Sabot Productions

Sabot Productions FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Question

Queries
When Do I Show my Script
What's the proper page count for a submission script?
What Books on screenwriting would you recommend?

Answer Queries Queries are a tricky thing, they reveal a lot about you as a writer. Do you have good concept of the story you are trying to sell. Did you read the submission guidelines correctly. Is the type of film you're selling, the type of film this company produces. Should it be sent snail mail, email or faxed? Again, this is all relevant to where you are in your career. At a certain stage you can simply send an email saying you've got a new script, would your prospective buyer like to have a look at it? Otherwise, give the person or production company in question a call and ask what are their submission guidelines. Some people still like to get mail. But above all things, make sure you are sending your script to the right place. Do these people make the kind of movie you are trying to sell. Don't just shotgun your approach. It only pisses people off. Answer
When Do I Show my Script The most common mistake of most writers is to want to show industry professionals their script right after the very first rough draft. Resist this urge at all costs. It's not only unprofessional, it could hurt your chances of selling down the road. The only time this rule is broken is if your Agent or the nice people who paid you in advance (or on completion of the rough draft) ask to see the product. Personally I don't like to show anybody anything before the fourth draft. By the time it's actually in development, you will have rewritten the script approximately twenty or so times.

A script is as long as it needs to be. A lt of times you'll see shooting scripts at 135 pages. Usually this is just to give the Director and DP room to cut scenes when they run long on set. But as a general rule, never go over 120 pages if you can help it. Comedies tend to run around the 90 minute mark and dramas around 110. But remember, if it's a good story, that's well written, then page count matters less and less. What's the proper page count for a submission script?

What Books on screenwriting would you recommend? Well he gets hacked on quite a bit but Robert McKee's, "Story," is still one of the biggest bangs for your buck book wise. Buy the book and save the cost of his seminar. Chris Vogler's, "The Writer's Journey," is an excellent treatise on mythic structure as it applies to screenwriting. It distills Cambell's, "The Hero has a thousand faces," into proper short form. And last but not least, Syd Field's, "The Sceenwriter's Problem Solver," a good book very down to earth and very effective at spotting story problems.

Question
What's the best way to submit?
Answer
What's the best way to submit?
There is no right way to do this but some ways are more successful than others.
First off, let it be said you never send off your MS to anybody unless it's solicited from you by them. Full scripts arriving in the mail go directly to the round file in any production house.
You can query by snail mail but that often goes unanswered.
Your best bets are to use an e-query. Send your query letter to the party you wish via email. Most times it will be answered promptly or at least within three weeks.
The best of course is to meet the Producer in person and pitch him over dinner or drinks (only if they ask). It's much tougher to say no to somebody's face. Be on your best behaviour in this sort of situation. Stay off of the booze or any mind altering substances you like. Nobody want's to work with a nut no matter how talented they are.
Never ever call a prodco unless it's to confirm their email address and the name of their submission's person.

Question
Are Query Letters Still Effective?
Answer
Are Query Letters Still Effective?
There are two schools of thought on this. Some for, (obviously) and others who say it no longer works. Both arguments are valid. Snail mail queries no longer seem to work but equeries seem to work very well. My first option was from an equery and equeries generally have a higher rate of responce than snail mail. The same goes for Faxed queries. The important thing is that either one of these formats still needs to be in the proper format and respectful. Also only query on a completed script. The only person who can pitch on the strength of an idea is your agent. Submitting unfinished work is unprofessional and can get you placed on the don't read list.

Question
Do I need an agent to make my first sale?
Answer
Do I need an agent to make my first sale?
No, but it's not a bad idea to have one go over your contract. It could lead to further representation down the road. At the very least you want the contract gone over by an entertainment lawyer. Ask around for advice on who to go with. Ultimately, it's going to be up to you to decide if the contract is goodand that means that you also have to read the contract from cover to cover.

Question
What do you mean first film?
And this first film will do what for me?
No seriously, what will it do for me?
Answer
What do you mean first film?
Usually a first film for any of us is a short. Most times these days it's shot on DV. Those who can afford it tend to shoot on 16mm. The lucky ones with access to family or govt. money will shoot on 35mm but this is very rare.

Well it'll do a couple of things. It'll show you the gaps in your storytelling technique pretty damn fast. It'll give you some idea of what a writer goes through on a larger project (so behave). You'll get to see your work portrayed by actors in the described setting and last but by no means least, you'll have a finished product in hand to show other producers.
And this first film will do what for me?
I was being serious. The the two most asked questions in film are, "What have you done?" and, "What have you done lately?" This is industry code for, "Where are you on the pecking order?" As a writer you're pretty close to the bottom if you're unproduced, somewhere above the middle if you're produced, higher still if you're being broadcast and at the top of the scale if you've actually got a film deal going on.
A good short can, get you on TV, secure you an agent and impress that blonde actress standing over by the bar there.
No seriously, what will it do for me?

Question
Is it okay to contact other writers and ask them about their relationship with their agent?
My Agent wants me to pay for everything.
My Agent just gave me crap over my last draft.
I think my Script is ready to sell now but my Agent doesn't.
Answer
Is it okay to contact other writers and ask them about their relationship with their agent?
This is sort of a yes and no answer.
If you a currently unhappy with your representation and want to know how another writer's relationship is with their agent then it is probably okay to call them up and ask, after you explain your situation of course.
If you don't currently posses representation then no. It's unprofessional at best and it makes you look like an amature. This is a business of first impressions. If you want to know who these people are, look them up in the industry publications. Every move of the entertainment industry is well documented including who is selling what to whom. All Agencies who are signatories of the guild agreements are listed as such on their websites.

My Agent wants me to pay for everything.
Unless it's a thank you dinner for your last script sale, head for the hills. These are what is known as Fee Charging Agents. And while a few are reputable (the key word being few). The rest will just take your cash and you will be out of pocket for very little return. A standard Agent will take a 10% comission on any sale. They cover the cost of all your photocopying, pop, etc.

Suck it up. He's right. He's the one that has to sell your work and if you're not up to the job and he's called you on it, the fault lies with you not him. If you feel it's an artistic difference, go back to your day job and quit cluttering up prodcos with your garbage. Because if you think you have differences with your agent, wait till you meet the director. Art is dead, long live commerc
My Agent just gave me crap over my last draft.
Bottom line, he's the guy shilling your product and if he doesn't think the widget is ready, it's not. After all, how much money has he made off of you lately? Reputable Agents don't charge fees so by act of reason, it's not in his best interests to sit on your script is it? He or she wan't you to sell just as badly as you do because their cat needs braces too. Quit being lazy and do the rewrite.
I think my Script is ready to sell now but my Agent doesn't.
You want me to write what?
Question
Am I selling out by giving them what they want?
Answer
Am I selling out by giving them what they want?
The real question here is, "Are they paying me?" If the answer is yes, then give them everything they've asked for. If you've done your job correctly, any problems have been ironed out in story meetings before hand. The simple rule of film is if it doesn't work, throw more money at the problem. It's best if they throw that money at you.

Why Pride goeth before a fall
Question
But I'm an Artist and this is my Baby!
Answer
But I'm an Artist and this is my Baby!
Get over it. We write product. Our prime goal is to put asses in seats by giving actors cool shit to do and cool things or at least smart things to say while doing it. If you've got some statement film burning a hole in your gut that you're the only one who gets it, put it away and write something else. When you have the power and the money, you can shoot your masterwork then. Trot it out now and chances are you'll make a complete ass of yourself and end up blacklisted because of it. Oh yes, there is a blacklist Virgina and once you're on it, you're done. Do what they want until you've made enough money to do what you want.


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