Su-City Pictures East, LLC

Screenplay & Film Consulting By Susan Kouguell

Tag: Film School Advice

2014 JANUARY ASK THE SCREENPLAY DOCTOR COLUMN

January 5, 2014 / / Comments Off on 2014 JANUARY ASK THE SCREENPLAY DOCTOR COLUMN

Ask the Screenplay Doctor: 2013 Retrospective and Questions

2013 was quite an exciting year of columns, ranging on tips about marketing a screenplay, to the pros and cons of film schools. Thank you for your enthusiastic responses to my columns.

A special thank you to all my 2013 NewEnglandFilm.com inspiring interviewees from across the country, who not only offered invaluable advice, but their honest insights into all aspects of writing, filmmaking and the film industry:

Thelma Adams: Self-described “outspoken” film critic, offered insights into the world of movies past and present, and gave us a glimpse into what critics look for in a film. http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/02/adams

Film Critic Thelma Adams

Ann Flournoy: Louise Log Web Series director took us on the adventurous journey of making a web series with tips on her successful crowd-sourcing with Seed&Spark. http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/06/flournoy

Anne Flournoy, creator of web series The Louise Log

Jon Gartenberg: President of Gartenberg Media Enterprises, talked about experimental filmmaking, distribution, and what’s happening to the field in this modern age.
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/05/gartenberg

Jon Gartenberg, President of Gartenberg Media Enterprises

Jeff Greenstein: Emmy-Award sitcom television writer, director and showrunner of such shows as Will & Grace and Friends, shared tips on breaking into writing for television, sitcom trends, and more. (Since our interview, Jeff is now the director of the new CBS sitcom Mom.)
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/07/Greenstein

Showrunner, producer, and writer Jeff Greenstein

Sydney Levine: President of Sydney’s Buzz pulled back the curtain on the international film industry with sage advice on getting films seen and distributed in the global market.
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/12/screenplay

Sydney Levine, President of Sydney's Buzz.

Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez: Award-winning Manakamana documentary filmmakers discussed the process of making their unforgettable feature, at our sit-down at the Locarno Film Festival, where they later took the stage as big winners.
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/09/sprayvelez

Stephanie Spray and Pacho Velez, the filmmakers behind Manakamana

 

Genine Tillotson: Director of Harvard Square Script Writers talked about HSSW and the benefits of joining a writers group.
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/11/harvard_square_script_wri…

Genine Tillotson, left, leading a meeting of Harvard Square Screen Writers.

JD Zeik: Screenwriter and SUNY Purchase Professor who’s worked with James Cameron, Alfonso Cuaron, and 50 Cent, and more. We talked about film school and the film business.
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2013/01/screenplay

Professor and Screenwriter J.D. Zeik

To read more of my January column:
http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2014/01/screenplay

 

 

Ask the Screenplay Doctor: On Film Schools and InkTip.com (NewEnglandFilm.Com)

May 2, 2010 / / Comments Off on Ask the Screenplay Doctor: On Film Schools and InkTip.com (NewEnglandFilm.Com)

 

 

Is film school worth the plunge?  Is InkTip.com worth the money?  The Screenplay Doctor addresses these two questions in her latest column.

 

Where do you send your script if you are a complete unknown writer? The Screenplay Doctor addresses this question in her latest column. Email screenwriter@newenglandfilm.com to have your question answered in next month’s issue.

When you believe you are ready to submit your screenplay for representation or to a production company, put yourself in the executives’ shoes. Make sure that your screenplay is really ready for submission and that you are not sending it off because you think it’s good enough as is, and someone else will fix it. Do not be lazy! Your script is your calling card. If your script has typos, grammatical errors, copy machine marks, missing pages, sloppy mistakes, formatting errors, and so on, be warned — your script will be discarded and there is a very good chance that the company will never want to read anything else that you send them.

Who can I send my script to?  I am unpublished with no agent. – Adam

I am assuming that when you write “unpublished” that you mean that you have not had any films produced based on your screenplays. If this is the case, then the next step is to write a query letter and to seek representation (agent, manager, or entertainment attorney) for your screenplay. Most production companies do not accept screenplays that are unsolicited — meaning that they do not have representation.

To whom can you send your script? You must research companies that are seeking new writers. Read screenwriting and film publications to learn about companies and talent (actors, directors, producers) looking to discover new writers. Many companies only seek projects that are a specific genre. For example: If you have a horror screenplay and submit the screenplay (assuming that the company does accept unsolicited screenplays), to a company that has only produced comedies or states on their website that they only seek dramas, this is definitely not the company to choose. Target the companies that are the best fit for your project, and carefully read their submission guidelines.

Never send a script to anyone or to any company without it being requested. Your screenplay will be thrown out; this is a sign of an amateur.

Read more:

http://www.newenglandfilm.com/magazine/2010/05/screenplay

 

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