Tag Archives: Screenplay

Pitching Your Screenplays by Krystol Diggs

I know that many screenwriters hate this part of the process, but it is more necessary than you think. Writers, if you are interested in pitching your screenplay, there are many ways that you can do it. Now, I know that it maybe difficult to get the screenplay written, but you want to go from published to produced or sold right?

At least that is the idea. For the non-screenwriters, you may find someone who doesn’t want to produce your screenplay, but may want to buy it. Yes, I am talking, they give you money for your hard earned work! It rarely happens in Hollywood, but it does happen. How do we get to this point?

Well, once you have your completed screenplay, make sure that you not only register it with the Writer’s Guild, but also with Copyright.gov, this is protect anyone from stealing your work. If you are in the LA area, many writers go to what is a Pitch Fest. Pitch fest is where millions of executives, directors, producers, and investors go to hear about your movies. You have only 1-3 minutes to sell yourself to these great individuals. It’s more so set up like a panel. You have the big boys seats at a long table and TONS of people in line waiting to pitch. When it’s your turn you go to the microphone and pitch your work. If anyone liked the premise of your film, then they will give you their card and request your screenplay! Seems fairly easy, right? No! We writers are introverts; we don’t talk in public with tons of people! Warning alert! When pitching you are not able to be shy, you must strike while the iron is hot.

There are also pitch fests online as well. Yes, they are called Virtual Pitch Fests. This is where you pay about $40-50 dollars and you pitch to one of these great people online via Skype or through email. I know you must think it’s crazy to pay money to email a pitch, but hey, it works! These can be taken place with companies like Happy Writers, Stage32 (which is a GREAT networking site for film people), and Virtual Pitch. Myself personally, I have never went to any virtual pitch fests because I like to go on Stage32 and find the directors, executives, and producers, and I send them a query letter about my work. Yes, when you are trying to deliver unsolicited material, if you don’t know if they accept it or not, it’s ALWAYS best that you have them a query letter. If they are interested, they will follow up with a screenplay request.

Here is a copy of a query letter that I sent recently:

To: Company’s Name
From: Krystol Diggs

Dear Company,

I am an award-winning screenwriter who has completed a screenplay that I believe your agency would be interested in representing. This screenplay has won 2nd place in the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival in July of 2014. Please find a short pitch below for your review.

Title: If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It

Genre: Drama

Logline: A devious, manipulative woman hunts for evidence of her boyfriends ultimate betrayal while hiding her own mischievous deeds before saying “I do”

If this has piqued your interest, I’d be happy to send you a hardcopy of my screenplay for your consideration. I can be contacted via email or you can reach out to me at your earliest convenience.

Warm regards,
Krystol Diggs

See how simple it is! For a query letter, you are basically just teasing them a little. It’s all about the loglines! A logline is more like a synopsis in the book world, except it is only one sentence. Let’s quickly look at the most important components of a log line. Ultimately, you need to get across the following information: The protagonist (don’t use their names, just description — for example ‘An alcoholic surgeon…’) The goal of the protagonist (this is usually in line with your 2nd act turning point — ‘An alcoholic surgeon must fight for his job…’) The antagonist (and the obstacle of the antagonist — ‘An alcoholic surgeon must fight for his job after a disgruntled patient accuses him of malpractice…’) We also need to recognize how these components fit into the structure. As I said before, there are numerous formats you can use, and you should always adjust this to suit your particular story. But this structural formula is a great starting point:

When [INCITING INCIDENT OCCURS], a [SPECIFIC PROTAGONIST] must [OBJECTIVE], or else [STAKES].
My boss for an internship that I am doing says, “ The logline is what makes it.” When at a pitch fest, your pitch is your logline. You say that, if people like it, they will give you their card and say, send me your screenplay. But, there are also others on the Internet who may post in groups, websites, etc and tell you what kind of script they are looking for. You will usually find these on websites like “ Ink Tip and International Screenwriters Association.” They are good sites also, but Ink Tip costs money. Here is an example of a pitch that I emailed to someone. ( Some pitches, they require you to add more than just a logline)
Krystol Diggs

Feature Film: I’ll Never Tell

Genre: Thriller

Contact: (Add phone number and Email address)

Logline: Honesty Cummings keeps a terrible secret from her family while her
mother also hides a skeleton in her closet.

Synopsis: Just like any other high school girl, Honesty has a crush on her
teacher. While batting her eyes at Mr. Henrey, there is someone who has an
obsession with her. Afraid to tell anyone, she keeps her secret to herself only to
find out that her mother has a skeleton in her closet, too. But her mother’s
secret is one that will shock everyone, even Honesty
This is pitch that I emailed to a company who was looking for thriller scripts. They requested the screenplay, but then they passed on it. That is okay. You will get a lot of rejection on this business. Just remember to NOT take it personal. After all, this is a business and everyone will not like what you write. You now have your screenplay, logline written (there are always hard), and you ready to pitch! Best of luck to you and I hope to see your work on screen!

Bio: Krystol Diggs has been writing since the age of 15. Her debut novel Through Her Eyes was the jump-start of more to come from this author, and now screenwriter, and publisher. Krystol has received her Masters degree at Full Sail University with an MFA in Creative Writing. She has written four screenplays, two short films and a host of other books in the various genres of fiction, thrillers, erotica, young adult and drama which can be found on amazon.com. She has also written for magazines such as Raw Talent Magazine and Bougie Magazine, interned at IFashion Network as a writer and now is a reporter/journalist for CNN’s Ireport section. Krystol is currently attending Walden University where she is studying for her PhD in Psychology

Reach out:
Blog: www.writingsbykrystol.com

If you found this post helpful, please use the Share buttons to spread the word about it.

