Lesson 3

[Paul Hallasy]

Subject Line: Paul Hallasy Producer/Manager
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 have a project that has a built-in audience of at least 70,000 people and has a soundtrack that’s similar to two of the biggest-selling albums of all time.
2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager? In addition to this screenplay, I’ve been a stand-up comedian for over 20 years. I’ve written a book, a blog and a one-man show.
3. Answer the question “What I learned today is…?” Agents are only good for helping you negotiate a contract. Managers are good for managing your career.

[Gill Kent]

Gill Kent: Producer/Manager

1. Presenting myself and my project to the producer.

I have a compelling narrative with a broad potential market involving a true story about historical characters in gossipy personal relationships who also have their hands on the levers of power. I have a pilot and the makings of episodes 2 and 3, along with a show bible and the main story arc and subplot arcs plotted out across nine episodes.

2. Presenting myself and my project to the manager.

I’d don’t expect to be looking for a manager because I’m planning to retire and am not looking for a career in writing, but I do want to get this project made. If I did approach a manager, however, I’d emphasize that with nine episodes in the limited series, this project will probably take up the next five to seven years of my productive life. I see potential for the story to become a blockbuster series and I have the confidence to believe that I can write most or all of it myself. I’m flexible and collaborative; I’ve already redrafted my pilot several times, and I’m open to notes. After this project, I want to write my memoirs, but I do also have ideas for a very different genre, a sit-com titled Squat! about New York’s East Village in the 1980s.

3. What I learned today is . . .

That producers and managers have differing needs and wants. In approaching them, we should keep the individual’s requirements in mind and pitch to those requirements, not our own.

[Adite Banerjie]

Adite Producer/Manager

What I learned: Producers need to be hooked with why investing in this project would make business sense to them. Managers have to be presented with reasons why they should invest in me as a writer.

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

Yogini is a supernatural thriller that is not simply an action film with supernatural elements but packs a powerful emotional punch. It’s about a mother who fights an internal and external battle to save her infant child. It would appeal to audiences who are looking for (comparable movie)-like stories. An A-list actor like XYZ would love to play a protagonist who revives her inner Tantric priestess and fights off predatory poachers to save her child. I have presented some intriguing aspects of the extremely secretive world of Tantrics in a visually exciting way in this script. VFX and never-seen-before locations in north-east India would add to the overall visual appeal, while keeping the budget to about roughly Rs xx million.

2. How will you present yourself to a manager

As a writer of both novels and screenplays, I am comfortable with words and visuals. For this script I have done extensive research on the cult of Yoginis and have presented some never seen before aspects of this extremely secretive world in a visually exciting way. The mix of an environmental theme, thrilling action scenes and powerful emotions would appeal to the modern audience even while exploring supernatural beings such as Yoginis. I am happy to make necessary changes to make the script stronger. Apart from this script I also have two others – a mature rom-com and a Bollywood musical romantic drama.

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Adite Banerjie.
• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Adite Banerjie.

[Carly-Ann Giene]

Carly Producer/Manager

What I learned today is that pitching yourself to a Producer is going to focus on the specific project and why it is a great business investment for them. Pitching yourself to a Manager is going to involve demonstrating to them why I'm not only going to be a great business investment but also someone they would like to work with on a consistent basis. There is more emphasis on relationship.

1. How will you present yourself and your project to the producer?
I am an award winning screenwriter that has tapped into a lucrative genre in a new and exciting way that will resonate with audiences. 'Dredge' is a psychological thriller that leaves a lasting impact. It's 'Hereditary' meets 'It Follows'.

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?
I am a self motivated screenwriter with numerous projects in several stages of development. 'Dredge' is a fantastic script to establish me in the industry because it is a psychological thriller/ horror with a female protagonist. This genre has a history of lower risks and higher rewards. No script is too precious for me because I have an infinite well of ideas so my ego does not interfere when it comes to suggestions/cuts/re-writes. I am easy to work with and a big picture thinker. 'Dredge' is a story about a married couple that is strapped for cash and grieving their dead son. They get hired to clean out a deceased hoarders home and unearth disturbing secrets about the home and their relationship in the process.

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Carly-Ann Giene.

[Brian Bull]

BRIAN BULL – PRODUCERS / MANAGERS

What I learned today is… how to work on selling my self and my scripts. I’m learning the business side of what it means to be a writer.

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:

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

First, let me start by saying, I have been in the Motion Pictures Industry for over 30 years and have worked on some amazing projects.

Then, I would focus my pitch on the MARKETABILITY aspect of my script.

Starting with, I have a GREAT TITLE!!! THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY – A Fisherman’s Tale. In the title, I have identified the target audience – FISHERMEN.

Then, I would point out the WIDE AUDIENCE APPEAL. There are 50 MILLION Fishermen in the United States – our target market.

But wait, there’s more!!! This is a DRAMA / SUSPENSE movie and that whole group of moviegoers.

