Script Submission Advice

Myself and my co-writer have shot a sitcom pilot and written a screenplay ready to send off to various production companies. I am aware we will have to write a brief covering letter explaining who we are, the idea, the format and our writing experience but we are unsure how much more we have to do. For example how many episodes do we have to write before sending off? Do we write an outline of how we see the series developing? And if so is it just for one series or two. Any advice and guidance would be useful at this stage?

The usual done thing is to send off the pilot script, (and in your case the footage) a covering letter and an outline of rough ideas for future episodes, showing them how you envisage the progression of the series.

You don't really need to send any further outlines, but it's really up to you if you would like to; if they want to see more they will ask. Again, with the 'how many episodes should I write' bit, it's up to you; I only ever write the pilot itself and then, for when they're needed, work up some outlines and material for future episodes.

Why not check out the Pinned advice threads for newbies in this section?

Your profile says (amongst other things):

Writer, director, actor and comedian who has written, directed and started in the short film 'Harris & Doyle: Let The Good Times Roll' and algonside Dan Pearce in the sitcom 'Back to Class'.

I would have thought you wouldn't need to ask.

Please don't take this the wrong way; I'm just curious.

Hi James.

For what it's worth my advice would be to write as many episodes as you want but only send one off, and make sure it's as good as you can get it. Imagine yourself as the reader, then imagine the bits that are boring you. Then go back and take those bits out.

You can write an outline of the series if you want but keep it VERY brief, and by that I mean a paragraph on each episode. If they want to hear more, they'll ask.

And a final wee bit of advice - unless your filmed interpretation is the absolute dog's bollocks with worthy performances, don't send it in. Acting out or filming your own sitcom is a great tool for honing your script and getting a handle on gags that do or don't work off the page, but it's rarely a path to a commission, because home-spun stuff is usually shit. I'm not saying yours is, but just - you know - be careful. TV producers are used to working with pro performers / directors and you don't want anything clouding their judgement of a potentially great script.

Quote: Lee Henman @ May 20 2009, 1:03 AM BST

And a final wee bit of advice - unless your filmed interpretation is the absolute dog's bollocks with worthy performances, don't send it in. Acting out or filming your own sitcom is a great tool for honing your script and getting a handle on gags that do or don't work off the page, but it's rarely a path to a commission, because home-spun stuff is usually shit. I'm not saying yours is, but just - you know - be careful. TV producers are used to working with pro performers / directors and you don't want anything clouding their judgement of a potentially great script.

View original

It's a fair point your making but we are very confident in our pilot episode. We've had a few people in the industry take a look already and there confident it will impress. We are also having a public screening at The Picture House in Exeter so the quality has to be at a certain level but I can understand your point and that's why the script/screenplay is also at a high quality that you can just read that and find it amusing we feel the DVD just makes it a cut above the rest.

Quote: James Cotter @ May 20 2009, 11:44 AM BST

It's a fair point your making but we are very confident in our pilot episode. We've had a few people in the industry take a look already and there confident it will impress. We are also having a public screening at The Picture House in Exeter so the quality has to be at a certain level but I can understand your point and that's why the script/screenplay is also at a high quality that you can just read that and find it amusing we feel the DVD just makes it a cut above the rest.

View original

Excellent. I only mention it because I have actually seen a couple of home-spun demos and they've always been awful. But obviously if you're certain it represents the script in the best possible light, I'd say go for it, absolutely.

Quote: Morrace @ May 19 2009, 10:24 PM BST

Your profile says (amongst other things):

Writer, director, actor and comedian who has written, directed and started in the short film 'Harris & Doyle: Let The Good Times Roll' and algonside Dan Pearce in the sitcom 'Back to Class'.

I would have thought you wouldn't need to ask.

Please don't take this the wrong way; I'm just curious.

View original

'Harris & Doyle' was a short film that was made to be shown at Exeter's Picture House last year, it wasn't really something I wanted to send off to various production companies and plus it was a different format to 'Back to Class' my new project with Dan Pearce. 'Back to Class' is something which we deliberately wrote and shot to be sent off to production companies so that is why I am asking for some advice.

If you are going to send it off I'd tone down the CV a little.

Quote: James Cotter @ May 20 2009, 11:44 AM BST

...but we are very confident in our pilot episode.

View original

I would say everyone of us here have said the same thing about our own pilot episodes at some point.

Quote: Deferenz @ May 20 2009, 12:04 PM BST

I would say everyone of us here have said the same thing about our own pilot episodes at some point.

View original

We are confident because we think it's great which is obvious I know but we have had a few industry people look over it and we have been told it's very good by them which of course makes us even more confident that this is worthy of gracing the small screen.

Quote: James Cotter @ May 20 2009, 12:18 PM BST

We are confident because we think it's great which is obvious I know but we have had a few industry people look over it and we have been told it's very good by them which of course makes us even more confident that this is worthy of gracing the small screen.

View original

Well, I hope it goes well and wish you the best of luck with it.

Quote: Deferenz @ May 20 2009, 12:28 PM BST

Well, I hope it goes well and wish you the best of luck with it.

View original

Thank you very much and good luck with any projects you've have going at the moment too.

Quote: James Cotter @ May 20 2009, 11:49 AM BST

'Back to Class' is something which we deliberately wrote and shot to be sent off to production companies so that is why I am asking for some advice.

View original

Fair enough.

Quote: Marc P @ May 20 2009, 11:58 AM BST

If you are going to send it off I'd tone down the CV a little.

View original

...I agree. However, I'd tone down the CV a lot, whether or not you're going to send it off. One thing I must say though; you're extremely prolific for a 19 year-old! You're obviously going for quantity.