ASK & DISCUSS INDEX

11 years ago - Marlom Tander

It depends who you are pitching to. "Your mate the director" might say YES as soon as you can tell him "this is the concept and I know I can write it".

But in general I think that you should complete a script.

I said A script and not THE script because THE script doesn't exist until after the edit :-)

When you have something you're happy with, show people, even if you know you'll be changing things. They'll want you to change things anyway :-)

11 years ago - mandana mohit

@Marlom Tander I love the writing process, so by no means want someone else to write the script for me, but was more thinking of a second writer who could tell me when I'm getting carried away. So yes mentor is definitely a better word for it. Someone who has more experience with the craft. Although I know it won't be very easy to organise that,as most writers are busy writing their own stuff but I'll take my chances. :)

11 years ago - mandana mohit

@Marlom Tander
:) already been getting carried away by miles. It's great fun actually but the slight downside is that I get carried away at each stage and then never get to finish the thing. The structure of the story has changed 3 times already, I've been sticking to the last version for a while now and am trying to fill in the gaps without coming up with a whole new story. In all honesty I could just do this for the rest of my life and never get bored, but it'd be nice to make the film too, which I'm sure ultimately will make me think 'It could be better this way or that way' :) I guess I should really just focus on getting a complete first draft done and then think of any other moves.

11 years ago - mandana mohit

Thank you so much Chris, that's very helpful. I'll check it out. I wish the process of pitching was as joyous as writing :)

11 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

Until the script is finished, it's not a script, it's a bunch of ideas - and you can't sell that. You might find (apparently writers do) that you don't know the story yet - you have ideas of where it's going, but you don't know if the story works, needs parts adding, removing, rewriting until you can read it and review it as a whole.

The script WILL change from there, but you need something to base the changes on. The current film I'm on is v22 of the script - they do change, but need a baseline to change //from//!

11 years ago - Dan Selakovich

Until you are an established writer, pitching without a script is pointless, because the next question after a successful pitch is "When can you send us the script?" If the answer isn't "I have it right here," you've just made your life impossible. Striking while the iron is hot is a necessity in this business.

11 years ago - Marlom Tander

That's one idea, but you say you are a writer, so perhaps what you really need is another writer to be a mentor / sounding board.

I've done that for a couple of people, for free, well, lunch :-) because it doesn't much time, and is interesting.

But investing hundreds of hours writing someone elses story, that needs to be paid for :-)

11 years ago - Marlom Tander

@mandana mohit ALWAYS get carried away. It's when you do your best work.

You can make it sane in the rewrite when you are working to a budget. Which is when Gatsby Party becomes Dinner Party :-)

11 years ago - mandana mohit

Thanks for all the advice, very helpful and much appreciated. True that as writers we may not know the story well enough before completing it. I guess getting a professional scriptwriter on board might help greatly at this point.

11 years ago - Adam Ethan Crow

Some really good points made here. Personally I think that you have to have a script - for many reasons. Partly because there is nothing like actually finishing the thing, stepping back and going, done! I've sold features film script, made short films and am doing a dialogue polish for a major Hollywood movie, consequently I spend a little time in LA. You hear about people pitching in the room and a producer optioning it on the spot, and it does happen. However, this usually from established screenwriters, and getting in that room? Well that is the rub. Finish you script, register your work and get it out there.

Good luck with it. Adam

11 years ago - Chris Bairstow

Hi Manadna

Every writer has their own way of developing their scripts and pitches.

Try lots of things out and see what happens.

How about this one.

http://goodinaroom.com/blog/how-to-develop-a-pitch-for-your-screenplay-a-case-study/

Regards

Chris