Synopses & Reviews
The Savvy Screenwriter demystifies the film industry and reveals what aspiring screenwriters really want and need to know. From finding and working with agents, to insights about story analysts and movie executives, to understanding option agreements, to providing samples for queries, synopses, treatments, loglines, and outlines, to pitching, Susan Kouguell knows what works and what doesnt, and gives practical advice on getting your screenplay sold. Susan Kouguell is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, and associate producer. As chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, she works as a screenplay and post-production consultant with a client base of more than 1,000 writers, filmmakers, production companies, agents, and studios including Miramax, Warner Bros., and Fine Line Features. Kouguell teaches at Tufts University and Screenwriters Online, and presents screenwriting seminars nationwide. The Savvy Screenwriter explains the film industry and reveals what aspiring screenwriters want and need to know. From finding and working with agents, to insights about story analysts and movie executives, to understanding option agreements, to providing samples for queries, synopses, treatments, loglines, and outlines, to pitching, Susan Kouguell knows what works and what doesn't, and gives practical advice on getting your screenplay sold. "A remarkably comprehensive, enjoyably irreverent, and practical guide to the realities of the film marketplace."Jeremy Pikser, Academy Award® Nominee for Best Screenplay, Bullworth "Kouguell's blunt and honest approach provides a sobering, insightful guide to the realities of the marketplace."Scr(i)pt magazine "A savvy book by a savvy writer and educator, written with clarity and wit, providing worthy insights into the diverse challenges confronting screenwriters . . . truly a worthy new contribution to the literature."Richard Walter, UCLA Screenwriting Chairman "With a sense of humor and intimate knowledge of how the system works, Kouguell explains a difficult and perplexing process in language writers can understand."Screenwriter magazine "The book is concise, well structured, objectiveand a bit humbling."MovieMaker magazine "With a sense of humor and intimate knowledge of how the system works, Kouguell explains a difficult and perplexing process in language writers can understand."New York Screenwriter Monthly "Her thesisthat savvy screenwriters will do better than ignorant or misinformed onesshines."Creative Screenwriting Magazine
Review
"A remarkably comprehensive, enjoyably irreverent, and practical guide to the realities of the film marketplace. "
-Jeremy Pikser, Academy Award® Nominee for Best Screenplay, "Bullworth"
"Kouguell's blunt and honest approach provides a sobering, insightful guide to the realities of the marketplace.
-Scr(i)pt Magazine
"A savvy book by a savvy writer and educator, written with clarity and wit, providing worthy insights into the diverse challenges confronting screenwriters...truly a worthy new contribution to the literature."
-Richard Walter, UCLA Screenwriting Chairman
"With a sense of humor and intimate knowledge of how the system works, Kouguell explains a difficult and perplexing process in language writers can understand."
-Screenwriter Magazine
Synopsis
The Savvy Screenwriter demystifies the film industry and reveals what aspiring screenwriters really want and need to know. From finding and working with agents, to insights about story analysts and movie executives, to understanding option agreements, to providing samples for queries, synopses, treatments, loglines, and outlines, to pitching, Susan Kouguell knows what works and what doesn't, and gives practical advice on getting your screenplay sold.
About the Author
Susan Kouguell is an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker, and associate producer. As chairperson of Su-City Pictures East, she works as a screenplay and post-production consultant with a client base of more than 1,000 writers, filmmakers, production companies, agents, and studios including Miramax, Warner Bros., and Fine Line Features. Kouguell teaches at Tufts University and Screenwriters Online, and presents screenwriting seminars nationwide. Her website: www.su-city-pictures.com.
Table of Contents
Preface to the Second Edition: Empower YourselfAcknowledgmentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Your Questions--My Answers Chapter 2: Story Analysts: Who Are They and What Are They Looking For? Chapter 3: Coverage Chapter 4: Is My Script Ready for Submission? Chapter 5: The Quest for a Winning Query Letter Chapter 6: Sharpening Your Synopsis Chapter 7: All about Pitching Chapter 8: The Red Carpet Treatment Chapter 9: Okay, I Finally Finished My Script, Query, Synopsis, Pitch, and Treatment . . . Now What? Chapter 10: Finding an Agent. And Hallelujah, I've Got an Agent! Now What? Chapter 11: Entertainment Attorneys--A Different Kind of Advocate Chapter 12: They Like Me! They Really Like Me! (Or at Least They Say They Do) Chapter 13: Tips on Approaching Writing Assignments and Finding Harmonious Collaboration Chapter 14: Your Screenwriting Mantras Epilogue AppendicesSavvy Lingo--Glossary of Screenplay and Film TermsCineFile--Print and Online ResourcesAbout the AuthorIndex