OUR CATEGORY : UncategorizedTip 15: To Brand or Not to Brand? That is the Career Question.Without a doubt, branding is a controversial topic for writers. On one hand, you want to be free to write whatever you choose. On the other hand, you want to be known for your unique voice. There is nothing wrong with either perspective. But since this philosophy is about breaking into the movie business, I [...] Tip 14: Collaborate, My Friend. Collaborate.In the beginning, there was you and your idea. The idea evolved into a screenplay. You took your baby to the market, and it was snapped up by a big production company. What followed was a whirlwind of activity, and then you were invited to the premier of your movie! But it seems like something [...] Tip 12. Some People Get Lucky. Make Sure You’re One of Them.In this industry, you often hear about “lucky breaks.” Many of the most successful writers, producers, and actors credit part of their success to a few lucky moments. But let’s be clear. The vast majority of those people absolutely deserve their luck because they created it…and so will you. Having said that, there’s the other [...] Tip 11. Universal, But Not Cliche!When I listen to the reasons producers turn down scripts, the word “cliche” often shows up. But right after insisting they don’t want cliches, the same producers will say they love “universal” stories. How can both be true? You could think of stories, characters, situations, and dialogue in these terms: Familiar Familiar, yet different Different, [...] Tip 10. ”What Would Kurtzman and Orci Do?”Seven years ago, I was at Universal Studios interviewing producers for a group of screenwriters. One of our guests cancelled and the organizer of the event (Gary Shusett) introduced me to two writers with the words, “They did the show ‘Xena, Princess Warrior.’” Thirty seconds later, we began the interview, and with no preparation, I [...] Tip 9. It’s Not Rejection…Just Friendly Hollywood Feedback.Typically, when a production company or agency “passes” on your script (says “no”), they don’t usually give feedback. You simply get a, “Sorry, it’s not for us” response. That’s the bad news. The rest of this philosophy tip is the good news. Apply Your Philosophy How you interpret a “pass” and what you do with [...] Tip 8: Kaizen. 1% Improvement per day = 365% per year.Want to know the easiest way to become a professional? Kaizen. It’s the Japanese strategy of continuous improvement, and it can get you to the top of any field. Here’s the logic. Improve by 1% a day, and next year, you’ll be 365% better. Continue to improve every day for another year, and you’ll be [...] Tip 7. You Are a Metaphor for the Movie Biz!Many writers have expressed to me that they either don’t understand the business side of Hollywood or feel like it is not their kind of business. They want their movie made, but they’ve heard discouraging or frightening things about doing business with Hollywood. When most of what you see on the Net is either hype [...] Tip 6. What If Your Whole Life is Preparation for an Amazing Screenwriting Career?If you look back over your life, chances are you’ve had thousands of experiences. Your life is filled with stories, subplots, themes, situations, motivations, actions/reactions, and plenty of dialogue. You may have experienced almost every genre in one form or another. It is quite amazing what you’ve been through and how it might contribute to [...] |
