The Basic Guide to Pitching, Producing and Distributing Your Film

INTRODUCTION

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The three basic steps to getting your film on the market are: 

1) Creating a good script or Show Bible for a series of episodes.

2) Finding a producer or producing the film yourself.

3) Finding a distributor or doing your own distribution.

The Basic Guide to Pitching, Producing, and Distributing Your Film provides the basics for successfully creating and pitching your script or Show Bible, getting your film produced, and finding a distributor for your completed film. The next book in this series focuses on doing your own distribution.

The film industry is highly competitive, so only a small percentage of the many thousands of scripts and produced films end up in the marketplace. Only a small percentage of the films that are distributed make back their original investment. But when the films that are distributed do well, the returns can be substantial—and extremely huge for the most successful films. 

That potential for a big win, fame, and glory, along with the opportunity for creative expression and making a difference in the world, keeps filmmakers going, despite the low odds.

However, any way to improve your chances can help your script or film break through the heavy competition.  And that’s what this book is all about—providing some basic tips and techniques to help you make that breakthrough.

To this end, Part I deals with creating and pitching the your script or Show Bible to help you find a producer or financial backing for your project. 

Part II describes how to find a producer or obtain an agent who can open the doors to bigger producers. If you want to be your own producer, Part II includes two chapters on that.

Finally, Part III features three chapters on how to get a distribution deal once you have a completed production—the ideal way to go when getting started.

What if you can’t find a distributor or prefer to try to distribute your film yourself? The Basic Guide to Doing Your Own Distribution covers how to distribute and promote your film.

All of the tips begin with a blank page before each tip. That’s so you can write down your thoughts about how to implement that tip for pitching your script, producing your film, or finding a distributor.

PART I: PITCHING YOUR SCRIPT AND SHOW BIBLE TO FIND A PRODUCER

CHAPTER 1: 10 WAYS TO PITCH YOUR SCRIPT MORE SUCCESSFULLY

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Given the thousands of scripts and films pitched to producers, agents, and distributors each year, it is hard to stand out among the crowd.  Unless you have a family member, relative, or close friend on the inside, it is truly difficult to get through. Even so, if you are trying to get in, here are some tips on how to do it. No guarantees, but you’ll increase your chances.

This first book focuses on scripts for films and TV shows. The next book in this series will focus on finding a distributor or co-producer for your film.

Aside from starting with a good script, copyright it with the U.S. Copyright Office. You might also register it with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) in L.A., though the copyright registration is more important. If you are asked to sign an NDA, sign it, since no one will look at your script if you don’t, and don’t expect industry professionals to sign your NDA. Normally, they won’t, since the big fear is being sued for looking at anything that is remotely like something they are already developing in house or considering from another writer.

Use the blank page before each tip to write down your thoughts about how to apply that in your own project. Now here are the tips for pitching your script.

1)  Use the three step logline to paragraph to short treatment approach, which is based on the principle of letting them ask for more. Often screenplay writers send a query letter in which they go into detail about their script, their background, how this is their first script, how they took a course with a writing professional, or got great reviews in their local writing group. Wrong! You want to come across as a seasoned pro.  So start that way.

In this approach, you just send a brief logline. Then, if the producer, agent, or manager wants to see more, you send your logline with a paragraph or two describing the story and a key selling point.  You can later follow up with a short 4-5 page treatment where you describe your script like a dramatic story.  Finally, you send the script.  Or if it’s for a series, send a Show Bible.

Alternatively, send a query letter with a logline and paragraph or two about your script or series, and offer to send a synopsis, the first 10 pages, the full script, or a Show Bible for a series.

Importantly, focus on one film or series at a time. You can mention you have other film ideas or series, but that’s all. You don’t want to