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…
Tag: screenwriting career
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…
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…
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…
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…
Secrets To Screenwriting Success
Pen Densham writes for both TV and feature films and is personally responsible for reviving ‘The Outer Limits’ and ‘The Twilight Zone’ series to television. Here are his views on navigating your screenwriting career. 1) WRITE FROM YOUR HEART As a writer, trust your instinctual creativity and write from your passion. When you don’t value…
What Kind Of Spec Script Should You Write To Break Into The Film Industry?
Breaking into the film and TV industry is hard. There is no single way of doing it. It isn’t like other professions where you earn a qualification, start at the bottom and work your way to the top. There is no ladder or easily definable career path for screenwriters. It is a career lattice defined…
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 