CRAFTING THE PERFECT QUERY LETTER

By Curt Wiser

(WRITER/DIRECTOR OF CAM-GIRL AND AUTHOR OF THE NOVEL BOX CUTTER KILLER)

Every story is about conflict and the obstacles the main character must overcome. The biggest hurdle for an un-produced screenwriter is fighting past the gauntlet of industry people who never hesitate to say “NO UNSOLICETED SCRIPTS.”

Sometimes life can imitate art in profound and unfortunate ways.  First you should understand the reality of why agencies and companies have this policy.  It’s because of the threat of legal action as soon as they read your script and might have a script in pre-production with any similarities.  The second reason is that then have rooms in their building with scripts stacked from the floor to ceiling that they want to read.  There is simply way too much material out there, over 50,000 scripts are registered with the WGA each year.

So how do you get your best spec script read? First I suggest writing more than one script because I’m sure you will find that you get better each time.  Once you have the best example of your work you should focus on writing the strongest query letter that could ever be written for your spec.  This is how you become solicited are even better sign with an agent or manager to represent you.

The hard fact is the next blockbuster could be sitting on an un-produced writer’s shelf and never be read by anyone other than their Mother because they never perfected the art of writing the perfect query letter.

These are the most important criteria for writing your query.

- GREETING: Right from the beginning this could decide if they read another word of your letter and you haven’t even told them the title yet.

Dear Sir, Mr. Hollywood Producer or Miss. Big shot agent will not cut it.  You need the persons name that the e-mail will go to and you need to make sure the name is spelled correctly.  If it’s an androgynous name like Alex or Miko make sure you find out if it’s a Mr. Or Miss by either calling the place or through IMDB Pro.  (If you don’t have IMDB Pro access get it. That service is worth every penny.)

- LOG LINE: This is your “Elevator Pitch,” it is one sentence that quickly tells the reader all of the following about your story.  Genre, Title, Hook, Who the main character is, and What conflict the main character must face and overcome.

Sounds like a lot to cram into one sentence doesn’t it? Often the hook, the thing that intrigues the reader so they want to know more about the story is the same as the conflict. Or it is a brilliant title that leads the reader to picture the whole movie in their head.

Take Snakes On A Plane for instance, and to think that the studio New Line Cinema was reported to have tried to change that title.  According to screenwriter John Heffernan the original title stuck because star Samuel Jackson fought the studio to keep it.

Here is an example, it’s the log line that got my spec script Cam-Girl (aka) Web-Cam read and became my first written and directed by credit.

Cam-Girl is a thriller about Gessica, a single mother who works as a web cam stripper and is pushed to the limit when held hostage by an unknown gunman.

See, one sentence and it’s all there.  The producer who reads that thinks okay a stripper and violence, that’s marketable (If said producer does not object to nudity.)  Then they read she is a single mother.  She lives a double life.  That is interesting.  And she is held hostage by an known gunman. There’s your conflict.  The readers mind races with the possibilities of where that story goes.

That log line also makes it clear from the description that this movie could be made on a reasonably low budget and ultimately it was. It all starts with your log line.  You can test different ones out on your friends until you know which will grab them and not let go.  It is not that uncommon that the log line sounds better than the movie it becomes.  This is because creativity has no limits but a final production is full of compromises and limitations.

- DETAIL:

Next in your query letter is often a small paragraph that adds to the vision of the story that your log line has left in the reader’s mind.  Do you have a really original setting for your story?  If so describe it here.  Is your screenplay based on a true story or actually happened to you?  Mention that, it is often a big selling point because it gives them an angle on how to market them movie.

Is there a scene that is just so good that it will most likely create the visual for the poster? Sum up that scene in a few well written sentences that fits the tone of the scene.

- BIO or THE BIG CONNECTION:

Lastly I suggest you have one last very short paragraph that says something about you or why your spec is one the reader will respond to. This should seal the deal for you as a screenwriter and make them want to read your work.

Did you have any script that was sold or optioned?  Was any of your written work published?  Did you study screenwriting at a university worth noting, like NYU, UCLA or USC?

Here is the key, the most important element for your query.  The number one thing that could set your query letter apart from the others is some connection, any connection between you and the person you’re sending the query to.

You should always do your research first because of this.  Maybe you both went to the same college, you could have a mutual friend of a friend or it could be that you both have an affinity for water polo.  As long as it’s true, put it in your letter.  This proves to the reader that the letter was personally meant for them.  It also shows that you took the time to learn that about them.  They will think you must take your writing seriously.  I’ll give this young writer a shot and read their script.

If this connection you have with the reader is significant, open with it instead of putting it at the end of your query.

- CLOSING:

For the closing politely end your letter in a way that also states why you are asking of this person. I recommend something like:

I would like to submit my spec Cam-Girl for your consideration.

Thank you for your time,

- YOUR NAME and E-MAIL ADDRESS

[And thank you for your time dear reader. Best wishes on your queries.]

- Curt Wiser is the author of the suspense novel Box Cutter Killer:
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