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Day 11 Assignments
Reply to post your assignments.
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9 Replies
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Cameron Martin knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned doing this assignment is…how to aim that self-criticism that’s common in artistry in a constructive direction. Some of this is pretty common sense stuff, as it relates to process oriented results, but putting it in writing with the specific definitions goes a long way to understanding exactly what you’re looking for. This is similar to the way I’ve developed health and fitness practices since the start of COVID, and I’m sure these writing processes will adjust based on results in the same way my health and fitness practices have had to adjust. In the end tough, I know this will yield consistent and positive results, just by tracking the processes on a regular basis.
A. Your script.
– TEST: Gauge concept with friends and family.
– OPERATE: Based on emotional reaction, search for ways to make concept more “unique,” taking from other IP for inspiration to elevate the concept to that “High Concept” status.
– TEST: Gauge concept with strangers.
– EXIT: Only when the concept receives general high positivity and engagement.
– TEXT: Build a story logic web and gauge each component on whether A. Every plot point and character builds off of each other and B. Escalates through the story, culminating into an impactful ending.
– OPERATE: Elevate story logic web components (don’t be afraid to go back to concept if needed. This is what happened with OPEN WIDE, where the concept radically changed during the Story Logic Web segment) to fit the two parameters.
– TEST: Share story logic web with new friends and family.
– EXIT: Only when the story logic web delivers a solid structure and escalating action.
– TEST: Write Outline based on current story structure model and Story Logic Web. Highlight scenes that come quickly and are exciting.
– OPERATE: Elevate scenes that either struggled to come to fruition or are easily comparable to tropes or cliches.
– TEST: Send outline to fellow writer who can check for cliches.
– EXIT: Only when the outline communicates a strong structure and impactful story.
– TEST: After completing first draft, isolate separate arcs into mini movies and read each individual arc.
– OPERATE: Correct structural problems and grammar issues. Put script back together.
– TEST: Send completed first draft to fellow writer for review.
– OPERATE: Make adjustments based on notes.
– TEST: Send completed second draft to script consultant.
– OPERATE: Make adjustments based on notes.
– EXIT: Once “Recommend” status is earned.
B. Your query letters.
– TEST: After writing first draft, give 24 hour consideration, and return to read and elevate based solely on how the content of the letter reads.
– TEST: Send completed second draft to fellow writer for review.
– OPERATE: Make necessary corrections based on notes.
– EXIT: Only when letter receives mostly ecstatic reactions
C. Building your network.
– TEST: Keep a log of the amount of engagement with your network. Has it been increasing or decreasing.
– OPERATE: If engagement has been decreasing, take initiative to both increase engagement with current network and build new network bridges.
– TEST: Has engagement increased or decreased.
– EXIT: When engagement increases and results in opportunities.
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DAY 11 – Elevating Quality to a Professional Level
Lisa knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned from this lesson is that the TOTE process can improve my script several fold by incorporating feedback from each critique. And to not send out a script until it’s obsoletely the best it can be!
1. Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
a. Your script.
TEST – Screenwriter/lawyer family member and friends
OPERATE – Analyze feedback and incorporate or changes.
Rewrite and work on improving the script by applying the steps learned in PS81.
TEST – Screenwriter/lawyer family member
-Alumni from the PS81
-Alumni from the WIM2
OPERATE – Analyze feedback and incorporate or changes.
Rewrite and work on improving the script by applying the steps learned in PS81.
TEST – Send to a script consultant
-Alumni from PS81
-Alumni from WIM2
EXIT – Don’t stop improving until it’s recommended.
b. Your query letters.
TEST -Alumni from the PS81
-Alumni from the WIM2
OPERATE – Analyze feedback and incorporate or changes.
Exit or:
TEST -Alumni from the PS81 class
-Alumni from the WIM2 class
OPERATE – Analyze feedback and incorporate or changes.
TEST – Repeat if needed
EXIT – Only send out when it’s the best it can be.
c. Building your network.
Continue working on building and maintaining contacts:
Alumni from PS81 and WIM2 classes
Twitter – comment on producer/entertainment posts.
LinkedIn – keep profile updated and connect with producers, other entertainment pros
Facebook – contact and comment on SU Alumni site. Interact with friends in the business on an on-going basis.
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DEV ROSS DAY 11 – Elevating Quality to a Professional Level
T.O.T.E.
What I learned from this lesson is that the TOTE process provides constructive feedback that works to elevate story. This is achieved by me carefully incorporating new story and character points initiated from critiques. Also, a great reminder NOT to send out scripts too soon! Gotta sit on my hands!
1. Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
a. Your script.
TEST – Thus far, I’ve had readings by two trusted actors and one retired producer. I will continue to test with actors (round table reading) and more connected industry folk.
