I know this is probably a silly topic but I need some help and hopefully you good people can help me.
I have just finished writing a sitcom and need to know what to do next....I have a rough idea but....
Do I send it to production companies? agents? directly to TV companies?
Is this done via e mail? post?
Again apologies as I am sure most of ypou have answered this a million times but I just wanted to be sure.
Thank you all
If it's the best you think you can make it, then start sending it out to production companies by post.
I'd recommend sending a short query letter asking if they'd like to read your material first. Just a paragraph saying who you are and why you think your script would appeal to them. And like Matt says, don't send anything until you're absolutely sure your script is as good as can be.
Quote: David Bussell @ January 21 2009, 12:30 PM GMTI'd recommend sending a short query letter asking if they'd like to read your material first. Just a paragraph saying who you are and why you think your script would appeal to them.
Maybe a good idea. Not that I've ever done that, but it's an idea. Depends on the prod company really though.
Oh, and don't forget to pray.
I'd say.... Nothing. In the first instance. Put it away for a month and don't look at it. After that, read it again and see if anything else could be improved.
You could post some here if you want a view from your peers.
Then send it out. If you're feeling flush, I would recommend Marc Blake's script reading service so you have an industry insight and can base a rewrite on that first.
Then send to production companies, probably by post. As previously suggested, you could write to them first as ask what format.
Quote: steve by any other name @ January 21 2009, 4:28 PM GMTI'd say.... Nothing. In the first instance. Put it away for a month and don't look at it. After that, read it again and see if anything else could be improved.
You beat me to it steve. There is nothing like a month in the draw to highlight the issues you need to work on.
I think that when you have just finished a script you are too close to it, too emotionally involved at that particular moment, and in many cases you cannot see anything wrong with the work you have done. The 'draw' will sort this out for you. When you visit the script in a month you may be amazed at what you spot.
In the meantime go and start another project.
Def.
Sound advice from Steve and Deferenz.
Even sounder advice, in all honesty, would be to bury it somewhere very deep and begin working on your next sitcom without giving it a second thought. Your first script is invariably going to be an embarassment to you a year down the line so why inflict it on others?
It's not what a beginning writer wants to hear I realise (I would have scoffed at the thought of my first script not being saleable) but come back a year from now and tell me you don't agree with me.
Quote: David Bussell @ January 21 2009, 5:22 PM GMTSound advice from Steve and Deferenz.
Even sounder advice, in all honesty, would be to bury it somewhere very deep and begin working on your next sitcom without giving it a second thought. Your first script is invariably going to be an embarassment to you a year down the line so why inflict it on others?
It's not what a beginning writer wants to hear I realise (I would have scoffed at the thought of my first script not being saleable) but come back a year from now and tell me you don't agree with me.
I agree with you - but with a caveat.
Even though your first script will most probably spend the reminder of its existence on a memory stick, I think it is still good to try and get something positive from it in the way of feedback from either your peers or someone who knows the game. Even with a first script that will never be picked up by a prod co, it can still be beneficial to a new writer to know that, at least in some areas, they are ticking the right boxes. Personally speaking, the feedback I got from my first script gave me enough confidence to continue trying and wanting to improve the craft of my sitcom writing.
Def.
Thats all fantastic advice thank you...
This is actuall my second script as I have already completed one and it is currently out of sight and mind!!
Thanking you all
Good luck.
God, I'm so glad not to be starting out again . . .