For many creative people in the entertainment industry, the word “distribution” makes them break out in hives or cold sweats. It sounds very business-y, and they don’t want to be distracted by that, as if it might take away from their creativity somehow.
People assume that screenwriting takes place in isolation, and then their script gets optioned, and the producers work their magic. But that’s not how it works.
You can't think of yourself as "just" a writer. In order to get something made, you need to be part of a much greater process.
A Script Is Part Of A Bigger Process
When writing a script, you have to strike a balance.
There will of course be a time when you have to lock yourself away in a room, ignore the outside world, and simply get your vision down on paper.
But writing a script is NOT like writing a novel.
For an author, the book is the final product that connects them directly to their readers.
For a screenwriter, the script is just the beginning of a very long process that requires multiple people along the way to shape it into the final film or TV show that audiences will ultimately consume.
The more you know about that process before you start writing, the better your work will be, and the more likely it will be to get greenlit by those decision-makers that you will encounter along the way.
Writers want to be free to create, to write whatever they want, and not have to worry about what the money guys think.
But that’s not a mentality that will bring long-term success to most aspiring filmmakers. That can only come from understanding how content is financed, and how it generates revenues.
Here’s the good news: the key to both of these is distribution. And the even better news? It’s not really that complicated.
Why Is Distribution Important For A Screenwriter (Or Any Kind Of Creative Filmmaker)?
As a writer, your knowledge of distribution will keep you laser-focused on two crucial factors:
Who your audience is
How you’re going to reach them
Keeping these two things in mind from the beginning of your screenwriting process will make you a better writer and help you to build a long and successful career.
However great your script may be, if you’re not creating something that audiences will ultimately want to see, then all your hard work may have been in vain.
Successful Screenwriters Understand The Business
Great filmmakers are not restricted by the business side of the industry and distribution.
Quite the opposite. They embrace it, and let it drive them to create work that is more accessible, more salable, more financeable, and more producible. More people want to see their work, and more people want to finance and produce their next projects. That’s how they enjoy long and sustained careers.
Successful screenwriters and directors are able to put themselves in the shoes of a sales agent trying to sell their project to a distributor. They are able to put themselves in the shoes of a distributor trying to sell it to a TV channel, or trying to market it to the public. They are able to put themselves in the shoes of a producer trying to pitch it to a financier.
Successful screenwriters know what all these people are looking for every step of the way, and are able to deliver it, time after time after time.
Changing Your Mentality
So, how do you change your mentality to be more like them?
First and foremost, you need to be thinking about your audience, always. While your script is a necessary artistic expression for you to tell your story, you are reliant on a string of people spending a LOT of money to produce the final piece of content. That money can only be justified by the viewers that the content will attract, and the money that they will pay to watch it.
All of these decisions will be driven by how a project can appeal to an audience. So, in order to be successful, you also have to be thinking about that audience as much as yourself, if not more so.
Think about distribution as a way of identifying and connecting with your audience. You need to get to know how distribution works, and be thinking about it in the content that you are creating.
Ask Yourself The Right Questions
So, as you sketch out your plot, create your treatment, or write your drafts, keep asking yourself those vital questions: “Who is the audience for this film or TV show? How will I connect with them? What is it about this project that makes it unique enough to stand out from the crowd?”
These are good things to be thinking about when you’re creating your script because it’s what financiers and producers will want to see. You can put your heart and soul into your writing, but if your script doesn’t get made and nobody ever gets to hear your story and see your vision, you’ll be left feeling disappointed.
We'll explore this further in our next post...
To learn more about the Sales & Distribution process, check out our book on the topic: HOW THE HELL… DO I Get My Film Financed: Book Two: Sales & Distribution by Ricky Margolis. For more information on other books in this series, check out all our current releases here.
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