How to Write a One-Pager that Gets Traction
Hi All,
A hot script is integral to getting noticed in Hollywood. But you can’t just email 30 - 120 pages to someone and expect them to dive in. More often than not you need to first sell producers and execs on the story of your script before they’ll consider reading it - which is why a blazing hot one-pager might be the key to selling your next project or landing your next gig.
But what if you’re not sure how to make a great one-pager? Or what if you don’t even know what a one-pager is?
Here’s all you need to know about one-pagers, including tips to help make yours as dynamic as possible, and why creating them are a skill every writer needs to hone:
One caveat! There’s no absolute one right way to do this. It’s very subjective and everyone does it slightly differently. I just what to share with you what I’ve seen work.
What IS a “one pager” anyway?
In a nutshell a “one-pager” (or “leave behind”) is an overview of your TV show or feature. It needs to communicate your idea clearly and succinctly - proving to any Hollywood ‘decision maker’ who picks it up that your script is worth reading, your idea is worth paying development money for, or (if you’re extremely lucky) that your show or movie is worth buying and making. It is one page (not one page in size 7 font, or one double-sided page – just one single, normal page), and it needs to include:
The title of your project
Your name and contact info
The logline and genre
Your personal connection to your project (keep it short!)
A, roughly, 3-paragraph summary of the story
A closing sentence that hooks the reader into why this project needs to be made now/why you think it can be successful in the current market
Yes, this can feel like a lot to fit into one page, but it’s totally doable.
Are “one-pagers” really THAT important?
Yes. A great one-pager can be the reason an exec decides to read your script and, if they like it, pass it up the Hollywood ladder (it’s easier for an exec or producer to pass along a one-page document than an entire script). Also - because writing a one pager forces you to distill your grand idea into a short, easily deliverable summary - a lot of writers I know use their one-pager to help them prep for a verbal pitch, or send them to their reps to see if there’s a market for their latest idea. Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to selling your show or feature nothing beats a great script, but your script might never be given the time of day without piquing someone’s interest with a solid one pager first.
Tips for a blazing hot one pager:
Keep it simple.
One pagers are about getting across the core concept, story, and characters of your show or feature - don’t get too “creative” with format, or too busy with info. Keep it short, easy to read, dynamic (but not complicated), and leave them wanting more.
Get the reader invested, fast.
Since this document is so short, it has to be about broad strokes - but make sure those broad strokes still get the reader emotionally invested in your story and characters. Deliver a taste of what your characters are up against (internally and externally), paint the picture of where your story is set (briefly), give us a sense of the main conflict, a snapshot of the main characters and why they’re unique and/or relatable, as well as the overall stakes of the entire series or feature. If I read your one-pager and feel emotionally connected to your characters and story - chances are I’m going to want to read your script.
Don’t walk through plot points, summarize the story.
It might sound like semantics but it’s not. Explaining the plot of a story means literally walking from plot point A, to B, to C… it gets boring and, depending on the complexity of your plot, can get confusing. Instead, write a summary. Summarizing the story means giving a “zoomed out” overview (or as one exec I just talked to said “30,000 foot view) that includes the core concept, core characters, the inciting incident, and the “driver” that’s going to keep viewers interested in your movie (or binging your awesome TV show). You can also talk about themes and tone. Serve up an exciting summary in your one-pager that leaves the reader excited to know more, and let them discover your plot (with all its subplots, twists, and turns) when they actually agree to read your script.
Keep it short, keep it professional, keep it about the project.
A short and sweet anecdote about your personal connection to your project can help get a reader emotionally invested in your story - but save the in-depth explanation of ‘what inspired you to write this’ for the Zoom pitch (and even then keep it succinct). For your one-pager keep the focus on the project you are trying to sell, rather than on yourself. Make sure the presentation is professional, well-written, to the point, and so intriguing that it’s impossible for the reader NOT to want to know more.
What do you think makes a blazing hot One-Pager? Let me know @CaroleKirsch!