Writing a film script is much more comprehensive than it might seem from the first sight. Except just presenting your idea and make the public interested in it, the scriptwriters should also be aware of its attractiveness to the investors. In the film industry, it is considered that investors are too apprehensive with all their money and it’s almost impossible to convince them to finance your project. But the thing isn’t about their greed or unwillingness to invest precisely in your project. The core issue is that you want your script to have chances for being screened, it has to have an investment-worthy appeal. So, if you are ready to participate in film production and start writing a script, then take a note what investors are seeking for in the film scripts to make yours fit their expectations.

1. The quality of the work you’ve done 

It sounds rather obvious, but it is the fundamental issue. Your idea written in the script has to attract your audience and the investors as well. Try to research for the investors, who will find your concept the most applying and write your script having their preferences in mind because not every investor is ready to work with the storyline that doesn’t match their vision and the kind of film genre they’re passionate about. 

For instance, if you’re just starting your script writing career or just want to give it a shot, try to target independent film finance companies such as Red Rock Entertainment, who focus their attention on independent, yet promising projects and may help with finding the investors that may like your idea. However, in order to have the opportunity to get your script selected, you need to make it quite unique, crisp, well-thought-out and essentially turn it into the base for a ground-breaking box-office film. Otherwise, even those investors who’re all about helping out independent filmmakers and script writers won’t give your project a chance, since they’ll be putting their money at a major risk.

2. The genre to focus on

A lot of experienced script writers, who’re successful in creating the screenplays that sell, note that more than 90% of scripts fail at the premise not because the author’s idea was terrible or unoriginal, but due to the fact they didn’t want to limit themselves to one certain genre. Why is that factor so important?

The thing is that different genres may take the same idea in dramatically different ways, which significantly impacts the script’s chances to be purchased for a film production. The wrong genres have destructive powers and may ruin even the best ideas even before they get developed into a 120-page scripts worth of basing the films on. 

Therefore, the key decision you need to make before you start transforming your idea into a script is which genre to go for. The secret of making the right choice is hidden at the core of your story and its originality. Determine what distinguishes your idea from the rest of the films, focus on the desire line, the goal of your main character and you’ll quickly manage to select the genre that will help you develop your idea in the most appealing script possible. 

For instance, if the desire line of your idea is to find the truth, the main genre for your script should be detective, but if your hero needs to find and defeat the criminal - it’s the crime genre. 
Genres aren’t just theoretical definitions you may have studied at the literature class. If you’re an author or a script writer, they may provide you with the best tools to make your story intriguing and your script - immaculate.

3. The enticing advertisement 

If you have created even an ideal script, you should promote it. Nowadays when there are too many ideas in the fierce competition for investors’ money, attracting the attention of people who may provide you with funding for your project is more than necessary. Paying attention to your advertising will make your idea profitable before the script is created. If you can attract the investors’ attention before asking them to read your writing, then you immediately make your script more profitable and reliable. An exciting campaign on the social media or bright posters won’t make your scrip chosen for a film production, but they can be seen by a person that will want to read the script.

4. The experience of the team

Creative ads and intriguing storyline don’t always create an appeal investors are looking for. They are rational people and they understand that the success of a script largely depends on the professionalism of the production team that is going to turn it into a film. Of course, it doesn’t mean that the only thing necessary to have is the enormous amount of experience and a dozen of successful projects under your belt. But you will look much more professional in the investors’ eyes if you show them that you know the team you are going to work with and what they are doing, as it will bring more significance to your project. Make an emphasis on the experience or the exceptional qualities the of the leading persons in your team and prove the investors that with such people the film will be qualified, beneficial and high-grossing.

5. The cast 

Of course, on the stage of reading the script, no one will expect from you the detailed list of cast. And, certainly, you shouldn’t contact the actors and suggest roles in a film before you make an agreement with the investors and set up the production. But the matter if the of the recognisable talents may potentially love your script and agree to play the role in a film based on it is still the question. A single famous actor playing in the film can make it high-grossing, not mentioning the success the film may reach if it manages to spark the new star on the Olimp of the best actors. So, an excellent piece of advice a script writer should bear in mind is to work on the characters for the future film and make sure that their stories and personalities are interesting enough for a talented actor to play. The name of the actor, which can attract viewers, will draw impressive returns to the investors and, thus, increase your opportunities to get the funding.

So, as far as you can see, writing an investor-attracting script isn’t an easy task. There’s no need in being delusional and thinking that each pitch you make will be successful. However, the more work you put in a script and the more appealing you manage to make it, the higher your chances to sell the script will be.