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SAMPLE QUERY LETTERS FOR SCRIPTS
Below are three sample query letters. To check out some pitch tips, as well as query letter advice from Hollywood Pros, please click here.
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SAMPLE FEATURE QUERY LETTER
Title: “Karate Guy”
Logline: A washed up former karate champion must beat his longtime rival or risk losing his life.
Dear Jane,
My name is John Biemeret and I have written a comedy spec called "Karate Guy" that I would like to send your way. I have two comedies in development with notable production companies and have recently signed on with a literary manager.
"Karate Guy" is like a blend of “Dodgeball” and “Karate Kid.” The story is about an out of shape former karate champion in his mid-30s named Guy Williams. When the story begins, Guy is in deep trouble: he owes $50K to the mob, another $50K to the bank, and owns a floundering karate school that is now in foreclosure. To straighten all this out, Guy impetuously signs a contract to fight Rock Brickhouse, the sadistic and lethal reigning karate champion. Guy is actually the only man to ever beat Rock, as fifteen years earlier he took away his junior karate title in a fight that Rock has never gotten over. To get even, Rock stole, and is still dating Guy's girlfriend and high school sweetheart Stacy, though he doesn't really care about her.
Rock's plan for the fight is to devastate Guy by manually castrating him with an ancient and terrible technique called "Monkey Steals Peach." When Guy learns about this he gets scared…and with the help of his two best friends, calls upon Lee, a legendary martial arts expert turned reeking bum, to help him out. With Lee's assistance, Guy embarks on a physical and philosophical journey to achieve the awesome power of the "Iron Ball," the only counter to Monkey Steals Peach. And when he's not training, he tries to convince his true love Stacy to come back to him.
I believe that the mix of comedy, action, and light romance in “Karate Guy” will appeal to a very wide audience. Please let me know if I can send you the script, and thanks for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
John Biemeret
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SAMPLE TELEVISON PILOT QUERY LETTER
Below is a sample query letter for a half-hour TV series:
Title: “Homeland Security!”
Logline: A comedy series about a top Homeland Security cop who recklessly but hilariously -- serves, protects and defends.
Dear John,
My name is Ted Nusbaum and I have written a TV pilot called “Homeland Security!” that I would like to send your way. A feature of mine was optioned by Gold Circle Films, and I am also a published playwright. Additionally, I was a Finalist for the 2008 Sundance Screenwriter Lab and a quarterfinalist in the Nicholl's competition.
"Homeland Security!" is along the lines of shows such as “Reno 911!” It’s a spoof about the top cop in charge of New York City's anti-terrorism office. A Machiavellian buffoon, Captain James McBrady ruthlessly pursues his own agenda while only accidentally solving the city's terrorist threats. Surrounded by a colorful cast of characters including a witty and dedicated African-American right-hand man, a sexy British femme fatale on loan from the UK, and an irreverent Pakistani translator who's desperate to convert to Judaism, McBrady and his office recklessly serve, protect and defend – and on occasion – help the bad guys through sheer yet hilarious incompetence.
Currently, I am developing the project informally with an executive from Comedy Central who is a big supporter of my work and interested in helping the project find a suitable home. Please let me know if I can send you the script, and thanks for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Ted Nusbaum
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SAMPLE REAL WORLD QUERY LETTER
With apologies to Judd Apatow, below is a “real world” sample query letter:
Title: “Knocked Up”
Logline: Two very different people go their separate ways after a drunken one-nighter, until they realize they’re having a baby.
Dear David,
My name is Judd Apatow and I have written a feature spec script called “Knocked Up” that I would like to send your way. My list of credits includes hits such as “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.” By the way, I loved your company’s latest release “Tropic Thunder” which I thought was hilarious!
“Knocked Up” is a romantic-comedy along the lines of movies such as “The Break Up” and “There’s Something About Mary.” It begins with slacker Ben Stone cruising through life and trying to start up a half-baked Internet website with his inept stoner friends. Meanwhile, hard working go-getter Alison Scott is celebrating her promotion with E! Television when she and Ben’s worlds unexpectedly collide. Sexy to Ben’s frumpy, Alison makes Ben’s dream come true when she gets drunk and sleeps with him. But the morning after and dead sober, the two go their separate ways…until weeks later when Allison discovers she’s pregnant! Though shocked, Ben agrees to support Allison through her pregnancy, and amazingly, the two begin to fall for each other. But when Alison realizes that Ben can’t be the man she needs and decides to weather the pregnancy on her own, Ben must decide if he wants to grow up, or risk losing Allison for good.
I think “Knocked Up” is a funny take on modern day love that will appeal to a very broad audience. Please let me know if I can send you the script, and thanks for your time and consideration.
Best regards,
Judd Apatow
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