-
Day 12 Assignments
Reply to Post Your Assignments
-
10 Replies
-
Emmanuel’s Career Plan
What I learned from this lesson is marketing your screenwriting career is ultimately on you to accomplish and fill in the required players as needed, such as fans, champions, managers, agents, producers and then a sale. I understand it can be a long process, but if you have one marketable script, the battle is half won.
-
A. What is your overall screenwriting goal for the next six months? For the past six months I got disorganized trying to write my last novel and the screenplay adaptation at the same time. Therefore, I must focus on novel language for the next few months getting a better second draft of my third novel. After I develop and edit my first novel, I may revisit that screenplay with new ammunition. Once I have finished the poetry for my second novel, I may write a screenplay for that novel, but its episodic structure lends itself to an audiobook.
B. What are you going to do to elevate quality? I know all the rules of dramaturgy as well as word painting and novel writing, but I must not let my critical brain trump my creativity. I must continue to write new things every day.
C. How are you going to build a library of marketable scripts? In addition to my three adaptations, I have four other scripts written in the twentieth century that could be reworked with a comic senior twist that still honors the wild fantasy of my youth.
D. What do you think might be your specialty (brand)? I tried and failed to do pure genre like thrillers and mysteries. Because of my health science knowledge and experience, dramedy with seniors, medical humanities, etc. would be a better market for me. Adolescents, action, TV rooms—NO.
E. How are you going build a stronger network? Since I am so reclusive and my fitness career has not come back, I am not sure. I hate parties, social media, and lack the money and clothes to hobnob. I must listen and then pounce when I see the right way to get the publisher and producer I need. Then I am great at Zooming literary readings of my work.
F. How are you going to improve your understanding of doing this business? I must go to writersdigest.com and find who is active post pandemic. I will attend free zooms or literary readings in NYC.
G. How are you going to market yourself and your writing? I was great at marketing other writers for Penguin in the seventies so I must pretend I am not me, but a character. I sometimes do that when I must teach kickbox to people young enough to be my grandchildren. Too much self-consciousness creates stage and page fright. In the long run, it doesn’t matter because we all die so I must grab my piece of the pie now. Yes, I am rhyming like Jake. I sometimes pretend to be a forty something fitness star and this has been working recently at Equinox even though I am 72. In the fall I published a chapter in a Funny Public Speaking book and I must get back my sense of humor.
-
Amy’s Career Plan
What I learned from this lesson is I think I have a pretty solid plan, but it won’t make any difference until I elevate the quality of my scripts. My focus right now needs to be on the writing.
1. Please tell us the answers to these questions about your next six months of activity:
A. What is your overall screenwriting goal for the next six months? – Complete my Pro Series script and elevate the quality to a consider or above. Elevate the quality of two other scripts I have already written to consider or above.
B. What are you going to do to elevate quality? – I am going to going to work on the protagonist’s character arc in my screenplay that placed as a semifinalist in a contest. I’m going to elevate the concept and character development in another screenplay that I have written. In my Pro Series script I’m going to develop the story and characters better to make it into a full screenplay. Right now, it’s too short. I need to also develop the relationships between the characters better. For instance, there is supposed to be a love story between my protagonist and her husband who she has become separated from due to being missing for a year. Right now, that’s not there.
C. How are you going to build a library of marketable scripts? – See B.
D. What do you think might be your specialty (brand)? – Family-friendly
E. How are you going build a stronger network? – I’m going to get involved with the ScreenwritingU Alumni. Use Twitter and LinkedIn to network with producers. Focus on producers who have made movies for networks like the Hallmark Channel, GAC Family, Up and Lifetime.
F. How are you going to improve your understanding of doing this business? – Participate in ScreenwritingU Hollywood Producer Meetings. I learn a lot from following screenwriters and agents/managers on Twitter.
G. How are you going to market yourself and your writing? – Once I am ready, I’m going to query producers who have produced the type of movies that I write.