Don’t have a copy of Become A Successful Author? What are you waiting for?Become A Successful Author is used in the “How To Write That Novel” course at Chicago State because it covers everything from branding to writing to editing to formatting and uploading electronic and print books to marketing and so much more. Your time is money. Look at all the time, thus money, you’ll save by ending your search for answers: Purchase Become A Successful Author for only $4.99 (eBook) or $8.99 (print) from: Amazon (US), Amazon (UK), Barnes & Noble

Adapting Your Novel Into A Screenplay by Krystol Diggs

You have this great novel that has probably sold well and now you think it will be a good film. I know that writing a novel is no easy feat, but now it’s time to adapt your baby into a screenplay. It may be difficult to some, but here are some easy tips that will help you.

First things first: Even though you may have written the book or may be hired to adapt a book, read the book twice before you start your process. Read it the first time for leisure and to get a good grasp on the main characters. The second time, start to take notes on the characters, how they look, their personality, and things that they say. Once you have done these steps, make a detailed list of each character that’s most important to the story. If you have to, this is also the time to do some research about things you are unfamiliar with. Remember, although this is fiction, fiction has to be believable. If it’s a biopic film, then it is imperative that it is believable. With movies, it has to look real and be believable, or your audience will realize it is not. When it comes to screenplays, it is a different ball game. The audience wants to see if the screenwriter can put on a great movie.

Second: Now that you have your outline and a structure for your screenplay, it’s time to format it into your paradigm worksheet (See below about the paradigm sheet). When the worksheet is completed, it’s time to start writing your screenplay. Keep in mind, that everything WILL NOT be added into your screenplay from the book. Some parts should be omitted, but the basic storyline is there with the characters.

Examples of Film Terminology: INT (Inside), EXT (Outside), ACTION (Action Scene), FADE IN (The beginning of your screenplay), FADE OUT (The ending of your screenplay), CUT TO (Camera goes to next scene)

The Paradigm: The Paradigm is a blue print of what your screenplay will look like.
Act I- Beginning
Act II- Middle
Act III-End

Act I- Unit of dramatic or comedic action
Act II- Unit of action that begins at the end of Plot Point I and extends through the end of Plot point II. (This portion of the script is approx. 50-60 pages).
Act II is about conflict and obstacles overcame. It’s also a unit of dramatic action. Act II goes from the end of Plot point II. (Approx. Pg. 80-90 to the end of the screenplay.)
* Remember that resolution means solution.

Act I- Everything in Act I sets up your story.
A plot point is the story’s progressive point.
Plot point I is the true beginning of your story. A plot point can be anything you want it to be as long as it moves the action forward.

Act II is the most difficult to write because it’s the longest unit of action.
The function of Plot Point II is to serve the story progression.
For example, Plot point I, Plot point II can either be a decision, a line of dialogue, a scene or an action sequence-anything you want it to be.

Act III deals with the context of resolution other wise known as (the solution).

Remember that the average length of a film is 2 hours long, which makes the average screenplay between 90- 120 pages long.

I write my screenplays in Final Draft. I know some people who use Word, or a program called Celtx. . Final Draft is software that’s used to write your screenplay.

Questions: Here are some questions to think about when filling out your paradigm sheet:
1. What is the solution to your story?
2. Does your character live or die, sink or fail, go on a trip or not?
These are some of the questions to be answered during the writing process of your screenplay.

IF YOU ARE SERIOUSLY INTERESTED IN WRITING YOUR SCREENPLAY YOU SHOULD:
1. Read as many scripts as you can that are your genre.
2. Watch every movie that you can afford in your genre.
3. Download screenplays for free: Simply Scripts.com or Dailyscripts.com.

Try this exercise: Before you express your story, know these things:
1. The Ending
2. The Beginning
3. Plot Point I
4. Plot Point II
These elements are the structural foundation of your screenplay. Once you know these four elements draw the paradigm. The exercise is designed to prepare you to structure your own idea so you can move into the next stage of your screenwriting process.

Okay, now that you have learned about the beginning stages, how research is important and the paradigm let’s get busy!

AN EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST PAGE OF A SCREENPLAY

FADE IN:

SCENE HEADING: INT. HOUSE – DAY

ACTION: JORDAN, 18, brown eyes, wears a satin blue gown, sits at her vanity table putting on make-up for the prom. As she applies blush, she looks at the pictures of her and MIKE, blonde hair and blue eyes, as they kiss each other. CARLA, Jordan’s mother, brown skin with brown eyes knocks on the door.

CHARACTER: CARLA

DIALOGUE: Jordan, Mike’s here and he looks so cute in his tuxedo!

CHARACTER: JORDAN

DIALOGUE: Mom, I will be down in a few minutes, I have to finish my make-up.

Smiling from ear to ear, Carla has tears in her eyes.

If you found this post helpful, please use the Share buttons to help others.

Follow and Subscribe:

Twitter: @Krystol1 | Facebook: www.facebook.com/writingbykrystol

Blog: www.writingsbykrystol.com | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/KrystolDiggs

Bio: Krystol Diggs has been writing since the age of 15. Her debut novel Through Her Eyes was the jump-start of more to come from this author, and now screenwriter, and publisher. Krystol has received her Masters degree at Full Sail University with an MFA in Creative Writing. She has written four screenplays, two short films and a host of other books in the various genres of fiction, thrillers, erotica, young adult and drama which can be found on amazon.com. She has also written for magazines such as Raw Talent Magazine and Bougie Magazine, interned at IFashion Network as a writer and now is a reporter/journalist for CNN’s Ireport section. Krystol is currently attending Walden University where she is studying for her PhD in Human Services.