OPERATE – Feedback has been positive save for the retired producer who loved the story but did not like the sci-fi aspect. I will weigh this with future comments. I have script out to a young working producer in Hollywood, and one Indie director. Still waiting for their comments.
I will rewrite script by applying the steps learned in class.
TEST – Entered script in two different feature contests.
Outcome might be too long to wait for so may need to take more short-term action.
b. Your query letters.
Continue to get feedback from industry people.
OPERATE – Analyze feedback, make changes.
Exit or:
TEST -Alumni from the PS81 class
– Past Producers I’ve worked with.
OPERATE – Analyze feedback and incorporate or changes.
TEST – Repeat if needed
EXIT – Send out script ONLY when it’s the best it can be.
c. Building your network.
Continue working on building and maintaining contacts:
LinkedIn: Update profile.
Twitter – Continue to make comments on producer/director’s posts.
Facebook – Interact with acting, producing, directing friends
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ANITA KNOWS TOTE
What I learned: Test / Operate / Test / Exit – a good mantra! There’s always room for improvement not only on script drafts, but tweaking strategies. I like the phrase, “testing quality”. QC – Quality Control is what a good business does. This is the business side of writing, and I have heretofore been very scattershot about my tactics. Time to focus and apply consistent practices!
1. Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
A. Your script:
Not sending it out before it’s ready!
Get Professional Coverage
Post on Inktip Pro & pitch where appropriate
Roadmap Writers – pitching
Stage 32 – pitching (both written and via Skype)
Approach Managers for representation.
Enter appropriate contests
B. Your query letters.
TOTE and re-TOTE
Create a visual Pitch Deck
Really TARGETING who I should pitch
Target mid-range producers and actors who have shown an interest in social issues.
Research and Target producers who have connections to actors with an interest in abortion rights.
C. Building your network.
Create and build my Brand and promote it.
PROFESSIONAL SITE MEMBERSHIPS:
Screenwritingstaffing.com – review job listings and apply
OMPA (<st1:place w:st=”on”><st1:state w:st=”on”>Oregon</st1:state></st1:place> Media & Production Assoc.)
SOCIAL MEDIA:
LinkedIn – update profile
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter (TBD)
NETWORKING:
SU Alum
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Anna Harper uses TOTE
What I learned; Using the TOTE checklist of tasks helps me to be cool when feeling overwhelmed with tasks to get my best foot forward with a high-quality piece I can be proud to submit to a producer.
How I am going to use the T O T E process;
My script
Ask my team for feedback.
Apply necessary changes
review skill mastery sheets
My Query letters
Adopt the model from PS 81
Feedback from my team
Apply as needed
Building my Network
I am assembling my T O T E team PS 81 and Horror, other online helpers writers producers teachers, and allied industry professionals, potential friends who may be representative of the target audience.
My operating model with my team is to provide service to my members first and then ask for their help.
Social Media work on building a posting regime. May use software to populate posts to multiple sites.
Give my script to a script consultant.
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Antonio Flores knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned from this lesson
Do not click SEND until the script or the query letter are ready — according to the stage. I think the network is the hardest to test through TOTE, but provided that the TOTE process of the script and query letter produced the expected quality, the last piece of the puzzle to improve would be the network. This step should be ongoing.
1. Look into the future and tell us how you are going to use the TOTE Process with…
a. Your script.
TEST: obtain feedback from PS81/WIM2 peers, one person at a time
OPERATE: rewrite based on comments received each time
TEST: Enter a selected number of contests, in particular, those that offer quality feedback to participants.
EXIT: When the script receives a ‘recommend’ then exit.
b. Your query letters.
TEST: obtain feedback from PS61/WIM2 peers, one person at a time, and finally, send it to people with background in movie production for feedback.
OPERATE: rewrite, edit based on comments received each time
TEST: Send the letter to a targeted group of producers
EXIT: Persevere until a request comes and then, exit.
c. Building your network.
TEST: Target the market, identify the characteristics of people that I need to include in my network
OPERATE: Search databases, run searches in LinkedIn, Twitter, social media
TEST: Run my campaign, refine the network until I get a response. Yet, assuming that the network is in good condition, then go back to elevate script, query letters, etc.
EXIT: Only after I get a positive response, or I die of exhaustion, or the world stops spinning.
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June Fortunato knows TOTE (as compared to ‘toke’)
What I learned– It is excellent to make a plan. I do know a lot of people- and I have to know it’s OK to ask and not feel that my request is an annoyance.
TOTE for scripts (I’m thinking of this as future scripts, as well.
Early in the process, I asked my writers’ group to read my first 47 pages and got a lot of helpful notes- logistics, characters, facts. It was extremely valuable to make those fixes before moving forward.
