KEYS TO SUCCESS FOR SCREENWRITERS

There are neither shortcuts nor substitutes for having a GREAT writing sample, preferably more than one. To be a successful screenwriter, you must have great samples of your work. The most successful writers and filmmakers in the entertainment industry got to where they are by developing a strong body of writing material, their success did not happen overnight.

Judd Apatow, Aaron Sorkin, Matthew Weiner all worked diligently at their craft for years, continuing to hone their talents before they became famous. Fame only came about as a result of hard work and consistently turning out quality material. In the case of Matthew Weiner, he had written an amazing spec pilot called "Mad Men" over six years before it got made. While no networks were interested in doing period pieces at the time, the quality of the writing was so outstanding that it captured the attention of David Chase (the executive producer and creator of "The Sopranos"). Matthew went on staff of "The Sopranos" and became one of the show's top writers.

For years there was still no market for a period piece about the ad men of Madison Avenue during the the 50's and early 60's. However, Weiner's great piece of writing which contained fantastic dialogue, rich characters, conflict and subtext continued to be a cornerstone of his career which brought him more work, which in turn led to even more and more work.

Six years after Matthew wrote the pilot for "Mad Men", an executive at F/X who had always been a fan of the script was hired by AMC to head up their original programming. AMC did not have a specific mandate, and the exec. was given great latitude to put whatever she wanted into development. She remembered "Mad Men" and put it into production. Through Matthew's experiences, working with David Chase, he learned how to become a show runner himself. The rest, as they say, is history.

The moral of the story...

Every great career is built on a cornerstone of great writing. I hear aspiring writers frequently comment about the number of movies and series that are made which are poorly written. There are myriad reasons why that might happen, such as a movie being based on an enormous, pre-existing brand like "Transformers" where the players involved are well-established, and wherein special effects are the dominant concern. While other reasons might abound, no executive intends to buy a script that is poorly written.

Great writing is a process. Every great writer I know always says that he or she is continually learning to be a better writer. Rarely is a script ready after a first draft. It often requires several drafts. Sometimes a script is a stepping stone to the next one.

What do Michael Hazanivicius, Paul Haggis, and David Seidler have in common? When these writers sat down to write the scripts for "The Artist", "Million Dollar Baby", and "The King's Speech", it's unlikely they did so thinking they were going to win an Oscar. All of these films were great underdogs. Who would have thought in the age of Hollywood's love affair with special effects and high octane excitement that the film to take home gold would be a silent one? Or that a movie about a young female boxer who dies after losing her legs would be another contender? Or that David Seidler who wrote a small play and began the story forty years prior would also be taking home gold? All these writers knew at the time was that they had stories to tell, and went about telling them exceedingly well.

The take-away...

While it's good to be eager and want to get your script into production right away, it is also important to be patient with yourselves; put in the time to take the necessary steps that will make your scripts outstanding, and enjoy the process.

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For tips and feedback on elevating your writing, feel free to give me a call and visit: www.la4hire.com

Wendy Kram, Owner/Producer

WK Productions & L.A. FOR HIRE, Inc.

wendy@la4hire.com

Ranked by Creative Screenwriting Magazine as the Industry's Top 3 Picks for "Best Script Consultants"

Wendy Kram & L.A. FOR HIRE listed as "Best Movie & TV Script Consultants"

Creative Screenwriting Magazine just came out with their 2010 Edition of "The Best Movie & TV Script Analysts & Consultants As Rated by Screenwriters".

I am proud to be listed among an elite group, ranked #3 in an overall rating of over 160 consultants who were reviewed, and considered by Creative Screenwriting Magazine as "The Cream of the Crop".

For more information about Creative Screenwriting Magazine's 2010 Edition of "The Best Movie & TV Script Analysts & Consultants As Rated by Screenwriters", please visit:

http://creativescreenwriting.com/consultant.survey.html

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/255a13a6#/255a13a6/16

For more information about my services and how I may assist you with your screenwriting goals, please visit:

www.la4hire.com or email me at wendy@la4hire.com

Ageism in Hollywood?

I was recently asked the following question:

How much does age and experience factor into getting started in Hollywood?

My response:

If you are looking to break in as an assistant to a producer, studio executive or agent, it helps to be young. In reality, most adults would not want these positions. These are the types of jobs that young people are more willing to do since the pay is low and they entail a lot of grunt work, which is fine when you're just starting out and if you have the means to sustain yourself. In some cases, young people have parents who are willing to subsidize them in these jobs as they realize it's an investment in their children's futures...or younger people are willing to work night jobs such as bar tend to make ends meet, concessions many adults are not willing to make. Assistant jobs are a rite of passage of sorts and can provide invaluable experience. But it is not essential to have this experience in order to make it in Hollywood.

Specifically when it comes to screenplays, I don't think age is such a factor since what matters most is the content. If you have a great script with a great concept that can get noticed by people who can help get your movie made, age doesn't really matter. If someone is young and writes a crappy script, no one is going to buy it just because they're young. And even if someone is 25 and brilliantly talented, their age won't guarantee that their project will get noticed. It's a tough business no matter how old you are.

What matters most is having a great story that's well-executed.

It's content, not age, that's King.

No matter what your age, your focus should be on creating a great piece of work and having the wisdom and self-honesty to know what's good and what's not.

The Art of the Pitch in Hollywood

Starting with how the idea for your project came to you is one of the best ways to begin your pitch. Because you are connecting to a real place and the source of your genuine inspiration and excitement about your project, your delivery will come across in a manner that's not so re-hearsed. It's a great ice-breaker. Best of all, talking about how you got your idea makes you more relaxed and less self-conscious, which in turn makes the person you're pitching to also feel more relaxed and engaged.

As a producer who has heard infinite pitches, nothing is more painful than watching someone sweat, turn red and even shake because they feel so uncomfortable and nervous. While some executives might come across as a little cold, the truth is, every executive is rooting for you. If you have a great project, you make them a star.

Worse are those who come in and read from a document. We want to connect with you, see who you are and get to know you. We're taking time out of a very busy day to have you in our office, so do what you can to entertain us.


The best way to do that is to connect with your genuine source of interest and excitement because that reveals you...and your excitement will engage us and be infectious.

Never under estimate the importance of practice and being prepared. The best way to prepare, I have found when I'm preparing a pitch, is to write the story down. Usually, this process takes place in the form of a treatment or outline that I've been working on for at least a week. By reading and researching the characters (if based on a book or true story) and writing the treatment, I've gotten to know my characters and story intimately so that talking about them becomes second nature.


DO practice in the shower, in your car, on your way to your coffee shop, as you walk across the parking lot -- do whatever it takes! Practice your pitch on your friends. Make sure they are friends who are supportive and won't tear you apart or put you down as that will only shred your confidence and put you back a few steps -- completely counter-productive! So practice, practice, practice!...until your pitch is second nature.

DON'T wing it. Unless you're a seasoned pro, a gifted story-teller who has been writing novels, scripts or plays for at least 10 years as these are the only people I know capable of "winging" pitches...and even they too have to prepare a little bit.

Last but not least...

Have FUN! Love your story, love what you're telling...even if it's a scary movie, a tragedy or a horror movie...enjoy the process! Chances are if you have fun, the person you're pitching it to will too!

For more information about "Pitching" and other Hollywood Tips, contact Wendy:

wendy@la4hire.com l www.la4hire.com