Nov-12-04

Having just slogged through 76 10-minute plays and selected 18 for this years festival I thought it would be beneficial to let those of you out there in on what goes through the producer's/reader's mind when they are receiving and reading your scripts.

Read the submission guidelines
I got a lot of submissions from people who either didn't read or didn't think the submission guidelines were important. When a festival asks for two copies of a script and you send one, they have every right to ignore your submission. I didn't, but I was very tempted. It shows a lack of respect for the organization that will hopefully be putting on your work. Also, when the guidelines stipulate that there are only certain set pieces allowed, don't send a script that needs a grand piano, 1/8 scale statue of George Washington or cream cheese covered replica of Bo Didley.

Send a cover letter
Whether you are sending by email or snail mail just your script is not enough, send some kind of introduction. It's polite and helps you form a relationship with the reader. If I got a script with no cover letter or a blank email with an attached play I immediately put the writer a notch down on my list. I'm not saying that it affected the selection of that play, because many shows were sent to other readers, but it sure didn't help. And if it came down to a tie between two scripts and I had one that was professionally packaged, you can figure out which one would make the cut.

Get it in before the deadline
This is purely a question of time management for me. If you send in a play a month before the deadline I was more likely to read it some night after dinner in a relaxed state of mind. If you get it in the day of the deadline, your script is going to be read with a bunch of other scripts at a dead run. Your work will not get as much attention as it might have. Now, this could work to your advantage in some cases as the last script read, but then again...

Don't take it personally if you're not selected
I've been there myself many times. You think your show is great. The best ever written. It's filled with humor and pathos and the wittiest, most sincere dialog ever put on a page. Well, sometimes you just have to find the right reader to get in. If the first reader isn't in a laughing mood because their hamster just died, then you're going to be out of luck. Being selected is quality plus luck.

Well, that's it from festival-central. If you're unhappy with not having your work selected for a festival, you can fix that. Start your own and see how hard it is. You'd be surprised.