-
Pablo’s Career Plan
What I learned: There is still much more to learn and much more work to be done. We are only just getting started.
A. What is your overall screenwriting goal for the next six months?
Complete the screenplay that I’ve been working on throughout this course. I’m really only half way done and it needs a lot of work. My goal is to enter it into contests and see how it fares. I also want to start working on two other screenplay projects that I’ve come up with recently.
B. What are you going to do to elevate quality?
I’ve got to write every single day. I’m currently reading some screenwriters books as well as my favorite screenplays for guidance. Then I plan on using the T.O.T.E system like crazy.
C. How are you going to build a library of marketable scripts?
I’ve saved every email from the Proseries so my plan is to run it all again and come up with more high concept ideas and go from there.
D. What do you think might be your specialty (brand)?
Personally, I think that two classic genres need to be revived: Westerns and Samurai films. I’ve always favored action thrillers and I think I should learn how to write that type of genre since I have a genuine passion for those types of films.
E. How are you going build a stronger network?
I grew up in Los Angeles. My sister is a producer. My father is a gaffer. My best friend from high school is a DP. Half of my childhood friends are the sons and daughters of actors, directors, producers, etc and have followed in their parent’s footsteps. The list goes on. I think the best way to build a strong network is to reconnect with all the people I grew up with. But I definitely want to work on marketing campaigns and become a part of the ProSeries Alumni.
F. How are you going to improve your understanding of doing this business?
Reading up on current projects. Talking to people in the industry. Take some more classes and attend some seminars. But experience is the best teacher so I plan to start reaching out to folks ASAP. I figure I’ll make mistakes early so I can learn quickly.
G. How are you going to market yourself and your writing?
I’d like to have at least one completed script and three high concepts before I send my first query letter. That way, I at least look prepared when(if) someone asks: “What else you got?” Obviously, I want my work to be “ready” but I also want to give the impression that I myself am ready. I think the best way to market myself is to be surefooted and confident in my work. With that said, I will market myself with solid ideas that are sure to impress.
-
What I learned doing this lesson is…?
How important it is to have clarity and concreteness about every creative and marketing step to be taken, and time limits and observability of career and creative goals and methods.
1. Please tell us the answers to these questions about your next six months of activity:
A. What is your overall screenwriting goal for the next six months?
To finish my current PS project, “Moths Around a Flame: The Making of ‘The Blue Angel’” and adapt my award-winning stageplay “Angels in Gangland” into a screenplay.
Market both (get one or both sold) and begin to build my network.
B. What are you going to do to elevate quality?
Use skill mastery sheets from PS80 as well as the T.O.T.E. method. .
Get play readings of my scripts by friends, or two groups I work with which include writers. This should be lots of fun..
C. How are you going to build a library of marketable scripts?
In addition to the scripts mentioned above, I have two other outlines and partially written scripts to develop
D. What do you think might be your specialty (brand)?
Historical dramas, gangster stories.
E. How are you going build a stronger network
Through adding producers and also arranging staged readings of my scripts.
F. How are you going to improve your understanding of doing this business?
Read the trades and network with more people in the industry.
G. How are you going to market yourself and your writing?
Mastering pitch and query letter techniques nnd participating in pitch sessions, also entering my scripts into contests.
-
Budinscak’s Career Plan
Day 12
What I learned doing this assignment:
o The importance of patience.
o The reality of ‘wants’ and ‘needs’.
o Making the goal to ‘write everyday’ a reality.
o Build a library of scripts that represent who you are and what you want to be known for.
o It’s okay to fail if you learn from it and can move on.
o It’s fun to write in creative mode, it’s tough to shut off edit mode.
CAREER PLAN:
A. What is your overall screenwriting goal for the next 6 months? Sell a script – simple as that …. And easier said than done! The script I’ve been writing during the class is many times better that what I was producing/writing on my own. The characters, story, hooks, setups/payoffs – all the lessons – have a material impact on this script. Also, I’m committing to write an hour a day. But what I’ve learned from the class is the importance of identifying high concepts and not wasting my time writing without direction.
