A few posts ago, I mentioned that we were trying to get Scarlett Johansson on board as the lead actress in my film, THE ONLY WAY OUT.
I asked the team what they thought about me writing a pitch letter to Ms. Johansson that either Marty or Steve could get to her through her agent, Bryan Lourd at CAA, who Ms. Johansson's business partner at The Outset, Kate Foster-Lengyel, said we should contact (after I had pitched her a product placement deal for The Outset). Even though it was a long shot, they all loved the idea.
The hope was that Ms. Johansson would read my letter and then be curious enough to request the script. Marty kept reiterating that if we could just get her to read the script, she'd want to jump in with both feet.
Excited to try a new strategy, I poured my heart and soul into my letter, workshopped it with Stephanie, Marty, Steve, and Eric until it was as perfect as it could be. I was so excited! Marty agreed to get the letter to Bryan Lourd and was waiting for the perfect opportunity to do so when... Days after I'd finished the letter, Ms. Johansson made an announcement that she was going to be producing JURASSIC WORLD 4 and starring in yet another AVENGERS movie. I was absolutely thrilled for her, but completely bummed for THE ONLY WAY OUT.
Because of Ms. Johansson's commitments, Marty said it was no longer worth getting my letter to Bryan Lourd at CAA because even if she decided to star in THE ONLY WAY OUT, it'd be at least two years before she was free to do the film and nobody on the team wanted to wait that long to shoot it. So, just like that, Ms. Johansson was out, and my precious letter was nothing more than kindling for a digital campfire.
But as my precious letter sat in digital kindling pile, I began to think about how helpful it could be to other screenwriters and filmmakers who needed to craft a pitch or to people who were just curious as to what might go into a product placement pitch. So... Rather than keep the letter to myself, I decided to share it in the hopes that it can help you or a friend or family member craft a pitch that will hook a star, or some investors, or a distributor, or a studio, or at least earn a project or two some product placement bucks.
With that said, here is my letter to Scarlett Johansson. Enjoy! Oh, and if you find the letter helpful, please leave a comment below or email me. I'd love to hear how it helped both you and your projects! Thanks a million!!!
Dear Ms. Johannson,
Congratulations on recently being included on Ink. Magazine’s list of formidable female founders! How exciting
to be recognized for creating such an amazing company! My name is Amy Giaquinto and I’m the Associate Producer/Screenwriter on the feature film, THE ONLY WAY OUT. I’m also a very active mother of two incredible, neurodiverse kids.
From one entrepreneur to another, I LOVE The Outset’s skincare products and use the Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser, Firming Collagen Prep Serum, and the Nourishing Daily Squalane Moisturizer daily. Not only that, but I truly admire The Outset’s philosophies, and how you, Kate and everyone at The Outset work hard to promote women and the environment.
I recently had a fabulous phone conversation with Kate, and she suggested that I reach out to you through your rep about a unique acting and product integration opportunity for you and The Outset's skincare products. Kate said The Outset didn’t have a product integration budget, so we’d like to propose offering you the lead role in THE ONLY WAY OUT and an amazing product integration deal for The Outset, along with the possibility of shooting a commercial to air before the film, partnering with The Outset on an environmental project and/or contributing a percentage of the film’s proceeds to one of The Outset’s causes. This is all in addition to your normal fee.
THE ONLY WAY OUT isn’t just any script. It has received amazing notes and feedback from Writer/Producer/Director, So and So (sorry, it's a secret). It was also an Academy Nicholl Fellowship Semifinalist script that’s currently being produced by Marty Katz (TITANIC, THE GREAT RAID, MAN OF THE HOUSE) and Steve Schklair (U23D, THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN, STALINGRAD) with Eric Schwab (2nd Unit Director, TOP GUN: MAVERICK, CARLITO’S WAY) attached to direct.
THE ONLY WAY OUT, is an incredibly unique and exciting, female-driven survival thriller that James Cameron lauded for its authenticity and believability. The film provides you with an incredibly challenging role, an opportunity for you to exclusively carry the film through facial expressions, body language, and intense heart-stopping action sequences.
As a mother, I’m sure you can appreciate the opportunity to portray the kind of woman/mother we rarely see on screen, one who is starting over as a widow and is ultimately forced to find the strength and courage to carry out the most horrific act imaginable on her son, then push herself beyond her physical and emotional limits to save them both.
Not only that, but THE ONLY WAY OUT also provides you with an extremely rare opportunity to star in a commercial film that’s both theatrically targeted and award worthy. For your convenience, I’ve attached a signed submission release, the film’s lookbook and script, but for now, here’s the logline and a brief synopsis.
