THROUGH THE LENSE: STARTING UP AS A SCREENWRITTER

 

Over time, I have seen WRITERS struggle trying to know the best way out in screen writing without

fundamental research and knowledge. Somehow my curiosity grew and that raised my

interest  in finding out what the problem might be. Interestingly, I discovered many have developed

that self-fear within while some just have a feeling that it can be done and then  move on without

basic research.  I don’t think I can do this. Writing is for greater minds, most say ignorantly. Yes that

could possibly be true but sincerely, everyone is great if he/she feels so. However being a writer

starts within, developing the interest from the inside. i.e the desire to write.

Most believe to become a screenwriter, they need to write one great script, get that script

into the hands of an agent, the agent sells it for lots of money, and then Boom! Their career has

begun. This is not actually how to become a screenwriter. You can have a great script and yet not

produced. The joy of every screen writer is to see their works being produced.

This is what happens most times.

 

Over the years, haven worked on many productions and haven read several scripts, I can tell you

that most writers in Nollywood have failed to hid to the principles of writing and that has made

most of their screenplays horrible.

There are no right way to success other than having information and information comes only by

study , your hunger for knowledge and the zeal for success.

Overview

Most people believe that to become a screenwriter, they need to write one great script, get that

script into the hands of an agent, the agent sells it for lots of money, and then boom! Their career

has begun. 

Writing a script is obviously not picking your pen and paper, and writing that story that keeps roving

through your head. No! This is not actually how to become a screenwriter.

Let me explain what really happens 99% of the time.

7 phase of becoming a screen writer

1.       Develop a library of materials

 

2.       Build a network of relationship

 

3.       Get hired to write professionally

 

4.       Get an agent

 

5.       Start a water bottle tour

 

6.       Establish your positioning

 

7.       Branch out if you like.

Phase 1

In this Phase , you are developing a library of material.

 

This means more than one script. In fact, it means at least 2-3 finished scripts in the same genre, along

with several other projects in development in the same genre.

These are the key words: “in the same genre.”

This may be hard to hear, but the fact is that agents want to represent writers who specialize in a

particular genre and who likely have multiple projects in that genre. But for Nollywood where

everything goes the case may be different but not totally far from being same which means identifying the genre you are  very good at.

This is because after you sell the first project, you have “heat” – you’re the hot, fresh, and exciting

new writer.

When you have heat, any other finished projects you have are extremely sellable, and, the best

news for you, is that your second and third projects are likely to sell for increasingly large sums

of money.

Phase 2

In phase 2, as you develop your library of material, the next important component of learning how to

 become a screenwriter is to build a network of relationships.

Like all competitive businesses (fashion, investment banking, politics, venture capital), having a solid

community of professional relationships is often the key to getting the right door to open in the first place.

Even though this networking phase strikes fear in the hearts of many (introverted) writers, it is

something you can start working on from wherever you live in the world.

Your goal is to find like-minded people in your local community.

Is there a state or national film office?                          

Film festival where you could volunteer?

Short film you could produce?

Writer’s class, group, or conference?

Online community to join?

Social media network to connect on?

You want to build a group of people who look forward to meeting you for a meal, talking to you on

the phone, people whom you can ask for advice, whom you respect – and they respect you, too.

Each person you add to your network of relationships dramatically increases the chance that when

you have developed the library of material that you need, that you will know someone (or know someone who knows someone) who can help you.

Phase 3

You’re thinking, “is this where I get an agent?”

Not yet.

In Phase 3, you get hired to write professionally.

Most people who have successful careers as screenwriters get their first professional writing job without

an agent. In Nigeria the aganet thing is not very obtainable which means that your are the agent and you

are the one to move out discuss your ideas with potential producers or great friends who shear

positively in your thought.

Getting your first professional job typically happens because you have a network of relationships and

you’re known for being an expert in a particular genre.

You get job opportunities like:

Producing a web series

Writing industrials (advertising, marketing, fundraising, educational or training films)

Working as a writer’s assistant

Doing a rewrite on an independent film

Writing jokes for a comedian friend

Do your job well and people will want to work with you on future projects.

Phase 4

In Phase 4, you get an agent.

