Film Marketing Tips
Creating a Platform as an Author, Scriptwriter, or Speaker
Today, if you are seeking to pitch a book, script, or yourself to get published by a mainstream publisher, sell film rights for a book or a script, find an agent or manager, or get paid speaking engagements, it’s all about platform. That means you need a solid track record in your field, expert credentials […Read More…]
Do You Really Need a Copyright?
One issue that frequently comes up in workshops or online forums is whether you need a copyright for your film or book. Occasionally people ask if they can use what is sometimes called the “poor man’s copyright,” where you send yourself your material in a sealed envelope, so you can later prove that you wrote […Read More…]
Should You Work as a Co-Writer and Take a Percentage?
Sometimes professional writers are offered the opportunity to work as a co-writer. Should you do it, and if so, what the best way to protect yourself should problems develop? Co-writing can be an ideal arrangement, when you have long been friends or business associates and you both share a passion for the project. Then, you […Read More…]
Working Out a Co-Writer or Ghostwriting Arrangement
Co-writing and ghost writing arrangements for both books and scripts can be great when you and your co-writer or lead writer have a shared vision for the project and you bring to it complementary skills. Besides writing my own books and scripts, I have worked with several dozen clients on co-written projects. A first step […Read More…]
Creating Your Poster and Screener Cover
In order to properly position and promote your film, you need very good, professional-looking art work for your poster and screener cover, and later this poster art can be used for your home video cover, sales on your website, catalog sheets, and other materials. Having good art will help your film stand out, convey what […]
Assessing Distributors
There are two approaches for assessing distributors. One is do an assessment before you contact distributors to decide who to contact in the first place. The other is do this review after you have contacted many distributors, such as through a personalized email query blast where you describe your project and ideally include a link […]
Knowing What to Expect and Say in Approaching Distributors
Once are ready to approach distributors, how do you know what to expect based on your type of film? First, decide what is realistic for your film, aside from making the best presentation you can with your trailer, screener, synopsis, and press materials. In general, if you have a low-budget independent film with no names, […Read More…]
Finding and Connecting with Distributors and Foreign Sales Agents
Now that you are set up for assessing interested distributors and foreign sales agents (which I’ll often call distributors now for convenience), how do you find them to get them interested and assess the best ones for you? The main ways to find and connect with them include the following: – Go to film markets,
[…Read More…]
Do You Really Need a Copyright?
One issue that frequently comes up in workshops or online forums is whether you need a copyright for your film or book. Occasionally people ask if they can use what is sometimes called the “poor man’s copyright,” where you send yourself your material in a sealed envelope, so you can later prove that you wrote […Read More…]
Finding Distributors for Your Film: What to Expect
I’ve recently started thinking about how to best distribute a film, since I have been looking for distribution for my first feature film: SUICIDE PARTY: SAVE DAVE. This is the first of a series of posts which describes what I have learned is the best strategy and what to expect in the offers you get, […Read More…]
Should You Work as a Co-Writer and Take a Percentage?
Sometimes professional writers are offered the opportunity to work as a co-writer. Should you do it, and if so, what the best way to protect yourself should problems develop. Co-writing can be an ideal arrangement, when you have long been friends or business associates and you both share a passion for the project. Then, you […Read More…]
Editing & Polishing your Letter, Proposal or Manuscript
Whatever you send to an editor or agent, should be perfectly edited and polished – whether it’s an initial query letter, synopsis, proposal, sample chapters, or the complete manuscript, since you will be judged on how you write as well as on your content. And both editors and agents tend to be sticklers for good […Read More…]
Increasing your Creativity To Improve Your Writing
People have often asked me, how have you been able to write so much, citing the more than 50 books and over 20 feature scripts I have written? The answer lies in cultivating your creativity, so you can more quickly come up with ideas, select among them to choose the best ones, and then develop […Read More…]
What to Say In Your Query Letter for a Novel or Script
Besides keeping your query letter short and to the point, having a good subject line, and highlighting our background, PR, and how you plan to support the book, there are certain things to say or not say in your letter. Here are some keys of what to do or not do. – Describe in brief […Read More…]
How and Why Publishers, Agents, and Films Works
Many writers ask why and how Publishers, Agents and Films works, and how they can know if it will work for them. Publishers, Agents and Films works very well – and has worked well for nearly 12 years, originally as Publishing and Agents – because it helps to directly connect writers to publishers, literary agents, […Read More…]
When and How to Write a Treatment for a Film
Sometimes the terms “synopsis” and “treatment” are used interchangeably, but a common way to distinguish them is to think of a treatment as a fleshed out outline or expanded synopsis. As such, it features the major story line of a script, but without the dialog, except for when the dialog is occasionally woven into the […Read More…]
Creating a Synopsis or Treatment for a Film
In addition to writing a complete script, you should create a synopsis or treatment, since many producers, agents, and managers, as well as potential investors if you become a producer, will want to see this. A synopsis or treatment is a way for them to see a little more about the project to help them […Read More…]
Turning Your Script into a Film: From Idea to Synopsis and Script
This will be the first in a series of articles on how to go from an idea to a completed film or TV show, whether you find an agent or manager, a producer or production company to take over your project, or decide to raise funding to produce the film or series yourself. These articles […Read More…]
Using a Crowdfunding Campaign to Promote Books & Films, Find Publishers & Producers
A crowdfunding site can not only be used to raise money to help publish a book, produce a film, or fund entries into book or film festivals, but you can use the site to increase your visibility and following. Plus you can contribute any money you raise to help market and promote your book or […Read More…]