Screenwriting is not only about writing good scripts that have a compact storyline, is well researched and is the perfect material for a good film. Screenwriting is also about marketing the script and building a network of people who are useful. Marketing a script can be done with the help of pitching, but individual visits to producers can be tiring. Hence, film festivals, and more importantly screenwriting festivals are important for the career of a screenwriter.

Such festivals can be a great learning avenue for a newcomer, an eye opener in real sense. It is not only about meeting potential investors and discussing scripts but getting to know the industry and its needs a lot well. This report discusses the advantages of visiting a festival in the career of a screenwriter.

1.To know what genres and stories filmmakers prefer currently: It is a great opportunity to measure the industry. There would be scores of directors and producers present in the festival, all discussing their current or future projects. A particular trend could be noticed if observed carefully. The writer should observe the trend and try to write scripts that go along with the trend.

2.Meeting filmmakers, agents and other writers: This is perhaps the main purpose of a film festival. Interacting with people who could buy the scripts would give the writer an honest idea about his creation. It is extremely beneficial to receive feedback and suggestions from parties concerned, and it should be implemented in the scripts.

3.Attending workshops and seminars: This is an added bonus of attending film festivals. Seminars, workshops and conferences are immensely beneficial, especially for the budding writers, as a lot of ideas come up during the meet. Just listening to the conferences would result to nothing, one has to implement them and improve their writing. It is not only experts, from whom something can be learnt; the peers might also provide some valuable advice or feedback.

4.Film festivals have always served as a great motivation for inspired writers. The complete industry, along with the glamour is truly motivating for everyone, especially for the ones who want to create a mark in the industry.

Thus it is important to visit such festivals, make full use of it, make a network of peers and seniors from whom assistance can be expected and a few contacts with filmmakers must also be made. Film festivals have often been the launching point of many a screenwriter, so it is a tried and tested avenue, and quite a successful one too.

Writing a decent script is not enough. It should be interesting to the audience, and in order to reach the audience, first, it has to catch the attention of a producer or a director, or even an agent in that case. The best way to attract investors to a script is by pitching it nicely. Pitching is basically a verbal summarization of the script with special emphasis on the main characters, the conflict in the story along with certain important features like the genre and target audience.

With changing times, effective ways of pitching has also changed. Producers and agencies have now taken the aid of technology to help them listen to the pitching of scripts. This not only is a fair medium, but also saves time of giving an appointment and enables to consider them at own convenient time. The report delves into the possible online avenues of pitching a film script.

1.Via email: Most producers or directors welcome this medium of considering scripts. It is advantageous for scriptwriters as well, as it saves them the time to go and meet each and every producer personally and make an effort of pitching the script. However, the process must be structured so that it can be efficient for both parties concerned. A fixed format must be followed with the genre and a brief logline being the subject of the mail. The pitch should not be long but should be able to communicate the main theme of the story. In some cases, the writer would want to attach a video of their pitching for better chances of their script getting selected. This is helpful, but attachment size must be considered, as a huge attachment would be deterrent for the writer, as the producer might not want to download it.

2.Online: There are certain websites that facilitate submissions of pitching. A few would let the writer create a web page of their own, showcasing their profile and pitching their scripts. This is an upcoming medium for pitching. This is useful for scriptwriters and as well as budding directors and potential producers. It is basically a community where the writer pitches his/her script openly for anyone to respond. However, there are certain disadvantages in pitching a script online. Pitching a script public might result in the idea getting stolen. It is a good practice to provide a teaser of the script and the interested parties can be requested to contact the writer for further information. This is basically partially pitching the script.