How To Sell a Screenplay

Handle any emergency with Howcast’s First Aid app – howc.stExpand the description and view the text of the steps for this how-to video. Check out Howcast for other do-it-yourself videos from CinemaSlam and more videos in the Screenwriting category. You can contribute too! Create your own DIY guide at www.howcast.com or produce your own Howcast spots with the Howcast Filmmakers Program at www.howcast.com You may have written the next Hollywood blockbuster — but unless you can finance the film yourself, you’ll need to sell the screenplay to a producer who can make it come to life. To complete this How-To you will need: An original screenplay A copy of the latest Hollywood Creative Directory Script-writing software (optional) (optional) (optional) (optional) (optional) Step 1: Finish an entire script Write and revise an entire script. Unless you already have a reputation, you won’t be able to sell a treatment, a synopsis, or anything else but a full, complete script. In the industry, this is known as a “spec” script. Tip: Make sure your screenplay is properly formatted. You can find information on proper screenplay format online. Or, use script-writing software to simplify the process. Step 2: Register your script Register your screenplay with the Writers Guild of America. Got to wga.org to find out about the registration process and how it can protect you. Step 3: Come up with The Sentence Distill the plot of the screenplay down into one sentence, known as the “logline