Day 3 Assignments

[Sky Canyon]

Sky Canyon Producer/Manager

1. How will you present yourself and your project to the producer?

I would start by sharing that my goal is to get a movie made with my script, and that I enjoy collaboration, teamwork and doing my best. Then I would present the script: Genre, title, then logline. This logline ALWAYS elicits comments, so I would pause and wait for their questions and dive into answers, where I would likely highlight the three main characters, the character arc for the lead, the market this script addresses, and possibly thoughts on key assets (actors, maybe director). I would emphasize again that my goal is to get a movie made, that I’m open to their feedback and making changes that make sense in order to make the script most marketable.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?

I would start with my background in the book publishing and record industries, and my goals as a writer – to build a career with quality, marketable scripts and paid writing assignments, and that I enjoy collaboration and teamwork and want to work with a manager who feels that I am a good fit for them – really we are both a good fit for each other. I would ask them what they are looking for in taking on a new writer and address those issues as they pertain to me. Then I would present this specific project, like I’ve described above for a producer.

What I learned today is: Managers and Producers are both in the game of getting movies/TV series made. Managers are specifically one’s long-term (hopefully) partner and mentor in building and escalating a career; the producer is looking for a project and writer that he or she feels has a high likelihood for attracting talent and funding. Working in a collaborative, open way with each is the way to move one’s career and project forward.

[Tracy Lawson]

Tracy’s what do managers and producers need?

How would I present Revolutionary Anna to a producer?

A marketable product: Revolutionary Anna is a drama with elements of suspense set during the American Revolution. It is based on the true story of Anna Stone, a Virginia minister’s wife who helped thwart a conspiracy that threatened Washington’s command during the winter at Valley Forge.

A well-written product: The screenplay is adapted from my novel, Answering Liberty’s Call, which was an Editors’ Choice selection in the Historical Novel Society’s Summer 2021 review journal. It received honorable mention in the Historical Fiction Company’s international book awards in 2021 and has glowing reviews on Amazon. The book is solid foundation for a moving and dramatic screenplay.

Written for their market: Historical fiction; patriotic; a tale with family drama, suspense, and romance; based on a true story; unique in its genre; a desirable role for a female lead.

The story is female centric. We see Anna, secure in her 18^th century sphere as wife, mother, and healer, step into the man’s world of war and politics. Her actions drive the narrative. She is not a foil or a pawn.

Though Anna behaves and thinks like an 18^th century woman, she shares concerns we have today, like women and children’s rights and social issues, health care, and a corrupt government’s impact on society. Her character was crafted to reflect the real woman. She was progressive for her time but is not a 21^st-century social justice warrior.

What does a manager want:

Marketable products: Revolutionary Anna (potential for a follow-up starring Eliza Wilkinson, adapted from Patriot of the Low Country)

Will continue to write scripts that will sell: Home of the Free TV pilot and show bible. Would be interested in revising this project with a manager’s advice and guidance

Listen and collaborate well: happy to collaborate

Can focus on paid writing assignments: sure

Revolutionary Anna is an example of the kind of female characters I create. My screenplay comes from historical stories grounded in fact and presented as high-concept suspense dramas.

I am happy to collaborate with other writers and to take paid writing assignments.

[Brenda Noonan]

Brenda Noonan Producer/Manager

1. I would present myself to the producer by saying I have a murder mystery script ready. The idea is similar to Knives Out, but takes place on an aristocrat’s country estate in the UK, and has two protagonists: an American mystery writer and a UK detective.

2. I would present myself to the manager as a writer who is willing to collaborate to make a script the best it can be so it will meet the needs of producers and satisfy an audience. I’d give the manager a little more detail about the story than I would give the producer (unless the producer asks) and ask for any ideas that would make the script better and more marketable.

3 What I learned today is pitching to a producer is different from pitching to a manager.

[Rodney Cavin]

Rod’s Producer/Manager



I would introduce myself to a producer as a previously produced writer, offering Abandoned To Die an adventure/suspense story that fits his/her genre and budget with audience appeal. I would listen to their comments and respond letting them know also that I’ve written and re-written from producer’s calls and notes before and I’m willing to work with them in any manner to get the picture made.



For a manager I would introduce myself in the same manner, then pitch the story similar to the producer’s pitch then emphasize that I’ve worked with the several producers in the past and that I am developing several larger budget scripts with experience developing scripts from producer’s notes, doing adaptations from books and short stories and re-writes.

What I learned today were the differences between the producer’s and manager’s requirements from a writer and how to make a pitch to each to meet their needs.

