Film making is a visual medium. Screenwriters are always told that less dialogue is more. Does this axiom also apply to scene description too? Well… kinda sorta… Dialog constitutes the primary colors of your film or TV script. The scene description is the shading. It is more than simply describing physical action. It needs to…
Tag: industry
What Are TV Executives Looking For
In the days of broadcast only TV networks, there were 5 key players in the marketplace. Collectively, the produced around 60-80 original scripted TV shows. Today, with the proliferation of cable and online networks, prepare for a selection of around 300-400 TV shows. Broadcast TV was traditional, safe and reassuring of mainstream values. Cable TV is…
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…
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…
The Changing TV Business
If there was ever a TVmageddon in the works, this is it. What was, is no longer. What will be, unfolds. What is destroyed will be rebuilt. Nothing is permanent. Everything is fluid. What does this mean for TV writers? Decades ago, in a time far far away, there were three or four terrestrial networks…
How To Handle Criticism Of Your Work
Everyone has an opinion in the film world. Everyone’s a critic. Sometimes they have a point, sometimes they don’t. Often times the issue that people have with your script is not the real issue. Dig deep. Find out what people are really reacting to. It may not even be an issue with your script. Don’t…
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…
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…
Gideon's Screenwriting Tips: Now You're a Screenwriter 