How to Pitch a Screenplay to Literary Agents
Though, writing a good screenplay is an uphill task but the real challenge comes when you need to get a literary agent who can help in selling it. Sending a query letter is an obvious thing but pitching a screenplay to an agent requires more than sending a letter.
Remember, this is your best and probably last chance so you need to present your product tactfully. You need to answer all questions, take care of commercial aspects and highlight the uniqueness of your product.
However, you can do it with less effort by keeping a couple of things in mind.
Instructions
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1
Review your screenplay:
First and foremost thing that you should do is to review your screenplay honestly. You need to be an impartial editor to make your screenplay perfect. Make a list of important points, incidents and turns in the story and take that sheet with you along with the outline. -
2
Make a list of the locations:
Though, it is not necessary but still it leaves a good impression on others. It shows that you are not an ordinary person who just took out a pen and started writing. You should present the literary agent a list of locations that have been covered. This will give the other party a message that you are genuinely interested in the production of the script. -
3
Write down the characters:
You must write down the complete description of all characters. Do mention how they are linked with each other. This list will help you in discussing every character with the literary agent and will be helpful for the other party to understand every character. -
4
Narrate the story:
You should also give your literary agent a presentation on the story. However, do not spend much time in discussing each and everything. Just mention the main events that take the story forward. If the agent is interested in the story then you are expected to face more questions. -
5
Do research about the viewership:
You must know the target audience and make the literary agent realise that you have worked while keeping the viewership factor in mind. There are many genre of movies and serials such as comedy, action, romantic, drama, horror etc. Every genre has a certain kind of viewership so you study the interests of viewers and then compare your screenplay with a couple of movies of the same genre.
