Choosing Your Next Screenplay

Scriptwriters should always be working on multiple screenwriting ideas. Hopefully not all at once. You’d be amazed at how you can come  up with story ideas for one screenplay while working on another. This is the beauty of being a screenwriter. Having many projects in development. At some point we need to decide which screenplay…

The Golden Rules Of Cracking The Hollywood Nut

Words of wisdom from BOSI. 1) Be prepared to meet always-questioning, confused investors/executives.  Many times folks with lots of loot, power, and influence aren’t the most creative people. So help them get inside your brain. Put together storyboards, have drawings, play music, do a puppet show, anything. Well, maybe not a puppet show. 2) Be…

12 Questions For Screenwriting Success

According to Marvin Acuna of the Business Of Show Institute, here are 12 important questions to ask yourself  if you want to adapt and thrive in Neo-Hollywood. 1) Are you evolving with the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment industry? 2) Are you part of a screenwriting forum that is sharing business information and/or relationships? 3) Are you part…

Negotiate Your Screenplay Option Agreement Like A Pro Screenwriter

So you’re a screenwriter lucky enough to have a producer interested in your screenplay? The said producer doesn’t have the cash to purchase your film script outright, so instead they option it while searching for finance. Optioning is essentially renting your screenplay or other literary property for a pre-determined period of time at the exclusivity…

More On Pitching

Doug Eboch and Ken Aguado, co-authors of “The Hollywood Pitching Bible”, discuss the key components of a successful pitch. Most pitches range from 15 seconds to 15 minutes long and they are often delivered in an unstructured, spontaneous environment. The key to delivering an effective pitch is to have a compelling idea with a strong…

How To Impress The Entertainment Industry

Lee Jessup, entertainment career consultant, gives some pointers on being a desirable brand in the industry. What agents, managers, and other executives are looking to deduce is this: Are you an able content creator? Do you come up with compelling, industry-friendly ideas consistently? Can you aptly talk about your work? Are you memorable, in a…

The 10 Screenwriting Sales Commandments

From the Gospel of Marvin Acuna. 1) THOU SHALT SMILE AND BE PASSIONATE  Sales is a transference of energy. So if you are passionate and believe in your material, then your passion will be contagious. But if your pitch is a snoozer, then don’t expect Hollywood Professionals to embrace your material. And remember to smile. 2) THOU SHALT…

Building Your Screenwriting Career

Lee Jessup, career strategist, discusses ways to break into the industry. Spoiler alert! It’s going to take time and it won’t be easy. But you already knew that. Making it as a screenwriter is possible – but it’s not going to be easy. People ask me why I remain optimistic about a writer’s ability to…

Breaking and Entering The Screenwriting World

Barri Evans discusses the tricky world of breaking into the business. Why does the industry say no so often to aspiring writers? They’re looking for talent? The next hot thing? If you want people to eat at your restaurant, you don’t keep the front doors locked, right? Or do you? Advice for aspiring writers can…

How To Attract Screenwriting Representation

Screenwriter career coach, Lee Jessup  discusses how to make yourself a commodity agents and managers want to invest in. When an agent or manager considers taking you on for representation, they will consider your body of work to confirm whether you will be the type of writer who will deliver consistently and prolifically, and provide…

Working With Non-Traditional Story Structures

Linda Aronson discusses alternatives to the traditional linear screenplay model. Ever feel your film doesn’t fit the one-hero linear model? Ever wanted to use flashbacks, time jumps, multiple story lines or ensemble casts? Clearly, they are the way of the future. Surprisingly, these complicated films – with their multiple protagonists, multiple storylines, flashforwards and flashbacks…

Successful Writing Partnerships

Stephanie Palmer from “Good In A Room” discusses fine tuning these tricky relationships. When was the last time you and your writing partner had a meeting about your partnership? A writing team’s success is, in part, a function of the warmth and strength of your personal connection. This connection is what determines if you can…