In the future, I’ll ask them for feedback on other scripts. Approximately 10 people read and gave notes.
I currently have several beta readers in the group reviewing my first draft.
Judah, Julie, Stephen, Dawn. An accomplished editor who’s created for large companies. An accomplished art director who works on big films.
Screenwriting U So far, I’ll exchange with Dev, Anna, Cameron, Anita, Lisa
Friends & family Kitty, theatre gave notes. (I added scenes.) Two family members, so far.
Will approach others connected to my family including: Margaret, Charlene.
Potential Cabaret singer, Karen. Philadelphia screenwriters, David, Carol, Brian. Reconnect with local screenwriter’s group College friend in LA – film/theatre. Producers who requested my previous Romantic Comedy, Clinical Trials. Producers I know through my film production jobs.- Wendy. Moe. Will try to find a script consultant.
For each, I am receiving notes and address issues, and then move to more people.
TOTE FOR QUERY LETTERS
potential to approach
Bonnie, who writes copy. Possibly will review my script, as well. In Philly, fellow filmmakers– Don and James. Writer/coder, Ken. Long time friend Joe- connected to many producers. Long time association, Joan- film office.
Older network to re-establish Filmmaker Laura, a marketing genius, Indira, radio personality Others on Linked in.
Will use the same process of request, review, address concerns/ rewrite, then pass to next person.
NETWORK
I’m researching actors’ agents/producers connected to films in the same genre/quirky, and searching ways to connect. Will utilize contests- the contests that connect writers to producers and agents, including the Philadelphia contest.
Will send queries script blast. I hope to make a trip to LA to connect.
Will connect with work associates/film who are close to directors/producers. Will reach out to linked in, and IMDB.
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Kate knows T.O.T.E.
What I learned from this lesson is it requires a shift of brain focus into – yes! the business person. It’s a stretch but also a good change of pace in between working on the script.
How I am going to use the TOTE Process
A. MY PS81 SCRIPT. (and when I have time the other 3 sitting in a file)TEST ¬send ‘Amahla’s Daughter’ to 2 people from this group
and 2 experienced actor/friends I trust
OPERATE – Based upon their comments
Analyze feedback and incorporate or change.
Rewrite, improving the script by applying the steps learned in this course
TEST
send out to 1-2 professional readers via linkedIn and/or Stage 32
send to an appropriate contest
if that goes well go to Exit,
if not Repeat Operate with that info
ReTEST – as above w/ different people unless someone offers to read it again.
then if well received go to
EXIT
to the appropriate Producer or actor as per the Targeting exercise.
B. MY QUERY LETTERS/PITCH .
TEST ¬
pitching in person or Zoom to actor/director/friends who I know like film
Create a matrix for responses kind of like we did for the very first Concept Pitch
by email/letter to 2-4 people from this group.
OPERATE
Based upon their response, rework the weak s spots
go back to the script for better hooks if needs be
TEST
as above but different people – Via Stage 32 and LinkedIn
Small low budget producers.
EXIT –
Send to producers/actors as per the first part if this module
c. BUILDING MY NETWORK.
Make a daily schedule for building and maintaining contacts:
LinkedIn: comment, etc
Stage 32: use this resource much more
Twitter: get that darned thing happening.. – make comments on producer/director’s posts.
(but I won’t have it on my phone)
Facebook: maybe I have to come back to it…..
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<div>PS81 – Dana’s Knows T.O.T.E.
</div><div>What I learned:
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I have a lot of work ahead of me before my screenplay is ready to submit to producers.
T.O.T.E. Process
My Script:
Conceptualize 50 – 100 seed ideas to high concept using the PS format, select the top 10 best ideas, test the ideas with friends and write outline
TEST: Critique outline with PS81 and WIM alumni
OPERATE: Write the first draft of my script using the ProSeries, WIM and 30-Day Screenplay skill mastery sheets and techniques. Rewrite script until the script is ready for testing.
TEST: Critique script with PS and WIM alumni
OPERATE: Rewrite script based on critiques
TEST: Hire script consultant and rewrite script according to the critique
EXIT: Submit script for competition.
a. If I do not receive Recommend or First place, loop back for rewriting
b. If I receive Recommend or First place, move out of test phase
EXIT: Send to producers
My Query
Draft query letter based on high concept, outline, and script
TEST: Critique query with PS and WIM alumni that have read my script
OPERATE: Rewrite query and re-submit as necessary for alumni critiques
TEST: Practice my pitch with PS alumni pitch seminars
EXIT: Query and pitch producers specializing in my chosen genre(s)
Building My Network
Update my social media network daily
Follow and communicate with producers in the industry
Network with family and friends in the industry
Participate in PS pitch sessions
Offer to critique PS and WIM alumni scripts
Keep abreast of industry trends
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