Example of a query letter/email that got a positive response?...

I believe Katie's question was specific to linking to her SR PROJECTS. Not an SR Profile. 

So, when someone does that (hit the link), they are going to have to go through the read request process. Just my opinion, but I think that would irritate them.

In terms of putting a link into your profile - good that you have had success with that. That being said, if I ran an agency I would fire anyone I knew that clicked a link from a person they did not know as that is the predominant entry point for malware/phishing. 

My advice would be to send an angry email IN ALL CAPS with bad punctuation and terrible grammar insisting that they will die a terrible, slow death if they don't immediately respond to your demands.

Pester them thrice daily until they respond with a 'cease and desist' letter...

Ergo - I've no idea - but I will follow this thread with keen interest.

Vic.

I have a pitch link that I include on queries for a particular project (we're in the financing stage). I can track when it is opened and I'd say that it gets opened 50% of the time, even by reputable companies including CAA. 

On the query letters, what are you seeking in your query letter? Are you looking for representation or a producer or an actor attachment? Either way, I typically open with a pleasantry, then state why I'm writing and include the logline. Short sweet and to the point. Example:

Dear Important Person (***USE THEIR NAME!!),

I hope you are having a nice weekend. Congratulations on your Important Award on your recent short. Super impressive! (****DO YOUR RESEARCH!)

I am writing because we are currently seeking financing for our comedy feature, Crazy Athol. 

Logline:  A pint-sized San Diego detective must pose as a big-time wrestler's wife under witness protection in Athol, Idaho. Think Miss Congeniality and Did You Hear About the Morgans? (with a sprinkle of Napoleon Dynamite);

Can view key attachments on IMDBpro or via the pitch link (*LINK GOES HERE - won't link in this forum as again, tracking the opens)

 The script has several accolades and is currently ranked in the top 5% of all projects on Coverfly including all comedy projects. Please let me know if you'd like to give the script a read or would like to set up a call to discuss.

Sincerely,

Cannon Rosenau (***USE YOUR NAME, DON'T USE MINE HEHE)
pro.imdb.com/name/nm11007680
Agent: Simpson Literary Agency

Sot that's kind of the template I use and has been very successful in obtaining an agent and key attachments to different projects. I hope it was helpful. Every project is unique, every contact is unique so it's all very fluid.

I've also used Screenwriter Staffing as well and you do get requests which is great. Great way to connect! 

Best of luck!

Thanks for sharing, Cannon - I think you have a solid approach.

Question - pitch link - is that your own site you are referring to (i.e., you designed a link with all the relevant  info on your script) or a service you are using?

Hi, David, 

I wish I was that tech savvy! That's a lie, I actually don't - I'd become Amish if they had streaming services! I'm using a service called Script Hop. I was grandfathered in for free as I signed up when it was in Beta. The reason why I'm being a freak about it is that it only tells me when the link is clicked (and script downloaded, synopsis viewed) but it doesn't tell me from where. And we're in the phase where I need to know who to follow up after we make an investor contact. Maybe I'm over-thinking all that, but it makes me feel better knowing who is opening it! Have a great day!

Thanks for the info! Food for thought 

I tried Screenwriting Staffing Query Letter service that Jerry Robbins suggested. The query letter went out today and I've received five read requests so far. As Jerry said in his post; "The replies have been from all over the map - from well established producers to small budget companies." 

Anyway, don't know if anything will come of it, but I think it's a good service and I'll probably use it again.

That's awesome, Lance! I'm looking forward to trying the service myself, probably in the next couple of months.

Hi Don, it says on the website for the email blast, over 3000.

https://www.screenwritingstaffing.com/query-letter-blast

I'm not sure if there's anything to calculate. Their email mailing list includes a wide variety of industry members, and some may not be interested in buying a script right now. I wouldn’t be surprised it takes years to calculate numbers. Personally, I don't know of anything, especially for new screenwriters, whether free or paid, that provides some kind of guarantee.

I'd just keep track of responses, if I get any, and maintain communication. Jerry did mention that one of the responses he received was months after the fact. So, maybe just hang in there.

Don - first, sincere best of luck. Hope one lands.

I have not used this specific service, but my gut tells me the ROI really has less to do with the number of letters sent out vs. the number of quality requests you receive and who you receive them from. e.g., give me just 3 requests from CAA, Verve, and Netflix vs, 30 requests from a list of wannabe producers. 

I have checked out the site - it looks pretty slick. I did think the number of success stories they reported (275) seemed low given that they have been in existence for 9 years. And they are counting everything from a film being made to a writer getting a manager.

I would add, at least IMO, the pricing does seem reasonable.

Anyway - here's hoping you crush it! 

I forgot to mention it's also shared on social media, but I don't think anyone has the exact numbers on that.
https://www.facebook.com/screenwritingstaffing/

Lance and Don: Thanks for sharing your experiences with Screenwriting Staffing! I'd be interested in updates. 

I'm considering giving them a try after the holiday season. I like the idea of the email blast; it's the sharing on social media that gives me pause. If members of this platform continue to share positive experiences, it may convince me to take the plunge.

Andrea, I totally understand your hesitation. In fact, when I found that out, I said to myself, nope. But then I found out, it's shared in their private social media groups. So then I thought, okay, I don't mind that. Of course, as always, it's up to you.

Small update. I decided to join Screenwriting Staffing's Facebook group. I have no intention of participating. I just wanted to see what's posted. Not a lot, as it turns out. It's a small group. However, I found out in that group that the query service was started in 2021, so it's only a year old.

Andrea - I am guessing that sharing on social media is voluntary. i.e., you only report your success story if you want to. Kind of like contests. 

