How to Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide to Getting a Television or Film Deal [Paperback]

Lydia Wilen (Author), Joan Wilen (Author)

Book Description

Series: Square One Writer's Guides | Publication Date: January 2003

In today’s topsy-turvy world of film production, getting a screenplay sold and produced is no easy task. How to Sell Your Screenplay not only lets you in on the rules, but also lets you in on the secrets of winning the game.

Written by two veteran screenwriters, this book is a complete guide to getting your screenplay seen, read, and sold. It begins with an insider’s look at how the business works. Later chapters guide you in putting your script into the proper
format to make a professional first impression, introduce you to the roles of the industry “players,” help you prepare a perfect pitch, and provide you with a proven system for query submission. Throughout, tips from experts will show you how to swim with the sharks without getting eaten by them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lydia and Joan Wilen, professional writers for over two decades, have sold three feature film scripts, one CBS Movie of the Week, and one ABC-TV Afternoon Playbreak. The Wilen sisters have also written a number of best-selling books, including Chicken Soup & Other Folk Remedies and The Perfect Name for the Perfect Baby, as well as articles for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including the New York Daily News Sunday Magazine.

Lydia and Joan Wilen, professional writers for over two decades, have sold three feature film scripts, one CBS Movie of the Week, and one ABC-TV Afternoon Playbreak. The Wilen sisters have also written a number of best-selling books, including Chicken Soup & Other Folk Remedies and The Perfect Name for the Perfect Baby, as well as articles for a wide variety of magazines and newspapers, including the New York Daily News Sunday Magazine.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Square One Publishers (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0757000029
• ISBN-13: 978-0757000027
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,071 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #63 in Books > Arts & Photography > Performing Arts > Reference

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-read for anyone thinking about being a screenwriter!, August 30, 2001

By 

D. B. Gilles (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How to Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide to Getting a Television or Film Deal (Paperback)

This rocks! This tells you everything--I mean, everything--you need to know about breaking into the crazy profession of screenwriting. The Wilen sisters pull no punches. Besides the practical need-to-know stuff, the book is filled with the realities of the business. The numerous anecdotes from produced screenwriters are enlightening, entertaining and sometimes harrowing. I teach Screenwriting at New York University's Tisch School of the Arets. This book is going immediately onto my required reading list.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First rate superior work, August 27, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide to Getting a Television or Film Deal (Paperback)

I am a professional screenwriter, have worked at every studio, had three films made, with one Oscar nomination. I was sent this book as a courtesy, and even though most of the writing-related books I read are craft-based and not about how to break in, this has to be the most comprehensive, detailed, reader-friendly and writer-sensitive book I can imagine. It is like being told everything you need to know and having your hand held and your back patted and your existence affirmed all at the same time. The case histories, mostly by "made" writers themselves, are supportive and informative. No one can write your script for you. But if I had to break in all over again, I would be grateful as heck that this book were out there. My only problem with it is that there wasn't something like this around for me when I was starting out. In every other way, this book is great news for the emerging screenwriter who is serious about making this a career and a business, and not just some pipe dream.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I laughed, I cried, February 4, 2004

By 

john smick (iowa city, IA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide to Getting a Television or Film Deal (Paperback)

I sent the following e-mail to a friend that was looking for advice on how to sell his screenplay:

I just finished writing my second screenplay and I'm researching how to market it. I bought an EXCELLENT book that walks you through not only the script format (which was invaluable because I thought I knew the stuff and learned a lot) but also the marketing and research you need to do to sell the script. It's called 'How to Sell your Screenplay' by Lydia and Joan Wilen.

In addition to chapters on finding people to read your script, how to pitch your ideas, how to organize your search, how to word and format correspondence, this book is full of great insider stories about the screenplay trade and I highly recommend it as a starting point. Even if the guy doesn't find the book especially enlightening, the back is full of other resources (an annotated bibliography, web resources, etc) that will help him learn the business.

So, in a word, I recommend this book. I give it five stars and I've only read half of it. I found so may tips and interesting anecdotal stories in the first half, it's worth every penny.