Producer Brigitte Kingsley of Good Soldier films discusses why targeting distributors, not just producers, can expand your opportunities to sell your Christmas scripts and reach broader markets year-round.
If you’re a Christmas scriptwriter, you might be focusing solely on producers to sell your work—but are you missing out on a bigger opportunity? In this episode, Brigitte Kingsley shares why targeting distributors can be a game-changer for your holiday screenplays. Learn how distributors connect with broadcasters, offer global reach, and have year-round demand for Christmas content. Plus, find out how to pitch effectively, when to reach out, and why you should include both high and low-budget scripts in your arsenal. Don’t let your holiday screenplay gather dust—get it into the hands of those who can sell it!
ACTION CHECKLIST
Infuse Your Script with a Unique Spark:
Stand out in the crowded Christmas movie market by crafting scripts with rich character development, heartfelt narratives, and an irresistible hook. Take Brigitte’s advice: think of a real person with unique traits and translate their personality into characters that feel vividly “painted with extra colors”.
2. Prepare for Multiple Budgets:
Develop scripts that cater to both high and low-budget productions to expand your opportunities.
3. Perfect the Big Moments:
Open your script with a captivating scene and end with something unforgettable and Christmassy to leave a lasting impression.
4. Plan Your Pitch Timing Strategically:
Avoid contacting Christmas movie buyers during their busiest evaluation period in late November and December. Instead, use this time as a window of opportunity to start your next script, and plan to follow up with pitches in mid-January when they are ready to consider new projects.
5. Pitch to Distributors, Not Just Producers:
Don’t limit your queries to production companies—distributors are also in the market to buy scripts. Brigitte emphasized the importance of reaching out to distribution companies to expand your opportunities. What are the advantages to this? I’ve got 5 big ones.
A. Direct Market Access:
Distributors have strong relationships with networks, broadcasters, and streaming platforms, which gives them insight into what buyers are actively seeking. They can match your script to current market demands more effectively.
B. Global Reach
Distributors often operate on an international scale, opening doors to markets beyond what a producer might focus on, increasing the potential for your script to sell worldwide.
C. Increased Opportunities:
While producers are responsible for creating films, distributors are often looking for pre-packaged or easily adaptable projects they can push to broadcasters. This dual focus expands the number of potential buyers for your work.
D. Risk Mitigation:
Distributors typically work with projects they are confident they can sell. If a distributor is interested in your script, it often signals strong market viability.
E. Year-Round Demand:
Distributors are less tied to seasonal production schedules compared to producers, allowing for pitching opportunities throughout the year, particularly for evergreen content like Christmas movies.
