Screenwriter Networking – The Basic Rules

Screenwriter networking is absolutely essential to any screenwriter’s career. People knowing people, referring people, befriending people — without any exaggeration, this is how films and television get made in the film industry.

Once more for emphasis: meeting and working with film and tv people is mandatory if you want to make it as a paid screenwriter or television writer.

But how do you do it? How do screenwriters meet people who can help their career?

How do aspiring screenwriters meet people they want to work with? Good film people. Talented tv people / trustworthy film industry people / those rare creative-yet-sane people / people you want to add to your filmmaking community and perhaps even befriend? 

The quick answer is: Meet a lot of people, be 100% genuine with all of them, be 100% solid with all of them, and help them with whatever they need help with.

The detailed answer is: Screenwriter networking is a tricky thing, which takes a lot of practice. But below are our quick and essential tips we feel will help make the process a bit easier. These tips are some of the basics you should adhere to when networking and/or meeting film industry people at parties or Hollywood events.

Whether you’re in LA, Atlanta, Austin or New York, or at a film festival in Toronto — or  London, or Cannes, France, or Durban — these basics should help you make your adventures in screenwriter networking a bit smoother.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 1: If you meet a celebrity, treat them like a normal person

Movie stars and famous filmmakers get “superfanned” all day long (e.g. they have people running up to them every day and screaming, “I’m a superfan!”) So if you’re fawning over them at an event, you’re just another superfan. More noise. Believe it or not, celebrities enjoy real conversation with interesting humans. Engage with them as you would engage with any other person at a party, but keep in mind that asking a litany of questions can (a) quickly descend into superfan behavior, and (b) does not count as real conversation.

And if they’re not a celebrity, engage openly and humanly. For example, maybe don’t lead with, “So what do you do?” Even if you only come up with something uninspired like “those are great shoes” or “Did you drive or uber here?” or “Is that shrimp any good?” when you start a conversation, do your best to put at ease who you’re talking with. You’ll also get time to read them as a person. While everyone’s there to network with other people working in the film industry, being nice never hurts. Open an honest, genuine conversation. And uh, don’t ask for autographs.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 2: Know that most business in Hollywood is done between friends

Friends beget friends beget work in the film industry. People want to work with people they feel comfortable spending long hours with on set, or behind the scenes, so many lifelong friendships are cultivated and nurtured. If you’re looking to truly network with people who can help your screenwriting career, then you need to realize that genuine friendship is the only real screenwriter networking option.

And listening is a vital component to being truly genuine. Dominating a conversation is never a good idea, whether it’s a Hollywood event or not. If you’re domineering at a film industry gathering, the person you’re trying to “connect” with will likely assume you’ll be the same way if they were ever to work with you.

Listen, respond, be human. Be your best self. Don’t be phony.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 3: Don’t pitch unless genuinely asked, and be super brief

Everybody’s trying to break into the business and industry veterans can spot the clingers-on: the people desperate to step over whoever they need to in order to climb over the walls and into Hollywood. The most obvious tell is when someone gets in their face and begs them to buy their script or make their movie or give them a role in their next film.

If the conversation glides toward what you’re working on, and they ask, tell them what it’s about, don’t pitch, don’t hand out brochures, don’t be a bulldog, and keep it casual and conversational, and short. Very short.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 4: Find your tribe

Find common interests that are outside the industry. Mention your interest in astronomy, or swimming, or if you meet someone who’s also from Oklahoma, maybe that’s worth bonding and collaborating over. Keep your mind open when talking to people and look for those common threads.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 5: If on a film set, stay positive

Every minute on a film set costs thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars. Don’t talk during takes, obviously. But also recognize that the project you’ve been invited to watch being made represents the creative energy and sweat equity of possibly hundreds of cast and crew. Try your best not to hop in and offer critique (or line readings. Ack!) and don’t kill the vibe. Be a professional. Here’s a great list of rules for professionalism and etiquette for actors but it applies to all of us creatives.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 6: Business cards? Really?

Am I right? It’s borderline archaic to hand out a business card these days. Focus instead on being a memorable screenwriter (in a good way) rather than “peppering” the event with cards or invitations or copies of your script or book or whatever. If there’s interest in keeping in touch, you can always bump phones (here’s how to use NameDrop on the iPhone) or text each other or (god forbid!) exchange contact information using pen and paper.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 7: Give them a reason to contact you later

Career survival, as well as maintaining a healthy, positive outlook, is about finding people who understand what you’re trying to accomplish as well as helping them to accomplish what they want to accomplish.  Perhaps you’re both making a short soon and want to trade equipment and time. Perhaps you could offer to read each other’s scripts. Look for ways to help people with their projects, or to fill a need on a project they’re putting together. Helping people is the absolute best way to make build solid friendships and contacts in the film industry.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 8: If you agree to help someone, follow through

If you’ve agreed to read someone’s script and give them script notes or coverage or watch their film, make sure to not take too long to do it. The film industry is full of flakes who say they’ll do something but never do. Make sure to distinguish yourself as one of the few solid, reliable people. And do it as soon as possible. 

Screenwriter Networking Tip 9: Do be humble. Don’t put yourself down.

Nobody will make you a writer/director/producer. If you’re working on a project, call yourself what you want to be, because you are who you want to be. You might not be the industry’s most in-demand screenwriter at the moment, but you’re still a screenwriter. Never say things like “Well, I’m driving for uber right now but I think I want to be a screenwriter”. 

Screenwriter Networking Tip 10: If at an event, don’t get high/drunk

It’s natural to feel nervous when you’re putting yourself out there. At some festival parties and events, the booze is sponsored or even free. It’s good to have a drink of some sort (soda is fine) in your hand, but try not to lean on it. It’s a good idea not to be the person people ask: “I hope you’re not driving?” Films are hard to make. Heavy drinkers tend to be unreliable, even if they’re writers. Don’t give the impression that you’re a problem. Give the impression that you’re a solution.

Screenwriter Networking Tip 11: Don’t be a social media creeper

It doesn’t hurt to like people’s social posts but be selective and don’t go overboard. Unless the person you networked with at the party became an immediate friend and invited you to interact on social, maybe don’t DM. And don’t add them to your email list unless they’ve asked to be on it.

And finally:

You might notice that nearly all of these screenwriter networking tips really boil down to common sense. Use yours. Above all, be genuine, be solid, and be helpful. Be the solution.

Television and film people work with people not because they’re the loudest most self-promotional people at the table or at an event. They work with people because they like them. And because they have problems that need to be solved. It might be a script that needs to be written from an idea on a cocktail napkin, or it might be that their tv show needs a point-of-view from a writer with your particular background. Whatever the need, if you’re a genuine, solid person who’s proven you can be a solution, but most importantly, prove that you can be a genuine, trustworthy friend, and then your chances of benefiting from meeting that person shoot up tremendously.