B. What are you going to do to elevate quality? First off, I’m doing something I loathe – outlining. Establishing the essence of a scene, it’s place in a story and staying clear of story details. Secondly, to write in creative/first draft mode sans edit persona. T.O.T.E. – with classmates here and members of my local writing group for feedback. Lastly, ask for one person’s input/critique at time, update the story/letter/etc, then send off to the second person. Repeat.
C. How are you going to build a library of marketable scripts? I’ve written 3 scripts, including this one. Candidly, one is pretty shitty, but the other 2 have potential. I also have outlines on two others, with one that could be defined as high concept. As I learned here, think before you write. Emotion’s good, focused emotion is great.
D. What do you think might be your specialty (brand)? I enjoy thriller and horror genres, but I find I lean to quirky characters, witty dialog, full character arcs.
E. How are you going to build a stronger network? My first step is to become active and introduce myself. I’ll look to connect with those looking for similar things – characters, genre, stories. I’ll be the one to initiate contact – pass along a compliment, congrats, words of encouragement – offer value as a contact and not just an increase in headcount. My first action will be to contact Hal and PSA.
F. How are you going to improve your understanding of doing this business? You’ve laid the groundwork for me and the onus is on me to implement it. Follow the industry, make contacts with producers, work – and complete – quality projects/stories. I’m out of state, but I can be anywhere on short notice.
G. How are you going to market yourself and your writing? I’m going to polish my script and seek a script consultant’s opinion on where it stands. While that’s happening, network smartly to identify the right contacts. If the script’s ready, I’ll know where to market it and how. If it’s not ready, I know what to fix. Above all, remain patient, write every day on quality subjects/stories.
Hal, any recommendations on script consultants?
-
Today I had the pitch appointment with Cheryl at 4 EDT but there was no answer and then it said the mailbox was full although I tried five times throughout the 25 minutes. When I booked the appointment from that link, it confirmed the time but never sent me to another link to put another query letter. Nevertheless, I put lots of query letters and pitches in these forums, listened to Hal’s long lecture, and revised mine. Since my targets don’t like mass mailings or have their own websites with their forms, I must be flexible. Because I couldn’t reach Cheryl, I sent out a query to Trident in Manhattan to get a literary agent who also can negotiate screen adaptations. I will wait a month and if he doesn’t reply, I will pitch to a recommended agent at Writers House who used to do stunts in Hollywood before he waxed literary.
Sorry about this misunderstanding. I was prepared. I emailed Cheryl and SU but no one replied.
-
If you have a minute, I could really use some help here regarding the pitch appointments we scheduled.
I had the same issue regarding the Query letter call when I set my call for March 29th, the website said “Oops, we had a problem”, I tried a couple more times and each time I tried I noticed the time slots that I selected were now gone, so I gave up thinking that the issue must have corrected itself, and then I got a confirmation, so I thought “All good”. Unfortunately, that was not the case, Cheryl did not answer the phone for my scheduled call, and like you, I couldn’t leave a message cuz the vm was full, I found another tel no. and left a message there but no one bothered to call me back. Today is April 5th and no one has contacted me to correct their mistake of being m.i.a. for the Query call. I reached out to support several times to which Jhoana responded back once saying the hiccup was becuz they updated their systems. (Yeah, I call B.S.) Regardless, I responded back to her and asked for them to make an appt. for me since the website link did not work when I set my day/time. (Mar 29 @ 2:30). That was five days ago, and I haven’t heard a word.
So, the million-dollar question is, were you able to get your Query pitch letter call eventually as promised? and if so, how did you (or Cheryl) resolve the issue so you were able to get your call?
And if this post happens to go to our PS80 members emails as well, if anyone else has a way I can contact Cheryl (as Jhoana in support has done nothing to correct this issue), I’d greatly appreciate the heads up.
Thank you!