[Marian]

Marian’s Producer/Manager

1. How will you present yourself and your project to the producer streamer?

“Wetsands” is an extremely promising project unlike anything seen before. It is a YA Survival Thriller set in the North Sea, where two sisters are in mortal danger during a mudflat crossing when the tide comes in. Many people go on vacation to the North Sea every year and know nothing of the dangers. That there is “quicksand” and in high season every week people have to be rescued on the island where I grew up. It’s based on true incidents. The scripts’ theme and genre are currently en vogue and have so far delighted my test readers from the target group. It’s a mixture of “Open Water” and “The Revenant” but with strong female protagonists. I could send the script or a pitch paper.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager/ talent?

“Wetsands” is an extremely promising project unlike anything seen before. It is a YA Survival Thriller set in the North Sea, where two sisters are in mortal danger during a mudflat crossing when the tide comes in. The project has the potential to appeal to young successful actresses and has enormous prospects of getting made. The scripts’ theme and genre are currently en vogue and have so far delighted my test readers. It’s a mix of “Open Water” and “The Revenant” but with strong female protagonists. There are possibilities for a continuation, a similar second or third part. Also, I have other equally promising projects that I can pitch.

3. What I learned doing the assignment is, that it makes sense to rethink each pitch in terms of its core message and recipient and to point out specific aspects. I also noticed that the core of each of my pitches is my honest believe that my project has enormous prospects of success.

[Jeryl Parade]

Jeryl Parade Producer/Manager

How will I present myself & my project to a producer?

My 90s is a Web series I have written & filmed as a proof of concept for a 1/2 hour or 1 hour show. It will be screened at festivals in 2023 & can be shown to investors. The series explores romantic relationships in the 1990s. The protagonist is Crystal whom I see as a composite of two of the most iconic female characters from 90s TV: Whipsmart Amanda Woodward (played by Heather Locklear) of Melrose Place & quirky Ally McBeal (played by Calista Flockhart). Like Amanda Crystal is a successful media executive. Like Ally Crystal has 90s dating challenges. The series can appeal to two huge demographic blocks: 1) GenX for their nostalgia for the era in which they came of age & 2) GenZ for their longing for a less plugged-in world.

How will I present myself & my project to a manager?

Hi! My name is Jeryl Parade & I am the writer/director of a new Web series, My 90s. This is my 3rd project that looks at romantic relationships through the lens of time. I guess you can say that is my brand! The 1st was my hit DC Capital Fringe play Girl with Two Belly Buttons. The 2nd was The Elite 8, an award-winning Web series screened at festivals worldwide. I also wrote the pilot script & the series bible for The Elite 8 as a 1/2 hour show. That attracted some attention at Digital MIP-TV in Cannes in 2021. My goal is to engage the audience in the same way my favorite shows & the characters hook me. I will follow any advice that helps me to achieve this.

What I learned today?

I am not here to try to find a job as a screenwriter. I am not sure a manager would want to take on someone who wants only to develop & sell her own projects.

[Ron Horton]

Ron Horton’s Producer/Manager meetings.

To Producer:

Charley’s River is a movie that has three lead characters who have deep, fun, personalities. The budget is moderate, with the major costs involving filming on the Colorado river, and, the actors who see the benefit of taking on these roles. There are four leads, and six minor parts.

The movie revolves around Charley Fox, a young, very successful, financial expert, living in Chicago. His days find him constantly daydreaming about the college years, when he used to be a thrill seeker in the wilds on and around the Colorado river.

Charley desires to have that life again, and to be with Susan, the questionably available woman he meets. His challenges are, his seven-figure career, his aging/ailing father, and Susan has a very big boyfriend with a badge.

When he finally decides to pursue his dream life as a white-water rafting guide, he has no idea that a future rafting group would include Susan and her boyfriend. He also has no idea that he and Susan would only find their life together after their deaths.

At this point I’d shut up and let them ask their questions.

To Manager:

The script I’m promoting today is Charley’s River. The initial setting is in the heart of Chicago, where we find Charley Fox, a young, highly successful financial expert. Charley is also constantly daydreaming about days gone by as a college age kid who lived a life on the edge, mountain climbing, hang gliding, and most of all white-water rafting. Much of his daydreaming is interwoven with his life in Chicago.

Charley finds himself being strangled by, his seven-figure salary career, caring for his aging/ailing father, trying to keep out of jail after being framed for financial fraud, and looking for love that doesn’t seem available.

All of this is nothing compared to what he will find when he finally transitions from the city to the Colorado river. There, he will find that only through death, will he ever really find the happiness he has been searching for.

