Aspiring screenwriters can't get scripts read by industry professionals

“I'm working on a short screenplay right now, but I do very badly without any hint of a deadline, so I've been striving to enter the screenplay categories for a couple of film festivals (the Atlanta Film Festival, Out on Film, Cordillera if it ever comes back, some smaller ones if I can find some that aren't obvious scams, etc. - not that I expect to get anything of course but I'd like to at least try). Are screenplay competitions still not recommended when tied with existing film”

“I'm at a crossroads with my current career and the dream to be a screenwriter. I've written two feature length scripts over the last two years – which I've been told are " good, but not great " by friends and few competitions. Sitting far away from Hollywood/America, how to do you break into the industry, what are the necessary steps to gain momentum, representation and turn this dream into a sustainable reality – without going to a film school. And my definition of "m”

“I’ve had this debate with friends, families and peers over the years. Now, I’m new to this subreddit so forgive me if this topic is overdiscussed or cringe or whatever, but what do you think — say a nobody with zero connections wrote a phenomenal script. If he gave a decent effort in getting that script out there, sending it around and trying to get eyes on it, and he never gave up until his dying breath — would it be inevitable that that script would be discovered and made (or attempted to get”

“Don't give up. Yesterday I paid my 2500 USD (3400 CAD) initiation fee to the WGA West for a feature OWA at arguably one of the biggest studios. I am officially living proof of an /r/screenwriting user from Canada breaking into the American market (while still being IN Canada). Admittedly it's been a MUCH longer grind doing it from Canada than it would have been growing up in the states, but I promise you fellow Canadian reading this post, the success of inking a WGA job is SO much sweete”

“I've cited this as a really excellent example of how to "direct on the page" and I want to share it with a recent film school grad who apparently was never taught this.... https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/1gze55x/how_to_direct_on_the_page/ However, the only version I can find online is being sold, and I don't even know if it's legit. https://8flix.com/scripts/tv/band-of-brothers-109-why-we-fight-teleplay/ If you've got it and are willing to share, can you”

“I'm just kinda wondering if you professional screenwriters are actively engaged in acting as well? I don't mean necessarily getting paid to act, but studying acting in classes or labs. I'm discovering that the more I understand about acting and can act and actually dig into acting, the better I understand how to write scripts. submitted by /u/Pedantc_Poet [link] [comments]”

“After peer review and rigorous edits, of course. Given I don’t want to produce or direct or anything in that realm. submitted by /u/Kalvin213 [link] [comments]”

“Hey all. So I haven't written a new feature script in over a year for a variety of reasons tying into a bad creative slump I was in. I've still had ideas hanging over me, and a couple months ago now I worked with someone to create the outline for my next script - something more personal and ambitious in theme and style for me. I am trying to get the script written, but am struggling immensely with breaking through writers block. This is for a variety of reasons, from lack of confidence i”

“I’ve spent 20 years reading scripts in Hollywood. I think the way we discover writers is broken A few weeks ago, a writer **begged** me to read his script. He'd lost his job in Michigan and was convinced this screenplay was going to save him. All he needed, he believed, was for one person in the industry to actually read it. I've seen versions of this desperation for years. I've had writers offer me iPhones and gift cards (which I didn't take!). I've had people beg me to read”

“Hey all, just curious if anyone else out there has had some success but still doesn't have a literary manager? I wrote a sexual thriller and it sold to Shudder but I still can't seem to find representation (even small boutique managers with less on their plate). Has the caliber of success changed to a greater marker? Are other factors at play (gender--I'm female. Age--I'm forty-five. Career success--I wrote this and have a few things in the works but nothing A-list worthy I suppo”

“I’ve seen people mention some production companies and agents or managers who take submissions of screenplays. If anyone wants to share any please send them my way. No need for the long speech about how I shouldn’t work with them I’m trying to break in and have multiple great screenplays that just need to be read, if I make nothing so be it, I just want to get in. Would appreciate US based companies submitted by /u/esotericlearner [link] [comments]”

“Hi, I would like to ask, I have been wanting to write a screenplay for a long time. But I would like to know if, as a newbie, without contacts and without school, it is possible to get the screenplay to agents in the UK thanks to BL (website). And if it would be possible to work from home. I am from another country (not the USA) and I am currently studying psychology (I guess by the time the screenplay is at such a level that I would publish it, I will probably have finished school.) But would i”

“Hi everyone. This is a question regarding how much time and effort is worth dedicated to screenwriting. I've just graduated high school in June, going to university for physics and chemistry in September. I've had a passion for screenwriting since 16, and have won small local and international youth contests. I don't know if this is believable, but the winning scripts are first or second drafts. I write fast - perhaps a week is enough to produce a rough first draft, then depending on”

“Original Post Here I rewrote everything over the course of almost exactly a year by the time I'm posting this (just by coincidence) and want to know what you think. Originally, I couldn't find anybody to give me feedback on my writing. Today, I want to show what that time has resulted in with all of it taken into consideration, and ask for further feedback. Thank you. Title: Against Nil Genres: Dark Fantasy / Action / Drama / Horror / Animation Logline: In lands divided by elemental magi”

“Hi, I wanted to come on here and ask if anyone out there had any tips of making it from just a google docs page to the big screen. I'm young and i'm seriously inspired when it comes to writing, I wanna become a screenwriter. I wanna write about horror and thriller's. Thing being- I'm under 18. I'm working on a script rn but I cant help but think abt what to do when its finished. if anyone has any ideas, help a girl out. I have zero cash and experience. so I'm gonna try my”

“Seems like a lot of my college friends all have big boy jobs now. Are there any screenwriters in NYC open for friends? Would be cool to grab coffee, talk movies, swap scripts, and maybe even collaborate on a project if we click. If you’re interested, leave a comment or shoot me a DM. submitted by /u/MaximumMission9840 [link] [comments]”

“Given the statistically tiny chance that someone without industry connections has of becoming a full-time film/TV writer, what keeps you going? I'm disheartened by the reality that 95% of us probably won't find sustained success, if we find any at all. There are so many writers trying to break in, the required standard is incredibly high (even higher if you don't have connections), and whether we like it or not, luck plays a role too. Maybe there is someone out there who would give y”

“Hey, so, I'm an M.A. in Screenwriting student at the Irish National Film School-IADT, and I just finished up the fifth and, for the programme, final draft of my first feature, "Polite Company." Not much to say other than that. :D submitted by /u/KerryAnnCoder [link] [comments]”