Yes, you may get a manager or you might partner with an established producer first, but the key aspect

of this phase is that you get an agent.

One of the biggest myths writers believe is that an agent will be interested in them because of the

quality of their material.

They hope that they will be exception to the rule and the agent will love them for their potential.

The truth is that an agent may love your script (and that helps), but you can go out, hook up with

producers yourself and get them in the know of what you have.

 Agents are brokers. In the same way stockbrokers buy and sell stock and are paid on commission,

agents in Hollywood arrange transactions between buyers and sellers and are paid only when the deals

go through. But in Nollywood, the industry is still developing and growing. However, writers have got to

take the bull by the horn and like I said, get into that office with a proposal plan for your script and get

talking. The very good thing is that the producer might not be interested at the point but don’t give up.

You have in a way registered your presence. But make sure you find a way to slip the story idea to him in

few seconds. If he is aroused by your pitch, then you are good , if not, he will connect you to someone

who he feels can get the script done or likewise buy and keep it till he/she is ready to go on production.

At the point when an agent becomes interested in you, it’s typically because you are being considered

for a big job or there’s a sale pending, and you need someone to negotiate your deal.

That’s when an agent swoops in to collect their commission – when you’ve done all of the hard work,

made your own opportunities, and are right on the brink of a big payday. But… you have an agent!

Phase 5

In Phase 5, you take the “water bottle tour” and try to capitalize on “heat.”

As soon as your agent has negotiated a deal for you and you’re signed with the agency, your agent sets

up meetings with development executives and producers who may be able to hire you or who could be

interested in your other projects.

It’s called the “water bottle tour” because everywhere you go you’re asked by an assistant, “Can I

get you a bottle of water?”

When you have “heat” because you’ve recently made a big sale, gotten a lot of press, or gotten a

major star or director attached to one of your projects, agents typically set up between 50-100

meetings.

This is a major threshold in becoming a screenwriter.

In the best case scenario, you develop relationships with decision-makers who want to work with you.

They suggest projects to you and ask for you to come in and pitch ideas. You are hired for rewrites and

hopefully make a couple sales quickly.

Unfortunately, writers who are good at writing but not at pitching and handling themselves in meetings

don’t convert their heat into paying work.

Then, they fade into obscurity while they develop new material. It can be hard to recreate the initial

momentum and excitement of the first round of meetings set up by your agent.

 Phase 6

In Phase 6, you establish your positioning.

As you get hired for bigger projects, complete those assignments, meet more people in the business,

perhaps sell an additional script, you are building your reputation and establishing your positioning.

Your positioning means that you are the acknowledged expert in your area and anytime a producer has

a problem with a script in your genre, your name comes to mind.

You are proving that you can deliver writing under deadlines, handle notes, work with a variety of

people, and hopefully get one of your projects greenlit and made.

While it’s not required to get projects made to have a career as a working screenwriter, it sure doesn’t

hurt.

Phase 7

In Phase 7, you can branch out.

By branching out, I mean that you can try a new genre, different medium, or try being a writer-director.

You’ve proven yourself. Decision-makers are more willing to listen to you, trust you, and take risks along

with you.

You’ve earned the right to take a chance.

Unfortunately, this is exactly where most aspiring writers are trying to START.

They’re trying to break in with something that is complex and original, a blend of genres, with an

ensemble cast, expensive budget, multiple interweaving storylines, constructed in six acts, 193 pages

long… you get the idea.

I hope after reading this post and learning the 7 phases, you can see why this is often an exercise in

frustration.

Strategy

A strategy to become a screenwriter has four main parts:

Career Strategy: An approach to the next phase of your career

Networking Plan: An authentic way to meet the right people

Pitching System: A method for pitching your ideas effectively

Meeting Strategy: A system to handle meetings of all types

So, as you’re thinking about where you are on the path to become a screenwriter, here are four questions to consider:

Are you working on the right projects?

Are you meeting the right people?

Do you know how to pitch?

Are you succeeding in meetings?

Don’t despair if you can’t answer all four questions with a resounding “Yes!”

That’s okay. You’re a writer, an artist. Your primary job is to write.

You’re not expected to automatically be an expert at career strategy, networking, pitching, and

meetings.

But when these four elements are in place, good things can happen fast.