Jodi Harrison
-
-
Michelle Damis Career Plan
What I learned from this lesson is… I know the answers.
1. Please tell us the answers to these questions about your next six months of activity:
A. What is your overall screenwriting goal for the next six months? To write another feature, work towards selling the ones I have, getting representation, and being relentlessly optimistic,
B. What are you going to do to elevate quality? Write as much as possible, learn, share, absorb, rewrite.
C. How are you going to build a library of marketable scripts? Strive for one every 3 months
D. What do you think might be your specialty (brand)? Dialogue and stories with heart even when funny or scary. A knack for intriguing realism.
E. How are you going build a stronger network? Take the time to organize all my connections and have it ready to strategically activate.
F. How are you going to improve your understanding of doing this business? Never stop learning.
G. How are you going to market yourself and your writing? Slow down and focus, I tend to get excited and rapid fire attack my targets. i.e. Don’t burn bridges.
-
Jodi’s Career Plan – Day 12
There are seven important elements and paths to our career growth. The more we apply them, the sooner we will realize our goals.
1. Please tell us the answers to these questions about your next six months of activity:
A. What is your overall screenwriting goal for the next six months?
First, I will finish my script, then reach out to PS80 members who are interested in critiquing it, and I will critique theirs. I will rewrite my second draft and reach out to another PSA writer, rinse and repeat. Until my script is ready for a script consultant.
B. What are you going to do to elevate quality?
I will go through the Mastery Skill Sheets and make sure I have most of the elements in my script. Also, using Hal’s suggestions, I will follow these wise rules:
– Philosophy Tip #8: Kaizen: 1% Improvement Per Day = 365% Per Year.
– Use T.O.T.E (Day 11 — Test, Operate, Test, Exit.) on your screenwriting to improve quality.C. How are you going to build a library of marketable scripts?
With the ones I’ve already written, I’ll take a look at those to rewrite, or start a new script testing its High Concept capability before starting. Creating marketing materials as I go, including logline, query letter, and phone pitch. I will pitch my biggest hook when asked.
D. What do you think might be your specialty (brand)?
Female societal challenges and discrimination.
E. How are you going build a stronger network?
PSA network, Twitter, LinkedIn, query letter (when ready) to Producers in my script’s genre from Wikipedia and imdb. Potential ‘fan’ level that can recommend my work to ‘champions’.
– Become an active part of the ProSeries Alumni and contribute to the success of our PSA.
– Use Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to network with screenwriters and producers.
– Focus on small producers who have made movies or have connections to larger producers.
– With each marketing campaign, add the producers who respond to my network.
– Participate in the Buzz Process each time a PSA writer is promoted.F. How are you going to improve your understanding of doing this business?
By doing. I’ll take action daily to achieve it. Post it on the wall. Imagine it, feel it, and live it every day.
Learn how deals are made, including the main way writers make money – through sales, adaptations, rewrites, and writing assignments.
Learn what agents, managers, and producers need and how do they work with writers
Learn what works in meetings, on the phone, and how do things work for the production companies
THEN:
Learn what has already been done in my genre and market, what is currently happening in my market, who are the champions in my market, and who are the potential fans I can network with that can recommend my writing to champions?
WHEN MEETING WITH A COMPANY:
Be prepared, armed with their company information:
What movies have they done? What can be learned about them, what are they involved in right now by searching the trades.G. How are you going to market yourself and your writing?
By writing one or more high quality scripts and having a couple great concepts I can seek out a Manager. For Producers, it doesn’t matter how many scripts I’ve written. If the Producer likes my script, it is possible to become a writer for hire.Doing continual marketing campaigns will serve to build my reputation and create relationships. Which can further the possibility that I could be recommended to the champions they know.
And with any kind of a deal (option, sale, writing assignment, or representation), I will do the Buzz Process to create a record on the Net from a 3rd party (ScreenwritingU) so a Google search of my name shows I am a professional screenwriter.
Log in to reply.