SPECtacular

[TwoKeys]

I'm currently working on my first "spec", and I'm just wondering if any of you have any tips on how to make it stand out to the agents I submit it to.

They're obviously innundated with specs from new writers, old writers, neighbors of writers, etc. I just don't want mine to fade into the masses - I want it to shine.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[Joe Calabrese]

Make it familiar but fresh. Surprise the reader once and a while.

And of course make it look good with no errors or typos or bad formatting. Give it plenty of white space and don't say any more than you have to-- in description, action or dialog.

And most important, have a great query letter with a kick *** logline and short synopsis. This will make or break you. If your query lacks luster, no one will ever request your script no matter how good it is.

If I had any more answers to give-- I wouldn't be here.

[randesq]

don't worry about agents or marketing with a first spec. Most likely you're wasting time and money. And through the process you'll learn how to tighten the bolts on pacing, tone, etc. Why worry about marketing a product when you really want to be marketing your overall bag of tricks. Suppose you beat the odds and it is great writing, what happens when they say what else? No doubt, when you finish this spec and rewrite it 20 times, and then finsih your second, you'll look back on this spec and say why did i send this out? I guarantee it

[Joe Calabrese]

True.
One theory is you dont start getting good (and/or sold) until your 10th script.

But there have been those who have sold on thier first time out although very rare.

Depends a lot on the background of the writer. A novelist, actor, producer, etc.. who turns to screenwriting for exmple has a better shot selling first time out. A person who writes a script based on his profession also. Like a mobster who writes a script about his life.

But as Randesq said, keep writing them. It's a numbers game, the more you write the better you get and the better the odds are you have something someone will like.

[TwoKeys]

Hmm...interesting thought. Basically you're saying to send it out as good as possible, but know that it will take several scripts being rejected before anything comes of it. So the first ten (to use an arbitrary number) are just learning exercises, right?

That's the best tip I've heard...melikes! Thanks!

[kojled]

twokeys

you mean besides making it commercial and well-written?


zilla

[TwoKeys]

you mean besides making it commercial and well-written?

Absolutely! Let me just throw out some more arbitrary numbers for a second to use as an example.

Lets say that "Agent Joe" gets 100 scripts in an average day. Every one of the writers is trying to accomplish the same thing: representation.

Out of those 100, 50 are commercial and well-written. The other 50 are hand-written notes from a spiral notebook.

So that means that only 50 of them are even going to have a chance of being read.

Out of those 50 "qualified" scripts, lets say the agent reads 25 of them. (Why do I feel this is overly hopeful? lol) Out of those 25, maybe 5 of them are going to really jump out at "Agent Joe".

What I want to find out if there's anything at all I can do to make my script one of those 5.

Yes, that's still only a 1 in 5 chance of it being accepted and getting representation, but that 1 in 5 is a hell of a lot better than 1 in 50, know what I mean?

Being a newbie, I'll take ANY tips you guys may have. I'm here to learn!

[Joe Calabrese]

those numbers you threw out mean nothing.

Let's say you wrote a script called "Blazing Joe" and you send a query letter to Agent Joe.

First off, Agent Joe's assistant gets 100 query letters a day, not scripts.
Of those, some are solicited by managers who if Agent Joe knows, he will look at those first.

Of those left, from newbies like you, it is the logline that first gives the impression to whether or not it stands out-- to the assistant, not Agent Joe.

Of those that make that grade, Agent Joe gtets them and reads the pitch or short synopsis in your query to see it is marketable and of interest.

Then and only then will he request your script if 1st, the logline stands out and then, the story seems worthwhile.

So now weeks later, he has gotten maybe 5 scripts from those 100 queries. He sits down and reads them, skimming at first and then reading more intently if it stands out. He likes "Blazing Joe" and not ju=t because his name is in the title.

Then he makes a few phone calls to some producers he is in contact with and sees if any interest may be around for a Blazing Joe story. If it seems like there will be, he'll call you for a meeting.

That's it for the most part.

So yes right the best darn story you can but make sure you got a great query letter.

[TwoKeys]

Yeah, I know Joe isn't going to be doing the weeding out, but I didn't want to make my already confusing example more complicated than necessary. lol

Thanks Joe! (How's that for a coincidence?)

[kojled]

tk

the notion that, out of 100 scripts, 50 are well-written isn't in line with reality. out of 100 scripts from unrepped writers between 0-1 will be well-written. quality writing runs around 0.5%


z

[Nivvie]

It's amazing what a letter can do.

I wrote a damn good letter to an agent who then asked for my book, and agreed to represent me.
I was just a kid, and now I look back and see how I could have made it so much better, and am not surprised that she didn't sell it, but you need that letter to kick *** or you'll never even find that much out.

Joe is definitely right about the letter indicating experience, etc. The main character of my novel was a nurse, attending major accidents and such. I gave a few brief details of such things, including a recent passenger jet crash I had attended.
If your script contains anything you really know about, get it out there.

Btw, loglines scare the crap out of me, so much weight on so few words.

[Nivvie]

tk

the notion that, out of 100 scripts, 50 are well-written isn't in line with reality. out of 100 scripts from unrepped writers between 0-1 will be well-written. quality writing runs around 0.5%


z

Absolutely.
Look at the places where scripts are posted online, read a few.
Sometimes it's just really simple things, people listing actors, soundtrack, every single camera angle, movie scripts that are 50 pages long, things that even I know are completely wrong.

[TwoKeys]

Thanks, guys. I'm not going to AGAIN mention that the numbers were completely fictitious and do not represent any notion of mine that they are accurate. They were used simply for illustrative purposes, and to keep the math simple. But thanks nonetheless...