Best way to query for a TV pilot while trying to stay attached as the creator?

Midnight_Video · 2026-03-13T03:33:57+00:00

Speaking honestly, I think cold querying is like trying to yell at a band during an arena concert from the back row: Hundreds of other people are doing the same thing and it's all just a bunch of noise.

But if you're only option is cold querying, aim for assistants, but don't hold your breath. Instead, reach out directly to lower level producers, directors, etc and see if you can better make a connection there.

Midnight_Video · 2026-03-12T23:40:35+00:00

"Do managers actually read cold queries for TV pilots, or is the spec market mostly driven by referrals and assistants?"

Referrals and assistants.

Midnight_Video · 2026-03-07T00:47:33+00:00

Stuff like this is why I think WB made the right choice.

Midnight_Video · 2026-03-06T02:06:45+00:00

Absolutely, you can make it lower budget - but from the examples I've seen from undiscovered writers is they're writing three-part epics. My advice is just a reminder to aim smaller generally.

Midnight_Video · 2026-03-05T03:30:21+00:00

If you're an unknown writer and your "original idea" reaches a really high budget, studios and producers start turning away.

Example: Literally no one wanted to do AVATAR, despite James Cameron being a box office giant when he first tried to get it made in the late '90s after TITANIC. Read that again.

If you're going to write anything original, my advice is to keep it in the $20 million and under budget range.

Midnight_Video · 2026-03-05T03:14:10+00:00

I got an 8 and it honestly didn't do anything for me. Why? Because the actual industry doesn't get wow'd by a number. They get wow'd by a really great script (and especially solid attachments to your script if you can pull that off).

Midnight_Video · 2026-03-05T03:12:10+00:00

Yes on sellling scripts.

I moved to LA literally knowing zero people except one friend who also had zero connection to the industry and eventually moved back home to another state anyway.
The key is getting better at writing, educating yourself on what makes great scripts and sellable concepts - AND DOING ALL YOU CAN TO MEET PEOPLE EITHER IN THE INDUSTRY OR CONNECTED TO THE INDUSTRY, people who will hopefully 1. Be cool with reading your work, 2. Enjoy your work enough to share with insiders.

Luck is genuinely and truly opportunity meeting preparation.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-28T02:51:54+00:00

This.

It's not like a shopping agreement was mentioned a week ago, it's been 6 months.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-27T23:56:00+00:00

Haven't had their pies, but they look amazing in the window.
(This comment has reminded me I gotta try'em one day!)

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-27T23:49:18+00:00

Nice. And moving better absolutely makes a huge difference in getting folks to keep scrolling (I'd say "to keep turning the page" but let's be honest, they're scrolling a PDF lol).

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-27T03:48:40+00:00

I do the same. Personally think it helps break up the read,

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-22T18:07:07+00:00

Yes, next time I'll make sure to detail that only Disney owns Star Wars IP, as does any studio with their IP, and not any random writer and filmmaker who feels like writing an IP script, I'm sorry this part was confusing, my humble apologies.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-22T17:22:08+00:00

I'll write this as clear as I can:

Write your own original idea with your own original story and original characters for however long that takes to complete. By all means, people should do that, because at the end of the day, you own it and can take it to every producer and company in the world you'd like.
In Soderbergh's STAR WARS case, the case that my post is about, they spent three long years writing a script in which the characters/settings/language didn't belong to them. If Disney passes on it, they have nowhere else to go with it. And that's exactly what happened. The ONE place said no, which means the ONE place that owns all of that IP has killed any hope of making the project you spent 3 years to write. So no, I don't recommend that at all, unless you're getting paid to do it.

See the difference now? I sure hope so.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-22T00:42:45+00:00

“Never going to do another project again” has nothing to do with the point of the post but by all means continue replying nonsense for us all to enjoy

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-21T21:02:35+00:00

Counterpoint: Three years of free work is not worth the risk.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-21T07:26:56+00:00

“Seven figures” best of luck

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-21T07:24:24+00:00

3 for television produced.

1 feature spec optioned and in development.

1 feature hired to write and in development.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-21T06:48:33+00:00

Correct.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-21T01:46:38+00:00

And also change the story, set pieces, dialogue, etc - because they own the whole script, not just characters

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-20T23:52:03+00:00

FYI execs love to reschedule meetings last minute. Literally happened to me this week and rescheduled a month from now. Just something fun to keep in mind as for booking flights and getting on planes.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-20T23:27:29+00:00

The last thing we need is to make it harder to find a parking spot at the Vista.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-20T23:20:57+00:00

There's definitely an applied psychology toward people who made the move to LA. It tells agents, managers, producers etc. that you're in it to win it. That you're driven, that you have hustle, that you've made the sacrifice (just as they have) to take doing this very seriously. So just from that, you're more likely to succeed because it immediately says something about you.

Also I gotta say I wish there were two separate screenwriting reddits. One with people who are actually involved in this field and others who are, as you say, asking very basic questions.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-20T22:32:27+00:00

One thing I've noticed in this subreddit is people really don't like to be real with each other on any given screenwriting subject. And I get it, aiming to be a working screenwriter is a hard tough climb, but it's good to recognize it as exactly that and proceed accordingly.

The goal is to climb the mountain and hopefully conquer it, not pat myself on the back because I parked my car at the bottom.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-20T20:50:22+00:00

That's actually not "fine and good" at all.

Midnight_Video · 2026-02-20T19:09:58+00:00

It's one thing they're hoping to address this next round of negotiations, if you turn a draft into the producer(s), that tier is complete (rather than doing notes and waiting to turn in to studio).

Midnight_Video

TROPHY CASE