to a producer of comedies, peruse the most recent versions of industry registers.
Eighth, create a network. The majority of business in Hollywood is conducted via networks. But if you are not living in Los Angeles, you can make helpful contacts by submitting your work to reputable screenwriting competitions, joining a local screenwriters' association, and attending conferences. There are publications and websites that list contests and their submission requirements. Many large cities have local screenwriters' associations that host guest speakers from Hollywood, and some of those cities have film festivals with lectures open to the public. You also may want to attend a conference. Most offer panel discussions and seminars on a variety of topics.
Ninth, continue to write. Rarely is a screenwriter's first screenplay produced. Frequently it takes several screenplays before a screenwriter becomes proficient in characterization and plot development. Most agents recommend that an inexperienced writer not seek representation until he/she has at least three complete screenplays to submit. Thus, it is important to continue to write, generating as many works as you can.