One item to be aware of - they advertise one query blast for $79 and two for $99. I sent them an email to clarify if the $99 option was two separate query letters or pitches for two scripts in one email - they responded that it was the latter. Personally, my opinion (with no evidence to back it up) is that two queries in a single pitch is less than optimal. Always felt it was like spraying some one with a hose rather than a glass of water - i.e., this is THE product for you.

Lily & David:  I joined Screenwriting Staffing's Facebook group when this thread started. I logged on today to verify that I can actually click on links to other people's loglines/query letters. I don't love that. And, as David pointed out, some had two scripts in one query letter. I don't love that, either.

I'm guessing I could pay their normal fee and opt out of having my loglines/queries shared on social media? It seems like other writers must be choosing to do this since there aren't a ton of these links on their Facebook feed. So much to think about, and I'm probably overthinking it!  

Andrea, I feel ya. I'm guilty of overthinking, all the time. And yeah, you're right, there really isn't much in the Facebook group. In terms of two scripts in one pitch, it would depend on what you're offering. Jerry offered two different genres, and he said that someone may skip down to the holiday script, which makes a lot of sense to me. However, if I didn't have two different genres to offer, I would definitely reconsider the two pitch option. If I had only one script to offer, well, obviously only one pitch. But, two pitches, is a substantial discount. Two pitches of two scripts that are the same genre? I...don't know. 

Don, I haven't seen anything that shows any culling happens. The only thing I've seen is they send pitches to their mailing list. I have seen posts in the Facebook group that start with sentences such as "Are you looking for a thriller script?" So it's not all random.

Stage32 offers pitches per individual, that you can pick choose, such as managers or execs. As far as I know, Screenwriting Staffing doesn't offer that. Not yet anyway. Who knows? It's so new, things might change within a year.

Andrea - just checked out the FB site and you are correct. Yeah... not sure I would be comfortable with the logline plus synopsis on FB. Got to mull that over. 

ADDENDUM: Just sent them an email to see if you can opt-out of the social media posting. Will let you know what they say.

Just confirmed.  You can opt out of social media posting 

David: Good to know! Thanks for checking into it and sharing this information. Now it's highly likely that I will try it, probably in early February.

Don: I hope they do some culling. I don't think they'd be taken seriously if they mass blasted in ways that sent horror to Hallmark. It would make them a nuisance. I'd also be curious as to how many companies my scripts were sent.

Lily: Good points about the genres. I have comedy and drama. I'll have to continue overthinking this, but maybe things will change by February.

I submitted my query letter to the site last week, but they aren't sending my email blasts out until this Friday. I'm not sure why I had to wait longer than other people, but I will let everyone know how it goes. 

I've been subscribed to the Screenwriter Staffing jobs e-mail list for a while and I appreciate there are always one or two free listings per message (tho those have yet to match up with what I'm doing particularly so I haven't responded thus far).

Also following on social media via Stage 32 & LinkedIn... the guy who runs it seems nice, but from what I've happened to see on those two platforms the posts don't generally appear to get much play.

Always been a bit of an enigma to me. Interested in the experiences of anyone who pays $ after a (months+) period.

Thanks, Jerry for your comment(s).  

Hey Andrea, I'm suddenly a bit concerned. I hope you don't think I'm pressuring you into doing something you don't want to do. The query service is literally a mass email. They'll make it look all nice and pretty with a specified genre, but that's pretty much it. All they've done is just collect the names of industry members, a wide range, that are already connected to the website and started a paid service to send emails to everyone on their list. If you're not comfortable with that, I would not recommend it.

Like Derek (hi Derek, haven't seen you in a while), I've been subscribed to the SS email for a while. I've also done paid screenwriting jobs on that site. When I realized they have these script services, and there are several options beside email blast, I was surprised. SS is a staffing website, no different from calling a staffing agency if you want to hire a secretary. So, as I just learned, any service for original screenplays is very new.

So I hope everyone realizes, and I'm sorry if there was any confusion, that SS is more so for career building, especially assignment writing. I don't know what will happen with their new script services. So far, a few SR members have benefited. It's interesting to watch. Personally, I'm considering the script coverage just as much because if you get a high enough score, free membership for better paying jobs. But, I want to do screenwriting jobs for other people.

If all you want to do is sell that one script (or two) and that's it, I don't think I'd recommend SS.

Hi Lily. Good to see ya!

Screenwriting Staffing Query Letter service UPDATE: Have had a few more script requests since my query email blast was sent out on Nov. 7th. Anyway, I was approached today by an agency (at least I think they're an agency). Haven't had a chance to check them out yet. Here is their webpage:  www.publishersagentsfilms.com  Anyone know anything about them?

Here is their webpage:  www.publishersagentsfilms.com  Anyone know anything about them?

I gotta say, nada. Based on the website, it's run by one person, who's a literary agent, but I'm not finding anything about representing screenwriters. I recommend asking a lot of questions and keep in mind that legit agents don't charge an upfront fee, they take a percentage.

Thanks Lily, I still haven't had a chance to check them out. I was being lazy and hoping that someone dealt with them before and would tell me if their legit or not.

The vibe I got from the website was that it was another email blast service, but I could be wrong. Have to do my due diligence.

Anyway, another update on the email blast ... There are three legit companies that asked to read my script. Two of which are busy with productions now but are interested in possibly pursuing in the new year. I will say this, they asked for either a pitch deck or budget proposal (which I had neither) luckily they still accepted the script. I remember Pitch Decks being talked about on here before ... So I'm going to look those threads up and get to work. By the way, these forums are a great resource.

Lance, yeah, something is not quite right with that website, but I don't know enough to say what.

One of the most interesting pitch decks I've seen, which is free to view online, is for Stranger Things. I believe CJ also has a pitch deck or two. I can also confirm those asking for a pitch decks will accept ScriptHop instead, though sadly it's not free anymore. I hope some of that helps!