The Business of Show — Under a Microscope

Guest post from screenwriter Tom Benedek (Cocoon) and co-founder of Screenwriting Master Class:

Business practices are evolve. But the same rules always apply. The script matters. Relationships matter. Things become hot. And then inevitably they go cold. The hotter they were. then usually the longer they may stay warm — before they go cold. However great screenplays never go cold. Write something very good and it will emanate heat in the business. Throw some personal warmth and reasonable emotional intuition into the mix and you can build a career for yourself. As long as the high quality of the writing continues. Understanding the business, giving it a clear look straight in the eyes once in a while is the way to help your scripts find a place in the industry. Our Network Hollywood class is a great way to familiarize yourself with the business, clock some real face time (via the internet) with Hollywood professionals who are in the mix.

Writing is never easy. Still, somehow for most of us, the other tasks of screenwriting are much more difficult. Pitching, making contacts, networking are challenges. Give me solitary confinement with my script pages any day. Yet I know it is important to set aside some time to work on career development and show business strategy regularly. We all have to navigate those waters so we must chart them with some intuitive accuracy.

Now — a word from our sponsor: There will be lectures, work book assignments, video interviews to watch with many agents, managers, producers — including Oscar nominees Benh Zeitilin and Lucy Alibar (Beasts of the Southern Wild) participating in next week’s Network Hollywood class at Screenwritingmasterclass.com along with screenwriter Stanley Weiser (Wall Street, W), Lena’s Dunham’s Motion Picture Agent from UTA — Jenny Maryasis, Producer Michael Shamberg (Django Unchained) and more.

We will also be featuring live online pitch sessions. You will have a chance to present your script projects (in a few lines) in a live chat room to a Hollywood lit manager or agent to get his or her opinion/reaction/Hollywood wisdom. As promised, there will be reality checks.

This is a great chance to get a gut check on your script project from a top Hollywood lit agent — Network Hollywood class at Screenwriting Master Class. A real live Hollywood lit manager or agent will text chat with you about your script project. Get your logline ready…

Tom is incredibly well connected in Hollywood and this Network Hollywood class demonstrates that. For more information, go here.