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MONDAY, JUNE 18, 2007

Writing a Great Query Letter

A good query letter should go something like this:

Month, Day, Year C'est moi. Julie Gray. Hello.

(four spaces)

Company Name
Person You Are Sending To
Street, Suite
City, State
Zip

(two spaces)

Dear Mr. Bigshot: VALENTINE'S DAY

I hate it 0 (0%)
(two spaces) I love it 3 (42%)
Wasn't that a massacre? 4 (57%)
Here are my bad-ass creds; A graduate of USC, I am a Nicholl's
winner, placed second in the Antarctic Script Competition and make Votes so far: 7
great apple cobbler. Incidentally, I just loved BOOM CHUCKA DING Poll closed
DONG; what a great movie!

I have written a script called NUNS OF THE PEACH ORCHARD; a

romantic comedy set in 19th century Italy. Here is a great logline,
which tells you who the main character is, what the conflict is, what
the stakes are and has a cute little teaser that doesn't quite give
away the ending; will she or won't she? Does the peach brandy win
the prize? The executive or manager will have to read the script to
THE SCRIPT DEPARTMENT
find out.

If you are interested in a read, I would be happy to send a hard copy

of NUNS or a pdf via email. Or a copy strapped to my rat, Wilmer,
who incidentally, hasn't bitten anyone in a couple of years. I have
enclosed an SASE for your convenience.

No widget
Warm Regards,
found.

(four spaces)

Your printed name here, your signature in the space above

If you haven't got personalized stationery, put your contact
information here, under your name. Be sure to include your phone
number and email address.
Get Text Alerts
******** your phone number

Subscribe
In other words, Wavers, the first paragraph should be your bona
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fides. Any competition wins or placements should go here, as should
any film program or impressive university you graduated from. If you
have not got any filmic or screenwriting bona fides, try to find
something you can say by way of introducing yourself. Obviously,
having creds in the screenplay world is a great attention-getter and
this is why I recommend leading off with it. Suddenly, you are taken
BLOG RUSH
a bit more seriously - you have something to brag about. Again,
those who feel they have no creds, get creative - think of
something, anything that gives you some credibility. If your script is
set in a coal mining town and you grew up in one, mention it. If your
script is about doctors and you're a doctor - mention it. Maybe you
had an open heart surgery and now have a baboon heart - if that
has direct bearing on your script - mention it. Paragraph one is
about piquing interest.

If the recipient of your query has recently wrapped or even

debuted a movie, mention it. It demonstrates that you're in the
know and that you've taken the time to follow their career just a
bit. Not in a stalky way - don't mention their new twins or that great
house on Oak Lane. Your SASE may just contain a restraining order.

The second paragraph is your logline-teaser. Lead off with the

title, and be sure to mention the genre and time period. Then lay
your gorgeous logline on them.

Wrap it all up in the third paragraph, by graciously offering to

send the script in any format should they be interested in a read.
Make it easy for them, include an SASE.
PICTURE OF THE DAY
Do:

Research the recipient; know their movie or client creds

Be brief
Be gracious
Get to the point
Make sure your logline rocks
Note your accomplishments or credentials
Include an SASE
BE YOUR OWN PROTAGONIST

Don't: June 21-22, Burbank, CA

Babble
Beg
Be too self-deprecating
Make stuff up to look good
Name drop
Include pictures, cd's or supplemental materials (you think I'm
kidding!)
Be annoyingly twee or clever; you're dealing with grownups Weekend Box Office,
Jan. 28–30

In summary, a query letter should be quick and dirty: get in and get 1. The Rite $14.8 M
out. Be gracious and authentic. Try to get some creds down in that 2. No Strings Attached $13.4 M
first paragraph but be honest; don't exaggerate and for god's sake
3. The Mechanic $11.4 M
don't lie.
4. The Green Hornet $11.2 M
Yes, it's okay and customary to query several places at once and no, 5. The King's Speech $11.1 M
you don't need to mention that you're doing it. It's a given. Don't
Source: Box Office Mojo Click for more info.
mention the other agencies you've queried; it's none of their
business unless they want to meet with and possibly sign you. As
above, do NOT name drop; Hollywood is a small town and if you're
full of baloney, you're sunk. You also risk dropping a name that you
were under the impression had some weight but actually that person
is roundly hated, had some big failure or had a breakdown and
moved to New Hampshire.

Recent Readers
Summon all your writerly skills so that your letter is perfectly
You!
presented, graciously worded and mercifully short. Nothing will Join Our Community
mark you as an amateur faster than blathering on - or conversely
being serial-killer brief. Sound like a regular person. Write the letter
YOU would like to receive. Koala B

POSTED BY JU L I E G RAY AT M ON D AY , JU N E 1 8 , 2 0 0 7

L AB EL S : R E P RE S EN T A TI ON , W R I TI N G S TR A TEG I ES neilochka

Mish
2 COMMENTS:

Christian M. Howell said...

Ryan DeRamos
Great post as usual and really timely as soon the queries will
proceed forth. I don't have an HCD sized list yet but I do have the View Reader Community
Done Deal list. Join this Community
(provided by MyBlogLog)

I hope that I can solicit some feedback when I do. I have been
finding that most companies accept emails now which makes ti a
little more "immediate-gratification-like" though probably not
timelier.

The big thing now is to finish a few scripts. I'm well on my way with
my "baby" and a little family comedy that's in treatment stage.

I've been hearing that treatments are an even better way to

approach the industry, so I've been honing my skills at that also.
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