SCREENWRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA - Selling your script...

You've written the "great script" and had it professionally covered. From there, you eliminated all those camera directions and lengthy setups. You majestically maneuvered a few beats in your story structure, and methodically tweaked your screenplay format to industry standards. Sounds like you have a polished "reading" script. Congratulations, you're ready to start thinking about your Approach.

Getting around the eight ball. Agents will not read unsolicited scripts and Studios will not read your script without an Agent. Sound familiar? On top of that, any Agent that would take you at this point in your career is probably not the Agent you want. Successful Agents always have lots of clients. They're looking to service those people. Getting new clients is not their priority. Ironically, the best way to get an Agent is when they read in the trades you've already sold your script. That will get you around the eight ball posthaste.

All right, now that we have that out of the way—ignore it. Yes, that is the proverbial unknown Screenwriter's dilemma. However, each and every year new Screenwriters break down the walls of Hollywood and find themselves being honored with Hollywood's elite. Be creative in your approach. You're a Screenwriter for goodness sakes. K. Callan, Author of "The Script is Finished, Now What do I do?" says it well when she states: "The ability to write is the smallest part of the talent puzzle that produces success as a Screenwriter. The bottom line to becoming part of the show biz system is possessing the grit, drive, ingenuity, talent, craft, patience, professionalism, stability, wit, style, grace, faith, hope and stamina to separate yourself from the pack and become an income tax paying member of the artistic community".

Great scripts sell themselves. They're not hard to sell. Don't let anyone "bs" you. On the other hand, good scripts are extremely difficult to sell, and average scripts are impossible to sell. If those statements are indeed true, all truly great scripts that fail, must have failed due to other shortcomings. The Approach. The lack of knowledge. The inability to get the script to the right person. Therein lies the rub.

There are many different strategies on whom and how to make your Approach. For example, contrary to the Agent, the Producer is always looking for material. They live and breathe it. That's what they do. And, a Producer is one who will take your project and knock down brick walls to sell it. From there, the Screenwriter will have a career and it will be in the trades, and Agents will call you.

There are many roads to success as a Screenwriter, but the Approach targets remain the same. They include: Agents, Producers, Studio Executives, Directors, Managers, Famous Actors, Entertainment Attorneys, and Casting Agents. Any of these entertainment professionals could conceivably be the catalyst to your project. How? Contacts and knowledge. Knowledge and. Contacts are power. We can not stress enough the importance of building and networking personal industry contacts. Regardless of what hat(s) they wear, their mentorship can be priceless at every juncture in your career. In addition, you must relentlessly study the Television and/or Motion Picture Industry at large. The more you know about the business—the better. It's the price and the key to success. Knowledge. Absorb it like a sponge, and you'll be ready for the plunge.

Our mission is to bring you the resources and insight to develop all the skills it takes to be successful in this industry. However, you must do the work. There are many books available in our library on the subject of Approach strategies. Research the ones that best address your situation and read them diligently. They'll provide strategies ranging from developing witty query letters, to closing multi-million dollar deals. Use the research tools and databases available on this site. They'll become very handy as you fine-tune your Approach strategies. Keep in mind, there are also many variables in a script to consider when developing your Approach, i.e., genre, trends, budget, format, casting, production value, etc. For example, there always seems to be shortage of great scripts for female actors in Hollywood. If the hero in your story is female, you would certainly want to understand the ramifications of your unique position and capitalize on this current trend as you develop your strategies.

Our vision has always been to assist fellow Screenwriters by providing the insight, tools and resources it takes to be successful in this highly competitive business. And, to make it all available from one—well organized site. After all, you've got enough work to do. That in itself is a wonderful vision but, somehow we wanted to do more. How could we be more proactive? After all, the script is the most important commodity in Hollywood. What else could we possibly do to propel the unknown Screenwriter who had just miraculously written the next great script?

Perhaps the fastest way through the doors of Hollywood is to have Agents, Producers, Production Companies, and Studios calling you to read your script?

All scripts (member or nonmember) officially covered by the Screenwriters Guild of America
(or any approved affiliates) receiving a green-light (consider or recommend grade) will be eligible for publication on the SGA's Green-lit Market. The SGA is proud of its proactive stance as a market-maker in the spec script market worldwide. This is an invaluable service to Screenwriters and the Television & Motion Picture Industry at large. Screenwriters Guild of America is the quintessential resource for scripts that have been professionally covered and made the grade. We are staking our reputation on it.

Screenwriter(s) projects selected will be asked to provide a professional synopsis and log line of their script to be published alongside our official SGA coverage grading report. Industry subscribers interested in your script will contact you directly. There are no listing fees for "green-lit" SGA Member or nonmember scripts. In the event Screenwriters Guild of America enables the eventual sale (or option for sale) of a project published traditionally (via SGA publications) or digitally (via SGA websites), the SGA will not collect any fees from the gross proceeds of any such sale. There are no commissions due SGA for sales. Member or Nonmember. It matters not. Screenwriters, who have put in the work, paid the price, and made the grade, deserve the opportunity to be read—one and all. Our mission is to provide "The Market" with Guild sanctioned, professionally covered, green-lit scripts. A milestone for the Screenwriter, and the Television and Motion Picture Industry at large.

Our focus is on solid writing, great storytelling, story structure and proper screenplay format. We are not here to make judgments on current trends. That's Hollywood's job. We are here to make sure you have a polished "reading script" not James Cameron's shooting script. And, a "reading script" that's well written and properly formatted to accepted industry standards. More on Approved SGA Coverage/Analysis.