Stay alert to legitimate writing competitions seeking original screenplays and teleplays. The most comprehensive listing of contest information can be found at MovieBytes.com along with "report cards" of writers' experiences with past contests. Agents, directors and producers often serve as judges, and winning entries are considered for future production.
Identify the contests best suited to the screenplay or teleplay you want to enter and which will also accommodate your budget. Follow the contest rules to the letter, especially how much content to submit.
Register your script with the U.S. Copyright Office (Copyright.gov) or Writers Guild of America (Wga.org) prior to submitting to any contest, agent or production company. Most of these entities, in fact, require you to do this and will not accept any scripts that haven't been registered.
Apply for screenwriting fellowships. If your screenplay is a finalist in these competitions, you'll have an opportunity to work at a studio, learn the craft, present your film concepts and meet individuals who could further your career. The Brass Brad website (Brassbrad.com) is a good place for you to start your search for fellowship information.
Commence your search for an agent to pitch your screenplay ideas for you. A listing of reputable film representatives can be found in annual resources such as "Writer's Market" (published by Writer's Digest Books) and the "Hollywood Creative Directory," available for purchase through Amazon.com or Hcdonline.com.
Ask for agent recommendations or, better yet, referrals from fellow screenwriters. Bookmark websites such as Preditors and Editors at Anotherealm.com to see if there have been any complaints or lawsuits involving agencies you're interested in. This is critical if you're performing an Internet search for "screenplay agents" and wondering which ones are worth your time.
Visit screenwriting chatrooms and ask for advice and assistance with your agent quest.
Submit your script for professional review by agencies such as Hollywoodlitsales.com. In addition to getting valuable coverage notes on how to make your project(s) more marketable, screenplays that receive a "Recommend" ranking are sent on to prospective producers on your behalf.
Subscribe to newsletters such as International Screenwriter's Association (Networkisa.org) and receive information on producer wish lists, contests, workshops and conferences that encourage networking with industry professionals who can make your script a reality.
Join InkTip.com, an online service that allows you to post your loglines, synopses, treatments and full scripts for review by agents, directors and producers. Unlike other services that make your work visible to anyone trolling the Internet, this is a secure site that lets you track who is looking at your work and only offers access to registered users. InkTip.com has an excellent reputation for matching projects to production companies as well as helping film companies find writers available for spec work.
Attend independent film festivals and network with directors and producers. Unlike major studios, indies are more approachable for new screenwriters who want to pitch original projects and they can often negotiate deals without agency representation.
Query the agents of stars who might be interested in your project. (Many of them either have their own production companies and/or influence with producers with whom they have previously worked.) To find celebrities' contact information, register with the Internet Movie Database (Imdb.com) or Who Represents (Whorepresents.com).