How to get your screenplay rejected – Screenplay “pre-rejection” -- what they didn't teach you

Got rejected on your screenplay story pitch: not even getting rejected with respects to the quality of the writing, but just on the presentation of the story synopsis – the idea for a movie you wrote?

This, my writer, is called a “pre-rejection”: you wrote a one page synopsis of your story, you sent it into a literary agency for screenwriters, or a production company or producer, and you get a letter a few days later that states, “thank you for you time, and after sincere consideration, we gave it a ‘pass’….”

A pre-rejection is a rejection NOT of your screenplay, but just on the premise of the idea, that is only one page long, or less, to entice the recipient to ask for you to submit your screenplay for their consideration.

By the way, a “pass” is a “no thank you”.

But how do you over come this obstacle?

Simple things to consider –

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. 1. Expect to be pre-rejected 99% of the time.

2. 2. There is nothing you can do, no matter how great the writing is: I’ve met many people that hated Titanic, and just as many that hated Saving Private Ryan. So, remember, you can’t convince people to love your story, even if you beg, pleaded and paid them.

3. 3. Think small: send it to small agencies, or unknowns in the movie industry that are also trying to break into the game too, or struggling producers that may be receptive to your story (because they already have credits regarding your genre).

4. 4. Keep the synopsis summary to a minimum: time is of the essence – its easier to pitch a story in 20 pages and 60 minutes, but you don’t have the luxury – pitch it in 4 sentences and 15 seconds.

5. 5. When writing your synopsis, make sure to compare it to two successful movies e.g. if it's a romantic comedy with lots of action, feel free to mention: "Just think, When Harry Met Sally meets Romancing The Stone".

6. 6. Remember, all stories have already been done; your job is to convince them you wrote it in a new light that makes it original.

7. 7. And last to consider, they won't see the story, they will only be looking at the pitch -- generally speaking, pitches don't tell you if the story writing is good or bad.
   
   Let me quickly elaborate for you: If I pitched someone, "Hey, I got this story about a shark terrorizing a resort island," or "O man, I got this story, just think, Aliens attack Earth and we fight back!" Ok, maybe those are not too great of ideas, so how about, "I got this awesome sports idea -- a no name boxer gets his shot at the title!! What cha think?"
   
   Who knew these three pitches were going to be great movies -- JAWS, Independence Day, and Rocky!!
   
   So, don't get too discouraged, but keep pitching and pitching and pitching...o, make sure you know who you are sending it to also ;)

[jaicard]

on 10/22/2009 Great advice and tips!

[grammastacie]

on 10/22/2009 different, interesting, informative! 5* and recommend.