| First the depressing news! Hollywood is rapidly | | | | may even help get that agent or manager on the |
| changing, and the rules for success as a | | | | phone for you if your material is worth it! |
| screenwriter are changing with it. Gone are the | | | | That said there are lot of these services and |
| days of a Hollywood flush with development | | | | competitions that purport to help emerging |
| money, first look deals and discretionary funds. No | | | | screenwriters but do your research first by |
| longer do spec scripts sell for hundreds of | | | | asking these questions. |
| thousands if not millions of dollars. Agents only | | | | Who are the people administering the contest or |
| have time for established talent that can tap into | | | | service? Are they a part of the industry or |
| the limited funds. Managers are less likely to invest | | | | merely periphery players just trying to break in |
| their time and energy trying to break new | | | | themselves? What is their training? Do they know |
| writers. Producers want fully developed, high | | | | good material and do they know the industry? |
| quality material, and financiers want to know the | | | | Is your original idea being exposed to the |
| whole package before committing any cash. All | | | | industry? Does the competition randomly give out |
| this has placed an incredible burden on writers | | | | material to the industry to judge? There is a right |
| already straining to break in. | | | | way and a wrong way to introduce new material |
| And now the good news! There are a host of | | | | and writers to Hollywood. Agents and managers |
| services and competitions helping emerging | | | | make a good living forming a strategy for each |
| writers breakthrough the Hollywood gridlock. | | | | writer and every project they represent, and |
| Maybe you have written one, two, or even three | | | | they take great care in making sure the material |
| screenplays and you still cannot get an agent or | | | | is ready before sending it anywhere. |
| manager to return your call. Established writers | | | | What do you get in return? The uncertainty of |
| have a team of agents, managers, lawyers, | | | | whether your material has even been read |
| publicists and producers advising them on every | | | | permeates most competitions. If you are not one |
| aspect of the business. How are you ever going | | | | of the winners, you are lucky to get an email |
| to start your writing career let alone compete | | | | telling you so. Seek out competitions that give |
| with the establishment? | | | | free feedback. This way you know your material |
| If Uncle Harry is not a producer on the | | | | has been read and the feedback is worth the |
| Paramount lot, check out the opportunities | | | | cost of entry alone. |
| offered by screenplay competitions and coverage | | | | Is there a clear and transparent process and are |
| services. They are a great way to make sure | | | | you getting a fair chance? This is hard to know |
| your material is ready for the industry and some | | | | without participating in the competition, but most |
| can really help aspiring writers break out. Placing | | | | contests have an online presence. It is important |
| as a finalist or winning a screenplay competition is | | | | you make sure the website lays out all the |
| a great validation of your skills, and can open the | | | | information you want to know in a professional, |
| doors to an Industry known for being closed to | | | | organized and easy to navigate way. Look at how |
| the uninitiated. | | | | they judge material and if they make sure every |
| Similarly, coverage services can really help get | | | | script is given equal chance. |
| your material in shape. If you are lucky enough to | | | | There are a lot of great competitions and |
| get that agent or manager on the phone, chances | | | | coverage services out there. Enter a few and find |
| are they will only give you one chance to impress | | | | the ones that work for you. Use these tips and |
| and your material must be up to the task. Some | | | | you will be on your way to Hollywood success. |