HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN HOLLYWOOD

 Here is an outline of some basic information for new writers.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK & SPEND THE MONEY:

1.    SCRIPT MAGAZINE – 

2.   REFERENCE BOOKS OF PRODUCERS AND AGENTS

3.    WRITING CLASSES –

4.    BOOKS: SEGER, HAUGE, CHITLIK, WALLERSTEIN, BLAKE SNYDER

5.    CONSULTANTS – CHECK THEM OUT!!

6.    NETWORKING

7.    FOLLOW UP

8.    WRITERS CONFERENCES, PITCH FESTS, PANELS and

SEMINARS.

          10.  LOW LEVEL EXECS i.e.:  DEVELOPMENT EXECS

GETTING AN AGENT

A.   IF YOU HAVE A DEAL (BIG OR SMALL) Entice an agent to make your deal for you.

B.   FOLLOW UP ON PEOPLE FROM CONFERENCES.  Send Thank You letters.

C.   QUERY LETTERS WITH PERSONALITY

D.   SMALL AGENCIES, NEW AGENTS

WRITING SPECS

1.      THREE (3) IS NOT ENOUGH

2.      REWRITE, REWRITE, REWRITE

3.      YOUR 5^TH REWRITE IS YOUR FIRST DRAFT

4.      SAME GENRE

5.      KEEP IT SIMPLE

6.      GREAT CHARACTERS

7.      INTERESTING PERSONALITIES – DIALOGUE SELLS

8.      PAYING YOUR DUES

THE STUDIOS VS. THE INDEPENDENTS

STUDIOS:

         

1.    DEEPER POCKETS – MORE MONEY

2.    MONEY FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PITCHED IDEAS

3.    REWRITE MONEY

4.    THEY HAVE DISTRIBUTION

5.    THEY HAVE PROMOTION

6.    MAY NOT GET MADE

7.    THEY WILL OWN THE SCRIPT FOR A LONG TIME

8.    REGIME CHANGES

9.    PRODUCERS LOSE THEIR DEALS

INDEPENDENTS:

1.    MORE PASSION FOR YOUR PROJECT

2.    MIGHT GET MADE

3.    MIGHT MAKE IT TO FILM FESTIVALS

GENERAL INFORMATION:

AGENTS:              LISTEN TO THEM

                              TRY SMALL AGENCIES

                              TRY NEW AGENTS

MEETINGS:          Show Confidence. DRESS NICELY. Clothes tell others that you know what you are talking about.  THINK ON YOUR FEET

DEALS:                 DO NOT PUSH FOR BIGGER MONEY – TRUST YOUR AGENT

WITH OR WITHOUT AN AGENT CONTINUE TO SELL YOURSELF

AND YOUR MATERIAL.

MAKE CONTACTS:

GATHER INFORMATION: 

A.  CREATIVE DIRECTORIES,

B.  BASELINE FIRST LOOK ON THE INTERNET

C.  JEFF GUND’S INFO LIST

Quote from MIND YOUR BUSINESS:

“You are an artist with a gift.  Be proud of that gift and keep moving toward your goal.  Tell your stories.  Someday you may entertain and enlighten millions.  You may bring joy, laughter, tears and excitement into the lives of people all over the world.”

If you have any questions, please email me at:  novelconsult@yahoo.com

DAYDREAMS FOR WRITERS

What do you really want?  As writers you must have something in particular in mind.  Do you simply want to write one script and sell it for $1million?  Do you want to have a career as a motion picture or television or novel writer?  Once you know what you want you will need to figure out how to get there.

A doctor once said to me: "You are the kind of person who makes their dreams into reality".  I had thought that everyone did that.  To escape a rather unpleasant childhood, I had become a great daydreamer.  I would spend many hours either reading or daydreaming.  As I grew up I did start to turn those dreams into real life events.

It ain't easy, but it is possible.  I've always found that the dreaming part was easy......it was making them happen that was hard.  First you need a plan.  To get into any business you must learn all you can about that business.  You must know what you can bring to the table.  You have to find a way to make the big guys in that business want you.  If you have to come in through the basement, you need to be willing to do that.  Working your way up is most often the way to go.  That's exactly how I did it.

You absolutely cannot depend on luck or the heavens.  Advancement is up to you.  Whenever I hear someone say "I'm just unlucky", I have a fit.  Remember the old adage:  "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again"?  I believe in that.  Keep going, keep writing, keep learning your craft and by all means find out how you can get in and stay in.  That means doing your homework, networking, studying, and practicing your chosen craft.

No one writes a great first novel, or script.  Please believe me, your second and third and fourth will be better and better.  When I was an agent the two best clients I ever signed were new to the business and young.  The first one was referred to me by another client.  They had grown up together.  This new writer has written eleven (11) scripts and a novel.  The second was a 23 year old from Alaska who had written eighteen (18) scripts and three (3) novels.  They each made a zillion dollars after I signed them.  I loved working for both of these guys.  They weren't afraid of hard work.  They were gamblers and willing to take chances.  They believed in me as I believed in them.

So dream it up, figure it out then DO IT!

Keep writing.