The more you interact with film industry professionals, the more you’ll notice certain phrases being repeated when they pass on your script or pitch: “It’s too familiar.”; “I like it, but don’t love it.”; “It’s great, but is it a movie?”; and the dual question “Why this story? Why now?”

The latter has its variations, but essentially what film industry people want to know is how your script/pitch is relevant to the world today and by extension the screenplay marketplace. And in most cases, if they’re asking this question, it means they don’t think it’s relevant to either.

There’s also the question of who you are as the writer: are you the best person to be telling this story? This is especially important when you’re presenting something to people with a cultural element or relates to a social cause. Hollywood is highly sensitive to optics these days: it’s no longer just what you’re writing about anymore; who is writing is an important contributing factor.

When you’re deciding what to write and come upon a potential concept, you should ask yourself these three questions before going to script: 

Why Your Screenplay? 

Why Now? 

Why You?

Let’s tackle this one question at a time…

Why Your Screenplay?

This first question is the most important because of the deeper question beneath it: why should an industry professional invest time and potentially money into your script? They might not come out and say it, but the film business is indeed a business and no one is going to spend time or money on your project without a clear end goal. 

The end goal of anyone who champions a script or concept is to see it get sold and produced into a motion picture. If your script/concept checks the necessary boxes for a sellable project, it has a chance of finding champions. Managers, agents, and producers know what these necessary elements are and they’ll be considering the following:

Are scripts like this selling in the current marketplace? Is there a role a bankable actor will want to play? Will the budget be cost-effective? Is the setting appealing? Does your story stir the emotions and imagination of the people reading it (or hearing it if you’re pitching)?

If many of these elements are evident in your script or pitch, then the primary question — “Why Your Screenplay?” — will be soundly answered. 

Why Now?

Relevancy is one of the most highly valued commodities in Hollywood and it has been since its earliest days. With the hyper escalation of trend culture post the internet, the film business is even more obsessed with seeming fashionable and “of the moment” than ever before. Regardless of the genre, managers, agents, producers, and studio execs will respond more favorably to a script or concept that feels timely and relevant to our current cultural landscape.

One of the ways to accomplish this is if your script/concept deals with a topical issue. It doesn’t always have to be overtly so: if anything, it’s better to treat the issue in an allegorical fashion like horror films often do (e.g., M3GAN dealing with our fear of A.I. via a killer doll).

Also like M3GAN — which was a modern twist on Child’s Play —if you can simply take a new approach to a familiar story, you’ll be hitting the sweet spot for many people working in the film industry. Think of popular films of the past and imagine how they can be updated to better reflect the time period we’re currently living in. This way when industry professionals are reading your script or hearing your pitch, the question of “Why now?” can be answered while also giving them the substantial foundation of a previously successful formula.

Why You?

Although it’s important to know what works and what the popular trends are, it’s also important to be true to yourself and express your unique worldview and life experiences. Many times this is the X factor in why a spec script takes off and creates a buzz in the industry: I’ve referred to this before as “your voice.” A script that answers the two questions above while also demonstrating the writer’s voice will have more impact on readers than a stock, impersonal script.

Like with inserting topical content, you shouldn’t be overindulgent when inserting your personal life into your script: a little of yourself, however, will go a long way and if you can find ways to add aspects of your personality and real-life experience while servicing the story, you’ll once again strike a perfect balance for your readers.

Also when you’re pitching and networking with industry professionals, you should lean into your personality. I’ve discussed this in prior articles: the idea of turning “your personality into a brand.” Ideally what you write or pitch should make sense with who you are as a person whether it’s via your interests, tastes, or background.

That way the question of “Why You?” can be answered and industry professionals will feel confident you’re the right person to tell this story. 

“Do I need to Answer All Three Questions??”

Your script or pitch doesn’t need to answer all three of the above questions, but it does need to at least address one of them and if you can answer all of them it’s obviously the best-case scenario. However, being concerned with these questions is more for the conceptual stage of your project and when you’re circulating it among the industry.

While you’re in the throes of writing you should be having fun and expressing yourself. Similarly, when pitching you should be strategic going into the room or Zoom, but enjoy the process while it’s happening. If you’re enjoying yourself while you write or pitch, it’ll be palpable and maybe even infectious: you might make others feel the same way.

Ultimately being a professional screenwriter is balancing marketplace strategy with creative expression. The more you’re able to balance these different mindsets, the more successful you’ll be.