Networking Hollywood

A guest post from Tom Benedek, longtime screenwriter (Cocoon) and co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class:

SCRIPT WRITER CASE STUDY #1:

“I am a natural enthusiast. An optimist. I love to imagine out my script projects. I savor my writing time. I enjoy rewriting. I love blank pages. And the smell of warm script pages fresh out of the printer. But when it comes to selling my work — honestly, I would much rather move on to another writing project. And, too often, I don’t ‘feel like’ actively selling my script out there. To anyone. “

Should this writer spend 15% of their “writing time” on marketing?

Yes.

Should this writer always dream that the person who is willing to hear about their script may lead to a positive outcome somewhere, somehow?

Yes.

Should this writer do research to target the right buyers, managers, producers for their project?

Yes.

ADVICE FOR CASE STUDY #1:

• Learn to write about your writing
• Brainstorm a brief monologue to talk about your script project
• Consider where your plot and characters fit into the business

A logline and a short pitch are as fundamentally important as your cover page. This is part of the job of screenwriting.

Use the same skills you exercise as a script writer

• Create that brief monologue about your characters and story that you can deliver to anyone at any time. Clearly. Honestly. Not endlessly. With modesty and underlying enthusiasm.
• Write three lines which describe your movie or TV show. — That logline
• Go into the databases of managers, agents, producers. (Done Deal, IMDB Pro, etc.) and qualify prospects
• Make calls
• Send emails
• Practice pitch by talking to all kinds of people about your project
• Enter contests
• Go to festivals

Give rejection big hugs every day and you will sell scripts. Show some love to the gatekeepers even if they don’t open the door right away. Go to the next door. The next. Keep knocking. Perseverance. Luck. A great script. Finding the right place at the right time.

Remember — anything is possible. “Nobody knows anything.”

Upcoming one-week class at Screenwritingmasterclass.com will help you move forward with this important 15% of your writing time.

Starting Monday, August 29, Tom’s excellent Network Hollywood course. For more information, go here.