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Lecture 15:Lecture 15:Being ProactiveBeing Proactive

Professor Daniel Cutrara

Jaws (1975)

Peter Benchley (Novel)

Peter Benchley (Screenplay)

Previous LessonPrevious Lesson

• Writing is Rewriting

• More Guidelines for Revision

• Assignments

This LessonThis Lesson

• Being a writer

• Selling your work

• Agents, managers, attorneys

• Assignments

Being a WriterBeing a Writer

Lesson 15: Part I

Diablo Cody

Juno

Paul Haggis

Crash

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The Writing LifeThe Writing Life

• Know what it means for you to be a writer.

• Find ways to support yourself as a writer.

• Protect your work.

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Why Write?Why Write?

William Faulkner

Follow the link below to listen to and or read William Faulkner’s acceptance speech of the Nobel Prize awarded in 1949.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/literature/laureates/1949/faulkner-speech.html

SupportSupport

• Working with a writing partner.

• Finding a writing group.

• Committing to the writing.

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Protect your workProtect your work

• Keep records• Copyright• The WGA• Registered mail

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Selling Your ScriptSelling Your Script

Lesson 15: Part II

The Player (1992)

Michael Tolkin (Novel)

Michael Tolkin (Screenplay)

The Player The Player • Pause the lecture and watch the clip from

The Player.– What does it tell you about Studios and

executives?– What does it tell you about writers?

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The Player (1992)

Michael Tolkin (Novel)

Michael Tolkin (Screenplay)

Hollywood is a Business Hollywood is a Business • The business of Hollywood

- Time is money- Connections are critical- The politics

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Prepare Your Script for MarketPrepare Your Script for Market

• It is your calling card

• Ways to polish:– Writing group– Script consultants

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Your Selling Tools Your Selling Tools

• A showcase script• A provocative pitch hook• A compelling story summary• A captivating query letter• A scintillating synopsis• Treatment

 

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Crafting the QueryCrafting the Query

• The concept in a sentence or two• The title and genre• A brief pitch of the story• Your qualifications• Request permission to forward your script

 

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The PitchThe Pitch

• Pitching– Be prepared– Be flexible– Have more than one idea

• The meeting• The two-minute pitch• The long pitch

 

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The Pitch - 2The Pitch - 2

• The Synopsis • The Treatment • The Outline

 

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Agents, Managers, AttorneysAgents, Managers, Attorneys

Lesson 15: Part III

Entourage

Doug Ellin

Executive Producer/Creator

The AgentThe Agent

• How to find an agent• Working with an agent

– Agents get 10%– The agent’s primary motivation is money

• What the agent can do for you– Make a sale– Option the script– Development deal– Audition

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The ManagerThe Manager

• How to find a Manager• Working with a Manager

– Managers get 15 to 25%– They focus on developing you and your work– May attach themselves as producers

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The Entertainment AttorneyThe Entertainment Attorney

• Can be used in place of an agent• Will charge by the hour or 5%

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Become a ProducerBecome a Producer

• Produce your own work– Acquiring rights for adaptation– Attaching talent to your project– If you go this route, make sure you learn the

business of producing. Otherwise, you could face financial ruin.

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AssignmentsAssignments

Lesson 15: Part IV

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E-Board Post #1E-Board Post #1• Strategies for an Emerging Writer: What

are your plans to develop yourself as a writer before you submit work?

End of Lecture 15End of Lecture 15

Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Written by Michael Arndt