Develop your screenplay for submissions in 2025!
Unsolicited Scripts Only, Please!
Process This!
One of the first projects assigned to me and my fellow classmates in film school was to make a "process" film. A short film that clearly depicts a process completely from beginning to end. Little did I know how important an assignment this was. At the time I was too stunned by the wide range of "processes," to appreciate the valuable lesson my (undoubtedly, sick and tired) instructor tried to impress upon us. Students submitted films leaving nothing for the imagination. For example: The process of how a cow grazing upon a grassy field makes its way to your grocery store shelf. Don't we all wish we could have an uncle who owns a slaughterhouse? On a much lower budget, one student shot the process of taking a shit. Yup, food went in, and eventually, food came out! Simple, yet memorable.
Years later after working on several problematic feature films, I take great comfort in my ability to recognize process. Everything that "is" has a process that defines it. A process that no matter how terrible or wonderful will inevitably conclude. Writing a screenplay is a process, there is a beginning, a middle, and an end. The process from beginning to end is as unique of an experience as the stories themselves - I am so grateful for the process.
-- Written by Jennifer Leo
Does Hollywood Only Want What They Know To Ask For?
The safe bet is to go with that which is tried and true, the known entity, the usual suspects. After all, filmmaking is an expensive and risky business by nature, you can't blame them for wanting a script they can bank on, a script which will allow them to sleep well at night, a sure thing! The problem with this way of functioning? It's an illusion - there's no such thing. The reality is that Hollywood is short-changing itself of the opportunity to read truly original work from writers who emerge from the most unlikely places, who's ideas have brewed for years while living the lives which inspires their stories. Screenwriting Services is proud to introduce a script collective in 2024! The Script Shop is stocked with scripts developed and finessed by writers working in association with Screenwriting Services, and available exclusively to industry professionals searching for unique original stories - stories no one has ever heard, and certainly have never seen - yet.
--Written by Jennifer Leo
Write Yourself A Happy New Year!
Happy New Year! Well, it could be. I work with a lot of writers who complain about writer's block, or not having enough time to dedicate to the script that's burning a hole in their brain. I have learned over the years that just making the tiniest effort each day can snowball into an avalanche of productivity resulting in not only one script, but a trilogy! Screenwriting can be overwhelming on a good day, but with the right support system which, yes, does include getting out of bed and turning off the tv, you can reach your goals. 2023 has been the most productive year of my life as a writer, and I've had my share of "life," to deal with at the same time. In the last year my family has coped with chronic illness, emotional hardship (protecting the innocent on this one) monetary challenges, cancelled vacations, heart-brake, COVID on Thanksgiving, unemployment, employment transitions, and a writer's strike! Giving myself the space to work, turned my year around. New Year's resolutions come and go, but a precious few can save us. I encourage everyone to embrace the clean slate, give yourself space to take baby steps, and above all else - stick with it! Cheers to 2024, may it ooze with productivity!
--Written by Jennifer Leo
Pitch Perfect!
Learn how to pitch your screenplay - you don't have to go through this process alone!
Pitching a script can be a lonely process, but you don't have to go it alone! Most new screenwriters have no idea how the pitch process works (they don't teach this stuff in school) and the landscape is constantly changing. Today is a particularly difficult time within the industry to pitch a script, as if there was ever an easy time - there was not. Whether you have a horror film, rom-com, action, thriller, sci-fi, drama, dramedy, comedy, true-crime, fantasy, mystery, reality-tv series, stuff-people-watch-in-their-basement, or any other new and wonderful genre, we can get it pitch-ready for those who may actually buy it. So many people send scripts off to people who are not even legally allowed to view your pitch materials. That's right, most studios, agents, producers, etc will not view "unsolicited scripts." This is arguably the point in the process where you need be most creative. There is more than one way to usher your script out into the marketplace and each writer (if persistent) will find their own path. Most script services help writers to develop a screenplay, then the screenwriter to figure out how to sell it / produce it. That's not what I do. I actually provide services to coach screenwriters on how to develop their pitch materials, and how to get those materials to agents, producers and studio execs to be seen. Writing the script is the EASY part! Pitching the script is the gut-wrenching, pride-swallowing, frustrating, makes-you-want-to-pull-out-any-hair-you-may-have-left part. But, we can discuss your goals for your script, develop a pitch plan, and walk you through the process step by step. No one should have to suffer this process alone!
--Written by Jennifer Leo
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The Business Side of Being a Screenwriter...
Learn how to write a screenplay and still afford an extra shot in your latte.
Writing a screenplay? That’s the fun part. Selling a screenplay? Getting a job in a writer’s room? Getting hired to write a feature? This is the hard part. The thing is, until you vest as much time (perhaps more) into promoting your work as you vest in creating it, you’re going to feel alone on a deserted island - just you and your script. There is the writing side to being a screenwriter and the business side to being a screenwriter. Excuse me while I rant for a minute on how film schools across America are neglecting to teach about the business of being a screenwriter. In most cases, screenwriting students graduate with varying levels of knowhow as to how a screenplay is to be formatted, character development, story structure, blah blah blah. Yes, of course, being able to draft a top shelf screenplay is a must-have skill if one wants to be a screenwriter, but it won’t matter if one has no idea how to “shop” a script, how to compile pitch materials, or how to contact people who can actually help to get a script produced. It’s hard to believe with all the money some of these top universities charge, that they're neglecting to teach how to actually make MONEY as a screenwriter! Ninety-thousand dollars a year for a bachelors degree in screenwriting at USC. Meanwhile, students are graduating with no clue as to how to pay their huge college loans as screenwriters.
There is more than one path one may take to earning money for one's work, and surviving (paying rent, groceries, utilities, etc) as a screenwriter.
That’s right, you’re ideally supposed to be able to do this for a living! When you start out, no one tells you how to balance your life to make your goals of becoming a paid screenwriter possible. This is why I am writing this blog, this is why I am teaching students who are coming out of some of the top film schools in the country how to actually get paid for their work. This is is the near impossible part of being a screenwriter that no one is talking about because everyone is completely daunted by the gut wrenching, mysterious, entrepreneurial process of being a screenwriter. I cannot make it easy for you, it’s one of the hardest things you will ever do, and there will be sacrifice to make it happen, but let’s take the mystery out of it, shall we?
--Written by Jennifer Leo
