Originally Posted by kane

I've sold a couple a scripts and worked as a writer in the past so I have a little insight for you.

Here are the first things you do.

1. sit down and write up a detailed synopsis of your movie. Don't just write a single paragraph, but really get into the details. This synopsis should be anywhere from 10-30 page long (maybe even longer depending on how detailed you get). Make sure to include character names, specific jokes and anything you think is important to the story.

2. register that synopsis with the Writers Guild. They will give you an archive number that is stamped with a date and time that it was received. this way if there is ever any question as to when you registered the idea you have proof.

3. Now that you have your idea registered you can start to pitch it. As mentioned by Jim, unless you are an industry player it is going to be next to impossible to get any kind of meetings with the big guys and even if you do just an idea is hard to sell. If it were me I would try to write the script. If you are not a good writer you might consider trying to either hire one or partner with one. There are plenty of hungry writers out there who might jump at the chance to work on something.

4. Once you have a finished script now the best thing to do is get an agent. While the script is being written get yourself listed in the trades (variety, hollywood reporter). All you have to do is contact them and get the production info fax number and you fax them the information about your project. Basically you will just list the name of the project and who is involved. List yourself as the producer and list a fax number and a number you don't mind getting hammered with calls on. Your fax will now run out of paper from responses and your voice mail will fill up. Also you will get endless headshots in the mail of actors wanting to be in your production. You are mostly interested in production companies, agents and potential low level execs that are going to call to find out about your project. Talk to these people and start networking. Read the trades and see who just got hired and fired at the studios. New execs will be hungry to develop new business and will be more willing to talk to you. Newer agents will be more willing to talk to you about your project.

5. Once you have a finished script get listed in the trades again. This time list yourself as being officially in development and start fielding the calls again. In a perfect world you would like to get an agent and let them get you pitch meetings. If you can't do that then at least start calling every contact you have made and try to get in the door. It will be very difficult, but you never know. The new exec you talked to 6 months ago that just got promoted might now have some power and remember you and will be willing to read your script. This is what happened with me. I knew a woman that was a low level assistant to an exec who introduced me to someone and I ended up writing a short film for a couple of guys and helped produce it. A year later I had a feature length script done and I had kept in contact with that low level exec. She was now a vice president in charge of new script development at Sony. I got a meeting, did a good pitch and got my script read. They passed, but that meeting got me an agent and I eventually got the script optioned. nothing ever came of it, which is typical, for every 1000 scripts optioned or bought 1-2 movies actually get made, but if I had never kept in touch with her I would have never got in that door.

Be patient and be willing to put up with bullshit. 95% of people you meet will not be able to buy your script and will be unable to help you in any way, they are just like you and are trying to get in the door, but they talk a good game. I was told by that exec at sony that writing/selling ideas in hollywood is actually 10% writing and 90% selling yourself to the people that buy your ideas so you are going to have to network and really hustle to even have a chance.

Good luck.