STEP 1 - Write a Good Script Notice that it does not say "Write a GREAT Script." Though it must meet certain minimum standards in terms of length and format, the quality of the script is not the primary determinant in getting a story to the screen. The timing of the subject matter is very important. Topics that are currently hot are much more likely to get a studio or producer's attention. This is why movies seem to come in waves of similar concepts. A group of spy films will be made, followed by a spate of westerns, then a series of vampire and/or zombie flicks, followed by a romantic comedy wave, then high-action adventure, followed by a gaggle of period epics, and so on. Since most movies take several years to make, the trick is to know what is hot based on what the studios currently have in the works, and not what they are releasing now. This takes research, which sometimes involves covert action to gather intelligence. Many a fledgling screenwriter has posed as a UPS delivery man, or brought in a fake flower delivery, all with the intention of looking over a secretary's desk for insight into the shooting schedule. There is an apocryphal story about one writer who brought muffins laced with laxatives into a studio producers' meeting, then spent the entire day in a bathroom stall with a tape recorder, hoping to cash in when two execs were moved at the same time. Rumor has it that this very stall was where		S Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was born. Other theories are that this film was conceived in an airplane bathroom at 30,000 feet, or in the can at a major football stadium during a crushing home loss, or in the toilet of a Texaco station in Oklahoma where the cattle truckers stop. Wherever, there seems to be a common theme. Another important factor in a script's gaining acceptance is the popularity and availability of a particular actor or actress. If it is known that Clive Owen is looking for a property to star in, and you know that "the last man on earth fighting off mutant killer zombies" is a hot genre, then you write a script to fit the topic and Mr. Owen's screen style (this is just an example - don't use this particular "last man on earth" storyline now, wait for it to cycle back in a few years). So do your research, pick the right conceptual hook for your plot and the right actor, and your are on your way to a "good" saleable script.
STEP 2 - Find the Right Studio / Filmmaker Your script is your baby, and finding the right filmmaker for it is like finding the perfect finishing school to let your child blossom. Unfortunately, the finishing school has to like your kid, and no amount of make-up, sequins or tap lessons is going to force a decision if your child is not a proper fit for the school (it doesn't help if your kid is ugly, but it's not a deal breaker). Some studios are in acquisition mode, and some are not. If they are not in the market for a script, you are likely wasting your time. I want to point out that when I say "studio", I mean any form of filmmaker that can produce and possibly help distribute your film. This can be a Hollywood or Quad Cities studio, or an independent studio. It can also be a single producer or other entity (including some you might not think of right away, like the National Association of Neon, Flourescent, and LED Lighting Vendors, who are looking to produce a film to launch at their annual convention in Orlando. If you can write a script that involves stumbling around looking for something at night, this may be an opportunity. Keep in mind that they are not keen on werewolves, vampires, or end tables. NANFLEDLV is headquartered in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, so I leave it to you to pursue this lead).		S It takes research to find the right prospect. Naturally you will want to consult as many on-line and other resources as possible to learn which studios or independent organizations are ready and right for your pitch. This is not unlike trolling a bar late on a Friday night, looking for a hot date who might be "willing." You are looking for the corporate equivalent of a drunk in a red dress (women, you are not looking for drunk, you are just looking for "breathing". A similar reversal occurs in the film business when a particular script attracts "buzz." For those of you willing to take a risk - after all, you have two livers, why not sell one if there is something to be gained - read about how to create "buzz" for your script in a later step of the 10 Step Program). You must create a list of the twenty most likely buyers for your script, and then prioritize the top 5. These are your primary targets. Some suggest taking on a few of the lower 15 first, just to hone your skills. But only do that if you have an iron resolve, because rejection wears on you like a purple thumbnail - too ashamed to even offer a handshake. But keep your spirits up. Screenwriters' Guild® data confirms that 98% of all proposals get an outright dismissal even before going in, and 95% of the 2% left get an immediate rejection on the spot, so the remaining .001% actually get a "maybe… but probably not." Of such stuff dreams are made.
STEP 3 - Buy a Nice Suit I know you think you already have a nice suit, but believe me, it is all wrong (this goes for women, too). What you need is a "power suit." * One that conveys everything you need to convey in the first critical moments of any meeting. Now I bet some of you are thinking, "But I'm a free spirit. Aren't writers supposed to look creative… out of the mainstream?" That kind of thinking is for losers. No studio is going to sink money into a script (knowing full well that it will have to be re-written eight times, with 14 plot changes, 6.3 new characters and an entirely different ending designed to promote a sequel) whose author is an artistic diva with no clue about the financial risks involved (even when the money doesn't come from a waste disposal firm). You have to show up front that you know this is a tough business where money is the name of the game, and it's not about a bunch of literary crap extolling "man's inhumanity to man", or "Manson, Hannity to Colmes" or whatever else got you an "A" in graduate school. If you are a beautiful and sexy woman screenwriter, don't wear a cocktail dress with a plunging neckline. It only slows down the meeting. Instead do all the things you normally do to look intelligent instead of pretty - put your hair in a bun, wear glasses, and keep your legs crossed. More and more		S The power suit says, "I know this is about money, and my script will make you lots of it." women are in positions of power in the movie industry, or are independent producers themselves. It is still going to be about how much money your script can make. Now get out there and make the sale! If you are really serious about selling your script, and want to gain all the knowledge you can about how it can be done successfully, then you are ready for the 6 Step Program (don't even think about jumping ahead to the 10 Step Program, because you are just not ready).

End of 3 Step Program.             * If someone tries to sell you a "Power Suit" with an electric cord, back slowly out of the store.