Query Letters, Loglines & Synopsis

Query letters are short sales pitches for your script and contain the following details:

Logline: A catchy 25-30 word (200 character max) glimpse of the entire movie.

Genre: The category for your film such as Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi, etc...

Synopsis: 1 or 2 paragraphs (1000 character max) revealing more about the plot and main characters. The shorter your synopsis is, the better and the more likely that it will be read. The goal of your synopsis is two-fold: 1) Create a reason why the story needs to be told and 2) Leave the reader wanting more.


Here are a few basic Query Letter Do's and Don'ts:

Do: Introduce the lead character
Don't: State names of actors and actresses that would play the role well
Do: Be creative and original and pique the reader's interest
Don't: Tell the reader where, when, or how to produce the film
Do: State awards and competitions that you have won or placed in
Don't: List pending or future competitions that you submitting to
Do: Provide your WGA Registration # if available
Don't: Threaten to prosecute the reader if your material is stolen
Do: List your current contact information
Don't: Use a goofy catch phrase or slogan with your signature
 

LOST LITTLE ONE Storybook Trailer

LOST LITTLE ONE - Adventures In Ice-Land Storybook Trailer from Dax Allen on Vimeo.

4-FILMS FUND

If you have screenplays you would like to submit for the 4-FILMS FUND, please e-mail them to to dallen@4-show.biz . We only accept original material submitted by the owner of the copyright of the screenplay. Please do not submit treatments, ideas or incomplete screenplays. They will automatically be thrown out.



4-Films is a multi-faceted group of local independent professionals who have aligned to use their skills to empower, educate, and uplift the Louisiana and specifically the New Orleans community in which we live and serve through the medium of feature film.



4-FILMS is a $7 Million film fund to produce 4-FILMS created and supported by Louisiana filmmakers in the efforts of “Rebuilding New Orleans One Production at a Time”. As producers of quality local film productions, we recognize that there is a void in the United States and abroad for “INDEPENDENT” Movies that reach a diversified age group and cross various boundaries.


Thank You.

Dax S. Allen, PMBA
4-FILMS, Inc.

WRITING A SCREENPLAY

FOUR STAGES OF ANY SCREENPLAY

1. THE STORY CONCEPT - A single sentence telling who the hero of the story is and what he/she wants to accomplish
2. THE CHARACTERS - The people who populate the story
3. PLOT STRUCTURE - The events of the story and the relationship of the characters; determines what happens in the story and when it happens
4. THE INDIVIDUAL SCENES - The way the words are laid out on the page - the format, and how one writes action, description and dialogue to increase emotional involvement.

ELEMENTS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCREENPLAY

1) Marketability
2) Creativity
3) Script structure


STORY ALWAYS BEGINS WITH A WHAT IF? QUESTION
What if this happened?
What if that happened

Every movie needs ENTERTAIN AND DRAW EMOTIONS FROM the reader, laughter, tears, sadness, anger, joy etc...

QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO ANSWER BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO WRITE

Who is your main character?
What is he/she trying to accomplish?
Who is trying to stop him/her?
What happens if he/she fails?
Whose story is it?
Who do I care about, identify with, follow in this film?
To what extent do I see the story through a specific person's point of view?
Where do I start the scene/end the scene?
What is the point of the scene?
Why include the scene at all?
What's the most important information the audience needs to get from the scene?
What is the scene's focus?
Where is the scene heading?
Does the scene move the story further?
Does the scene have a direction? A sense of going somewhere? A point to make?
Do I get out of the scene after the point is made?
Have I remembered that scenes are about images?
Have I remembered to play the image, to play the conflict, to play the emotions, rather than simply play the information?
Is the relationship of my scenes interesting?
Are my scenes repetitive? Flat? Boring? Or is there something dramatic and fascinating happening?
Will the audience be entertained?