Recommended Screenwriters
Tip 18. Relationships Are Gold!
- February 23, 2011
- Posted by: jennamilly
- Category: Interviews
You've heard it before: "It's not what you know, it's who you know." The movie business is all about relationships. But this isn't about being a schmoozer. It is about creating relationships with a purpose.
Relationships With a Purpose
Think about your current relationships. Aren't they built around something? Of course, you have some friends with whom you grew up, but others are friends because you work at the same job or go to the same church. Some may be friends because you play sports together.
You can also have relationships based upon your dreams or your business — screenwriting. In this industry, relationships with producers are about working together to get a TV show or movie made. Relationships with managers or agents are about getting your scripts sold or getting you work.
Relationships happen for lots of reasons. The more okay you are with how they start, the more likely you'll be successful in this "relationship-heavy" business.
Past, Present, and Future?
Relationships have a past, a present, and a future. If you've never met this person, your "past" is your reputation. It may be the successes you've had — contest placement, previous option, etc. — or it may be that a trusted source recommended your writing.
Then, there are a series of "present" moments — like you pitching a story that is perfect for the producer's market or completing a rewrite to the producer's satisfaction. These present moments become part of your recent past with that producer. You're building a history of this relationship.
Finally, there is the future. Let's say a manager just read your script. That may be all the "history" you two have together. In that case, you've got to build more of a future to compensate. You may need to pitch a few very strong concepts. These are potential successes that get the manager believing in your future.
One More Dimension to Relationships
In general, industry relationships fulfill two important criteria — personal and business.
With Your Manager:
Business: The focus might be on selecting the "right projects."
Personal: You enjoy playing golf together.
With Your Agent:
Business: You've promised to build a library of scripts that could be sold.
Personal: You two joke about the junior agents.
With Your Producer:
Business: The focus is on rewriting per the requested script changes.
Personal: You're both committed to a political issue.
You can get a lot done through people in this industry just by combining a little " personal" interaction with the business.
Remember, this relationship is an open door (Tip 13) to one degree or another. If you play this correctly, the relationship will blossom, and so will your career.
How to Create Relationships
- Bring in projects that match their market (Tip 16).
- Find areas of common ground.
- Work together on projects (Tip 14) for mutual benefit.
- Create a future together by showing you can do the job in the present.
- Take things one at a time.
- Focus on the needs of the other party in the relationship.
What Not to Do
- Don't try to get into bed on the first date.
- Don't make demands.
- Don't be a problem. Be a solution.
- Don't be a stalker..
What Keeps Relationships Alive?
- Value your relationships.
- Be willing to make workable deals (Tip 5).
- Think long-term, and don't burn bridges over short-term issues.
- Continue to bring in scripts that fit their markets.
- – Maintain your reputation (Tip 17) and respect theirs.
ACTION: Make a list of your five best relationships. What makes them work? Now, think about your industry relationships. How are they working? What value could you bring from your five best relationships into your movie business relationships? QUESTION: What can you do to build better relationships with the key players who could make your career? |
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