(This is the part where I included THE ONLY WAY OUT'S logline and one-page synopsis, which I can't yet share, but what I can share is my E-book Masterclass, PITCHING TO WIN: MASTERING THE HOLLYWOOD PITCH! Check it out!)
Featuring The Outset
As far as how The Outset’s products will be featured… There’s this wonderful sequence in the film in which DIANA realizes that her crippling depression has led to her son not trusting that she can take care of herself to the point that he’s refusing to go to college and live his dream. At that moment, she decides to do whatever it takes to move past the tragic death of her husband.
She starts to eat better, exercises, and finally decides to address her dry, neglected skin. In the bathroom, she opens a box from The Outset and is immediately greeted by “THE START OF YOU™” mantra on the inside of the lid.
She takes out The Outset’s Gentle Micellar Antioxidant Cleanser, Firming Collagen Prep Serum and the Nourishing Daily Squalane Moisturizer and immediately finds soothing comfort and joy using the three-step method to clean and hydrate her face, which has been abused and neglected thanks to her depression, lack of exercise, poor diet, and worse, the dry Colorado air.
When she’s finished, she looks in the mirror and her skin is radiant in a way it hasn’t been since before her husband’s death. She smiles, for the first time in a long time, and says something like, “The Start of You” to solidify her new beginning. It will be a gorgeous sequence that will firmly embed The Outset’s skincare products and philosophy into the minds of the viewers, and it’ll go a long way toward helping to market your amazing brand to new audiences worldwide.
As you can see, the film promotes women, new beginnings, and the environment. Not only that, but the target market for THE ONLY WAY OUT resonates well with The Outset’s as do the film’s strong environmental themes, which Gen Zers, Millennials, Gen Xers, and even a growing number of Baby Boomers value so strongly.
One thing that came up on social media after The Outset’s QVC debut was just how many women with mature skin had skincare questions and needs. I firmly believe THE ONLY WAY OUT will open the door to The Outset for women in that market, ages 40 and up. This is a wonderful opportunity for The Outset to grow all while promoting the values you all hold dear, strong, entrepreneurial women, The Start of You™, and the environmental consciousness of the brand.
What THE ONLY WAY OUT can do for you and The Outset:
Offer you, Ms. Johansson, a way to kill two birds with one stone by expanding the visibility for The Outset while leading a truly unique and challenging female-driven film that’s destined to become a box office success. (Fun fact: I’m sure you’re well aware that female-driven films make more money and are less risky to invest in than male-driven films and that as a result, this film carries a lot less risk than many other projects you may be considering.)
Expand The Outset’s brand by providing a great opportunity for worldwide visibility and brand recognition through a theatrically distributed film. Specifically, the main character in the script is a mother in her 40s, an entrepreneur, environmentalist and health-conscious vegan who owns a rock-climbing gym. Through her use of The Outset’s products, we see how The Outset is perfect for strong, successful, environmentally conscious, independent women and mothers whose active lifestyle demands the best skincare products. The main character is also starting over after a tragedy, which embodies and can help promote The Outset’s, The Start of You™ philosophy.
In exchange for you starring in the film, we’re willing to shoot a commercial for The Outset’s skincare products that will run before the film, thus delivering an additional mass marketing opportunity.
Due to the massive environmental damage caused by illegal marijuana grows, which have exploded in states in which marijuana has been legalized, we would love to partner with The Outset and One Tree Planted, and/or 1% for the Planet, and do a highly promoted volunteer outreach/environmental clean-up project.
Additionally, the production can contribute a portion of the film’s proceeds to one or more of the preceding organizations and/or Dress for Success.
We truly believe the script has awards potential which presents additional opportunities to promote The Outset skincare products.
Thank you so much for your time. I really appreciate it and look forward to hearing from you and/or your team soon about reading the script! Until then, best wishes!
Sincerely,
Amy Giaquinto
Associate Producer/ Screenwriter, THE ONLY WAY OUT
(My contact info went here.)
I love your enthusiasm and creative thinking! Something's going to give and soon. You've worked so hard and I have no doubt the script is incredible!
I don't know nuttin, and I'm nobody, but you warm my heart, Amy. My opinion is that you should write comedies. Also, the first letter I'd send would be no more than three concise paragraphs. Dangle the bait (a kick-ass script) and if the star isn't curious, keep walkin, Christopher. 😎
This is awesome! So helpful. Thank you for sharing as always. I