The entertainment industry is a fickle one. It is often difficult to assess whether any meeting is successful or not. The purpose of any meeting a screenwriter takes with an agent, manager or producer is to establish a relationship. It could be short or long term. They may want to work with you personally or recommend…
Category: CAREER
5 Ways To Add The WOW Factor To Your Screenwriting
There are tens of thousands of screenplays registered with the WGA each year. Many thousands more screenplays are written, but not registered. Even more screenplays than that are works in progress. That adds up to a hell of a lot of screenplays. All vying for attention. Screenwriters must be aware that this places an enormous…
Are You Ready To Become A Screenwriter In Demand?
You’ve been clacking on your keyboard for years. Toiling. Churning out movie script after movie script. Your screenplays are piling up, but getting little traction. You start doubting your writing skills. Will you break through? In order to succeed, you need to embrace the screenwriting grind. There is no way around it. Athletes cannot skip…
How to Ace Your TV Spec Script
The requirements for TV writers to secure their next writing gig are generally either an original TV pilot or a spec script of an existing TV show. These are cyclical, so it’s advisable to have one of each type in your arsenal. Be strategic with which TV show you choose to write. Don’t go for…
How To Seduce A Script Reader On The First Page Of Your Screenplay
Script readers are overworked. They read at least 2-5 screenplays per day in search of their next big hit. Statistically, around half the screenplays they read are poor or worse. Despite their wanting to enjoy all the film scripts they request, they are disappointed the majority of the time. Another 30-45% are average. Not good…
A Rough Guide To Independent Film Finance
I’ve previously written posts on financing movies in the studio arena. The principals of raising independent film finance are similar. The main difference lies in the extended patchwork of funding sources to get an indie film made. Each piece of the budget pie also tends to be smaller. There is no hard and fast rule…
Do You Know The Difference Between Screenplay OPTION and SHOPPING Agreements?
If you’re one of those screenwriters who’ve had their film scripts purchased outright, on the spot, in pitch meetings, you’ve conquered the virtually impossible. Congratulations, it is the pinnacle of your screenwriting career. For most writers, they are typically offered one of two types of screenplay agreements, an option agreement or a shopping agreement. Option…
What The Heck Is A Producer Only Deal?
There’s a new producer deal in town that’s making screenwriters’ pens tingle with screenwriting excitement. It’s called a producer only deal. The main types of deals film & TV producers win in the current studio system are: BLIND DEAL – When a film or TV producer is so popular and bankable, they have access to…
What Should Screenwriters Expect From A Literary Agent Or Manager?
Many screenwriters have (or should have) heard the adage that since agents and managers collect 10-20% commission on a screenplay sale, they should only be doing an equivalent amount of work in advancing your screenwriting career. Is this a reasonable expectation? Perhaps. Never sit back after securing the services of an agent and manager and…
How Screenwriters Should Negotiate Their Screenplay Options
Congratulations. An agent, manager or film/ TV producer is interested in your screenplay. Woo hoo! What now! You have options. Sorry. I had to throw that in. A screenplay option agreement grants a movie or TV producer the exclusive right to market your script, secure finance and attach talent. It does not grant them intellectual property…
Diversity In Screenwriting
It is no secret that the majority of film and television screens are still filled with white actors and most screenplays are still penned by white, middle-class males. Is this dominant mono-culture as large an issue as claimed by various diversity pundits? Workplace diversity is broadly defined in terms of gender, race, cultural background, sexual orientation,…
5 Easy & Achievable Steps To Champion Your Screenwriting Career
As part of our continuing series on screenwriting advice from Career Coach Lee Jessup, here are some easy steps that you can start taking today to charge of your career. Many decisions are out of our control, but screenwriters have more power to engineer their relationships than we think. So here goes. I turn the keyboard over to…
Gideon's Screenwriting Tips: Now You're a Screenwriter 