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Day 11 Assignments
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7 Replies
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Emmanuel Knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned from this assignment is testing your work is very important before delivering it to the client. Looping through feedback is a sign of a professional screenwriter vs an amateur.
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Hal’s logical/visual analogies are great for most people. Agreed that Hollywood tests its materials relentlessly. There is an art to taking criticism in a way that doesn’t block you. I took the wrong criticism from editors for my last big novel in 2006. When something is too original, the gatekeepers don’t like you so it takes someone more confident and connected than me to break through. Hal’s prodigy was great and should do well in Hollywood. But I must face up to the fact that I have spent my life throwing things out into the world that were imperfect. I am so sick of working on this trilogy in my cooped up room because I must make money to survive and once I am working, I can’t concentrate on this complex editing job. I don’t think anything is ever perfect and perfection is in the eyes of the gatekeepers. That said, there are at least ten things I must do to my three novels before I could even self publish them. I only want to take criticism now from publishers, editors, or agents because my own analytical mind is demanding enough. I appreciate this lesson making us think about these things and preparing for a time in the future when effective rewrites must be written.
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Amy knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned from this lesson is I’ve been sending out scripts before they were ready. Now I know how to make sure they are ready before I send them out.
Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
a. Your script-I’m going to first give my script to someone I got to know in one of my ScreenwritingU classes to read. Then I will make changes based on their feedback. Then I will send it out for coverage. If I get a recommend, I will start querying producers. If I get less than a recommend, I will make more changes to the script. I will excite the process once I get a recommend and start querying producers.
b. Your query letters-I will run my query letters by a friend. I will make changes based on their feedback and then send it to someone new and make changes based on that person’s feedback. Then I will send it out to one more person. If that person says it’s good to go, I will start sending it to producers.
c. Building your network-I’m not really sure how TOTE works with networking. I will try different ways of networking like Twitter, ScreenwritingU alum and continue to use whatever method gets me the best results.
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Pablo knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned: Measure twice, cut once. You should always get feedback from trusted colleagues as they serve as a safety/trial run before sending your work out to producers.
Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
A. Script: I would send my script to my most trustworthy feedback sources. Then I would make changes based on their suggestions. Then I would send it to another feedback source. If they think it’s good then I would send the script to a potential fan. If they think it’s good, I’d send it out to a producer. If not, I’d make more changes. Then I would send it to another potential fan. And so on and forth until it is ready.
B. Query Letters: I will send my query letters by a colleague in the industry for feedback. Make changes. Send it out to a couple more friends that work in the industry. Make more changes. I want the query letter to be super intriguing so the more feedback the better. When it is ready, then I send it out to producers.
C. Network: To me, networking is like pitching for yourself rather than your film ideas. Like coming up with a solid pick up line to potential partners. I would test out ways to reach out to producers by trying it out with friends, cheerleaders and feedback sources before I try to connect with them via twitter, facebook, etc.
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BOB SMITH knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned from this lesson is…?
The importance of Testing, making changes based on feedback, testing again and exiting only when the script is as complete as it could be following testing. Also, upon reflection, I realized I have resources to build my network right now.
1. Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
a. Your script.
Make sure that script is as elevated as I can make it. But don’t send it in yet. Without T.O.T.E.
b. Your query letters.
Work from the script and create as many ‘hooks’ as possible from the scene work because that is what producers look for.
c. Building your network.
A Friend to read the script.
Table reading with a group.
I belong to a playwrights group and a Improvisational comedy group that includes sketch writing. .
Then a staged reading of the screenplay for an audience. Get it audience-tested.
Soon I’ll have PSA friends to add to network.
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Budinscak Knows T.O.T.E.
Day 11
What I learned doing this assignment:
o The importance of patience. Don’t send anything out until you’ve been convinced it’s ready.
o Having a strong network helps produce quality work.
o Know and grow your network. Offer help before asking for assistance.
o Don’t be afraid to read something one more time. Always better to read it one more time than one less time.
T.O.T.E.
Script: I’ve completed a first draft and received feedback from my partner – I’ve incorporated their comments and insights into my story. Also, during the various lessons I tried to pick different scenes/scenarios to up the ante on conflict, dialog and scenes as well as the writing. I’m looking forward to implementing all the changes, update the story and send it to my network for feedback. I will use the suggested process of sending it to one person at a time and update the script based on their input. Then send the revised work to a second person in the network, update the story based on their feedback, etc. After I’m comfortable, send it to a script consultant for coverage. Based on the feedback, I’ll have a coveted ‘Recommend’ or what I need to do to get there. Once there – Recommend – I’ll enter contests, InkTip and Virtual Pitchfest to draw interest. I’ll also research those producers in my genre, the directors they’ve worked with previously, etc for a targeted marketing campaign.
Query Letters: I will utilize the same philosophy and process. Nothing goes out until I’m comfortable with it OR I’ve been convinced it’s ready to go. I’ll seek critiques from my PS80 classmates as well as members of my local writing groups. My goal is to fine tune its content and message to draw the attention of producers, agents and/or A-list actors.
Building My Network: I need to be much more active than I’ve been previously. First step is to update my social media presence, and I plan to have that done within the next week. I also need to reach out to my network, offer assistance wherever and whenever possible, and establish myself as approachable, easy to work with and someone who delivers a quality product, on time, on budget. Given that I live out of state, I need a solid network to facilitate opening a few doors – that and exceptional writing.
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Jodi knows T.O.T.E. – Day 11
Don’t go for fast, go for smart. Use one skill mastery at a time to elevate the quality of the script. Use T.O.T.E. to improve and elevate the quality of the script by testing. Do the work that others aren’t willing to do to be looked at as a professional.
1. Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
a. TOTE with my script: I will ask a PSA writer for feedback, improve my script, send to script consultants and/or contests, and then send to Producers when all tests prove it is ready to send.
b. For query letters: I will reach out to PSA writers for feedback, and aim for as much ‘white space’ and hooks as possible in my query letter.
c.
Building my network: Once my script is TOTE
ready, I’m going to do the exercises in this module for building a Twitter
profile and also search wikipedia and imdb for producers and
second/third/fourth degrees of separation of films with the same elements and
genre as my script and send my query letter to them. I’m also considering writing this script in book form to make a
blog out of it to generate interest.
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