Hi all.
I've been a long-time lurker on this forum, having found many threads to be quite useful in getting me on the right path in terms of writing screenplays and conceptualizing film. For this I'm very thankful; there are many knowledgeable people on this forum, and it's a great resource!
I have a couple of questions pertaining to the marketability of a screenplay that I haven't really found answered concisely on this website, so I've decided to ask them myself. I understand that, since I do not plan on actually filming and producing my own concept, that these questions may be outside the scope of this forum. However, since this forum has been so useful to me in the past, I thought it would be worth asking.
In short: I'm a relatively inexperienced (read: straight-up n00b) screenwriter. I've conceptualized a series, ideally for cable TV (HBO, Showtime-style), in the vein of the Sopranos and related dramas.
I'm nearly done revising a screenplay for the Pilot episode of said drama.
My questions:
-I'm concerned with protecting the concept and the screenplay and claiming them as my own. For example, I feel uncomfortable sending query letters to agents that surmise the show, and then having them "steal" the concept and claim it as their own. Is the Screenwriter's Guild Script Registration service all I need to protect my intellectual property at this early stage, or should I be considering Copyright for the script? If the latter is recommended, about how much will that run me (I've heard it's a couple hundred bucks)?
-Speaking of query letters, what the heck's the proper format for one that's attempting to pitch a cable TV series? All I can find is information on how to construct query letters for books. Is it the same?
-This agency looks incredible (probably waaaaay outta my league): http://www.buchwald.com/index.html
They've even got ties to HBO, they look like the perfect option for me. But they don't have any information on their website that says they're looking for talent or anything like that; they probably don't accept unsolicited scripts. Should I just e-mail one of their agents about sending a query letter/logline, or is it a better route to physically send the query letter to their offices (I'm based in NYC) and keep my fingers crossed? Any thoughts on the best way to approach them?
-What kind of a cut can I expect an agency to take, assuming my script gets picked up by a producer? And if it doesn't get picked up by a producer but still gets accepted by the agency, how much money can I expect to be shelling out just to have the agency shopping it around for me?
Am I gonna go broke just trying to shop my script around and most likely fail in the end anyway?
I really believe that the concept is golden (one of the reasons why I'm so concerned with protecting my intellectual property), I believe that I'm a competent writer, and I have the drive, the courage, and the determination to pursue my dreams. All of that being said, I'm still a hopeless n00b when it comes to this stuff, and any help would be greatly appreciated!
I've been a long-time lurker on this forum, having found many threads to be quite useful in getting me on the right path in terms of writing screenplays and conceptualizing film. For this I'm very thankful; there are many knowledgeable people on this forum, and it's a great resource!
I have a couple of questions pertaining to the marketability of a screenplay that I haven't really found answered concisely on this website, so I've decided to ask them myself. I understand that, since I do not plan on actually filming and producing my own concept, that these questions may be outside the scope of this forum. However, since this forum has been so useful to me in the past, I thought it would be worth asking.
In short: I'm a relatively inexperienced (read: straight-up n00b) screenwriter. I've conceptualized a series, ideally for cable TV (HBO, Showtime-style), in the vein of the Sopranos and related dramas.
I'm nearly done revising a screenplay for the Pilot episode of said drama.
My questions:
-I'm concerned with protecting the concept and the screenplay and claiming them as my own. For example, I feel uncomfortable sending query letters to agents that surmise the show, and then having them "steal" the concept and claim it as their own. Is the Screenwriter's Guild Script Registration service all I need to protect my intellectual property at this early stage, or should I be considering Copyright for the script? If the latter is recommended, about how much will that run me (I've heard it's a couple hundred bucks)?
-Speaking of query letters, what the heck's the proper format for one that's attempting to pitch a cable TV series? All I can find is information on how to construct query letters for books. Is it the same?
-This agency looks incredible (probably waaaaay outta my league): http://www.buchwald.com/index.html
They've even got ties to HBO, they look like the perfect option for me. But they don't have any information on their website that says they're looking for talent or anything like that; they probably don't accept unsolicited scripts. Should I just e-mail one of their agents about sending a query letter/logline, or is it a better route to physically send the query letter to their offices (I'm based in NYC) and keep my fingers crossed? Any thoughts on the best way to approach them?
-What kind of a cut can I expect an agency to take, assuming my script gets picked up by a producer? And if it doesn't get picked up by a producer but still gets accepted by the agency, how much money can I expect to be shelling out just to have the agency shopping it around for me?
Am I gonna go broke just trying to shop my script around and most likely fail in the end anyway?
I really believe that the concept is golden (one of the reasons why I'm so concerned with protecting my intellectual property), I believe that I'm a competent writer, and I have the drive, the courage, and the determination to pursue my dreams. All of that being said, I'm still a hopeless n00b when it comes to this stuff, and any help would be greatly appreciated!
