screenwriting questions

[tomvolz]

I guess I should start with a quick background summary. I had written two novels and recently done a screenplay on one of them through the encouragement of a friend (a cinematography major from Chicago). He said my books read like screenplay treatments. When I finished the screenplay, he read it and offered editing advice for several rewrites. He said it was "the best amateur-written screenplay I've ever read." I didn't want to burst my bubble by asking how many he had read, so I just took it as a big pat on the back.

I have it in one competition. Should I enter it in more? Should I start contacting agents? Is the screenplay query process the same as it is for novels?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
Tom

[dpaterso]

Welcome to the forum. Congrats on the pat on the back. :)

If you haven't already seen 'em, here are a couple of articles that might interest you, from link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.Wordplay's most excellent link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.Columns:

38. Breaking the Ice. The query letter. Getting to the second date. Twenty common mistakes from the slushpile. Three real query examples: the good, the bad and the ugly. (Includes links to three query letters.)
link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.

37. Proper Treatment. The ultimate no-win situation. No matter what you put in, they'll criticize what isn't there. And you don't even get paid. (Includes links to two outlines & one treatment.)
link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.

If you haven't already, check out the screenwriting tips (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24087) thread which contains info plus links that you may find useful, including ways to submit queries to production companies.

If you're looking for some impartial feedback, we have a Screenwriting critique forum (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=60) where you're welcome to post pages.

PS - Stadler and Waldorf. :)

-Derek

[tomvolz]

Thanks for the links.

Tom