In the ninth chapter of Screenwriter Survival Guide, I sat down with Beecher Reuning, whose screenplays and films have premiered at over 30 film festivals worldwide, including Nashville Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, The Student Emmys, and Final Draft's Big Break Contest. We talked about how to best promote your screenplay to festivals, how to leverage selection at a festival to supercharge your career, and, in a special bonus topic, how to make it as a screenwriter without moving to LA.

Connect with Beecher on Instagram (@beecherweston), Facebook (facebook.com/beecher), and online at beecher.media.

Questions? Concerns? Reach out on Twitter or Instagram @SSGPod, or email me at sam@screenwritersurvivalguide.com.

PART I: Beecher's Story (or Why You Don't Need to Move to LA)

• What brought Beecher to screenwriting.
• Live your life. Even if it's not in LA.
• How to build your network outside of Hollywood.

PART II: Film Festivals (31:45)

• Use festivals as motivation.
• The "where" and "how" of festival submissions.

PART III: You're in! Now what?

• The day of your festival!
• Networking. Networking. Networking.
• Find your inner extrovert.

RESOURCES:

• Austin Film Festival - https://austinfilmfestival.com
• Big Break Screenwriting Contest - https://www.finaldraft.com/big-break-screenwriting-contest
• College Television Awards (Student Emmys) - https://www.emmys.com/foundation/programs/cta
• UPike Media/Arts Festival - https://www.fmafest.org

SCREENWRITER SURVIVAL TIP: Learn how your brain works