At this point I’d let the Manager ask questions. I would also have my script ready to hand over for review. The opening scene is full octane entertainment, starting with one of Charley’s daydreams.

What I learned today:

It’s very important to think what is needed to get my project asked for, and made. Try and predict what is going to be asked, well in advance of when I walk in the door. Prepare, prepare, prepare, and be extremely open, but not wimpy.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 6 months ago by  Ron Horton.

[Danielle Dillard]

What I learned is presenting myself in a way that shows I’m a team player and collaborator when it comes to writing projects and working with others.

1. How will you present yourself and your project to the producer?

I would present myself by first sharing my previous work experience of certain writing jobs I’ve had in the past. I would then share the genres I write and then pitch my project. I would listen to their opinion about my pitch and mention that I’m flexible with any story changes/revisions and I’m open to hearing any ideas.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?

I would present myself and my project similar to the above. I would also mention some companies I would like to potentially work with that deal with the genre of stories I write. I would also be open to hearing any opinions/ feedback and share that I’m flexible and open to suggestions.

[Steven Weber]

Steven A. Weber Producer/Manager

1. How will you present yourself and your project to your producer?

I would deliver a one-sentence pitch to the producer, emphasizing the story’s hook. If the producer requests and reads the script, but has budgetary concerns, I would explain how I am willing to make any changes necessary to work within the producer’s budget. If the producer inquires about issues involving marketability and budget prior to reading the script, I would emphasize the uniqueness and potential dramatic appeal of the story, and I would also mention how even though it is a period piece, the most of the scenes are limited to the two main characters and could be filmed in or near the studio.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?

I would pitch my script to the manager similarly to how I pitched it the the producer in order to get them interested in the script. I would mention my legal background and how it helped me write the courtroom scenes for this story. I would would be open to any revisions of the script, and also explain how I am working on several other scripts, and be prepared to provide samples of my work.

3. What I learned today is….

Getting producers and managers interested in the script is as much of a process as writing the script itself.

[Lisa Molenda]

Lisa Molenda Producer/ Manager

1. How will you present yourself and your project to the producer?

I would present myself as a bubbly, well put together and knowledgeable screenwriter. I would give them information about who I would like to see cast in various roles, who could potentially direct it, and what the projected budget might be.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?

I would tell them the things that make my project unique and marketable and to what audiences they would attract. I would also have all of my backup scripts ready to present as well so that they can see that I am a serious writer with lots of ideas and works in the making.

What I learned today is that producers and managers have different interests when it comes to how they approach a person they want to work with.

[LEE SKORE]

Lee Skore Producer/Manager

(1) Present to producer:

I believe I have a marketable well-written script and my mentor, Chris Soth, guided my through the entire writing process. Working with Chris, a producer himself, taught my to think and see my story differently, to adapt, and to re-write various ideas more than once. I collaborate well with others, take feedback easily, humbly incorporate my own ideas when given the opportunity. I look forward to working on your project and fulfilling your expectations and goals.

(2) Present to manager:

During my years writing comparative financial analyses on Wall Street, I learned to be flexible, write what my bosses wanted, and meet deadlines. I want to be just as successful working on film projects — collaborating with others, putting others’ ideas (and mine) on paper. I’ve always been a strong team player, a good listener, and happy when I’ve fulfilled the goals of whatever project I’ve worked on. I look forward to working with you, following your suggestions and guidance, and making this project a great success.

(3) What I learned today is:

This lesson was like putting the cart before the horse. If I knew HOW to present me or a project to a producer or manager, I wouldn’t be taking this class. Asking me what I’d say before I’ve even learned WHAT TO SAY or HOW TO SAY IT makes me feel more clueless than I already do.

[Ben Ather]

Subject Line: Ben’s Producer/Manager

What I learned today is

I have learned what producer and manager want, but it is difficult how to present myself to the manager. Especially when I don’t know how to fulfill the other requirements. The only way I can think of is to listen and answer their questions after I have presented my project and presenting another marketable project. Anyway, I will leave that for future lessons. Maybe I will learn something.

ASSIGNMENT

Imagine you have two meetings set up — with a producer and then with a manager. What would you say and do differently based upon this model?

Answer two questions:

1. How will you present yourself and your project to the producer?

– I would start with telling them the genre of my project, which fits their specific market. Then present two Marketable Component (A. Unique and G. Wide Audience Appeal) from lesson 2. And listen to answer their questions.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?

– I would start with a title, concept, and present another marketable project if I have any. And listen to answer their questions.