A one-step deal is a deal in which a studio hires a screenwriter to write a single draft of a screenplay, and all future work after the delivery of that draft is optional, at the discretion of the studio. These vary from more traditional two or three step deals, where the writer is guaranteed at […]
What is the difference between a logline and a tagline?
A “logline” is a movie’s concept boiled down to one or two sentences: On his deathbed, a father tells the story of his life the way he remembers it: full of wild, impossible exaggerations. His grown son tries to separate the truth from the fantasy before it’s too late. A “tagline” is a short, clever […]
What should I look for in an agent or manager?
Your agent and manager will help steer the direction of your career. Accordingly, you want to be sure your representatives are people who share the same philosophy and vision as you. Some good questions to ask a potential agent or manager: Who are your other clients? Who are people you plan on sending me to […]
How short can my screenplay be?
Generally speaking, as a novice your spec scripts should be between 110 and 120 pages. The rule of thumb with screenplays is that one page equals one minute of screen time. Of course, this is not an exact science, nor do all movies run between 110 and 120 minutes, but keeping your screenplays in this […]
How long should a screenplay be?
There is no set page count for how long a feature screenplay should be, but generally speaking, your spec scripts should be between 110 and 120 pages. The rule of thumb with screenplays is that one page equals one minute of screen time. Of course, this is not an exact science, nor do all movies […]
What is sweepstakes pitching?
Sweepstakes pitching (also know as a “bake-off”) is when a studio or producer brings in many different screenwriters to pitch on the same project before deciding which one to hire (“the winner”). In most cases, sweepstakes pitching occurs when the studio owns a licensed property — such as a character or board game — for […]