Targeting Opportunities
One or more scripts now sit on your desk (or disk), ready to take the theatrical world by storm. All that's required is a terrific production so the world can see all of its glory.
How do you take your play from its place of honor in your home to those who have the power to make it come to life?
Research, Research, Research
You wouldn't think of getting your hair cut at a butcher shop. Nor would you go to your dentist to have your car repaired. Neither should you send the beloved child of your creative labors to an inappropriate place. But hundreds of playwrights do just that. I know. I read hundreds of plays for publishers and producers, and I see far too many plays submitted to places where they didn't belong.
I judged scripts for the National Compact Comedy Contest for two years. As the name implies, the desired scripts were short comedies. The description in the advertisement for the contest was clear. However, among the plays received was one script that ran 90 pages and another that was about one Irish brother trying to convince the other to strap a bomb to his chest, enter a London subway, and detonate himself. Obviously, neither was selected among the contest winners.
People in a position to assist your play into production or publication are usually inundated with dozens, hundreds, or perhaps thousands of scripts. They must quickly weed out those plays that are not right for them so they can focus on the plays that have potential. No matter how good your one-act play is, it will be of no interest to someone who is interested only in full-length shows. Of course, that's common sense. When submitting scripts, use common sense lavishly.
Two annual publications that can be of great value are the Writer's Market and the Dramatists' Sourcebook. These books list publishers, producers, and theaters that are actively seeking scripts. They detail the types of scripts they want, who to contact, and how to contact them. Some of the listings even state how they compensate playwrights.
Investigate Before You Submit
Check out Writer Beware, Warnings and Cautions for Writers. This page is part of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, Inc. web site, so it addresses book and magazine writers primarily. However, much of the information about being aware of those who would prey on hopeful writers is pertinent to playwrights, too.
Latest Articles