And speaking of moviegoers, the SIMILARITY TO A BOX OFFICE SUCCESS should be addressed.

This movie is like:

THE OLD MAN AND THE SEA; a lone fisherman going out in a boat to fish with his equipment and inner thoughts

ORDINARY PEOPLE; the living brother struggling with the guilt of losing a brother while out on the water

CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON; the mysterious and eeriness of the location of the story – the Louisiana Bayous

ON GOLDEN POND; a fish that has eluted a fisherman for years

MOBY DICK; a vengeful man determined to catch a fish

JAWS; the elusive fish is surprising huge

THE SIXTH SENSE; the surprise and shocking ending! Ironically, the fisherman is THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY!!! but not this time.

Having said all that, this script UNIQUE and has a MAJOR STORY HOOK but best of all is the ending!!!

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

First, let me start by saying, I have been in the Motion Pictures Industry for over 30 years and have worked on some amazing projects.

Part of the reason for my success in the Movie Industry is my work ETHICS and ability to work with others towards a goal.

Then, I would focus my pitch on the MARKETABILITY aspect of me, the writer.

I’m only going to write scripts that are marketable; stories that are UNIQUE with INTRUING CONCEPTS and MAJOR STORY HOOKS; APPEALING to ACTORS.

I have this script, a few that are completed, and a dozen others that are in various stages of development.

You are welcome to read the completed ones, and we can talk about the others in development and which of those to develop further.

• This reply was modified 9 months ago by  Brian Bull.

[Susan Arnout Smith]

ASSIGNMENT LESSON 3:

Susan Arnout Smith Producer/Manager

1. PRESENTING TO PRODUCER
I would briefly flag my existing work: 4 TV films, all made and airing worldwide, identify this project by its genre, its Grand Prize award (in its genre), and give the concept hook that could lead to a franchise developed out of this film. I would follow up with the two biggest marketability components: Timeliness and Great roles for Marketable Actors. I would be prepared to share the story in a one-line logline and answer any follow up questions.
In these ways I would be demonstrating:
• I write marketable projects
• That are well-written
• Fit their specific market
• And are easy to sell to actors, directors, funding sources and distributors.
• As my goal is to get them to request the script, if pressed I will remind them that my guild, (WGA), does not permit me to leave behind anything, and I’m happy to send along the script immediately.

2. PRESENTING TO A MANAGER
I would speak briefly about this current project, and the four TV films I have written that have been produced and aired. I would point out that each TV film success represents a specific skill:
• Written from another writer’s existing novel, (sole WGA writing credit)
• Original TV screenplay (awards, honors, sole WGA writing credit)
• Screenplay based on someone’s life, (sole WGA writing credit)
• A script rewrite, (awarded a WGA sole writing credit, a shared Story By credit)
I would then give brief, bold and brilliant ‘bites’ on the creative projects I have written that are available to be turned into screenplays. These include:
• 3 novels published by major US houses and translated in other languages, (pubbed by other houses worldwide)
2 of these novels are thrillers
1 novel is an historical romance about the birth of Alaska
• Several award winning theatrical plays that could be crafted as highly visual and emotionally compelling screenplays.

The goal is still the same: to get an ‘ask’ on the existing script, GOD’S PHOTO ALBUM.
The second goal is to learn more about this particular manager, and so I would come into the meeting having prepped by finding out more about him/her so I could ask incisive questions that relate to a possible working relationship.

I would be business-like, and aware of time and honor the moment by understanding that I have something they need; the question is whether it’s a good fit for both of us to work together.

3. WHAT I LEARNED TODAY IS without realizing it, I’ve been presenting myself as less than professional. The shift is now in me to clearly state my goals, strengths and intentions and evaluate, based on that meeting, what steps I want to take moving forward.

[Edward Richards]

Edward Richards – Producer/Manager

What I learned is the different optics producers and managers have.

PRESENTING TO PRODUCERS
Introduce myself with a brief bio (two or three sentences).
Prove I’m professional by referencing notes and consultations with industry execs.
Indicate that the project is within their scope of interest. And budget range.
That it is makable. And marketable.
Sell its components of marketability.
Show that I’m willing to do what it takes to get the script made.
Acknowledge that rewrites are an integral part of the process.
Whether they are a result of suggestions that improve the script.
Or production/budget problems.
Demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment.

PRESENTING TO MANAGERS
Introduce myself with a brief bio (two or three sentences).
Show that I’m not a one-trick pony, having three scripts in the same genre.
All written to a professional standard.
Make a short pitch for the chosen script.
Highlight its strengths.
And marketability.
Talk briefly about what I’m currently working on.
And any ideas for future projects.
Welcome their advice.
Be open to criticism.
Leave them feeling that you are professional, productive and enjoyable to work with.

[Linda Granger]

LC Granger

Answer two questions:
1. How will you present yourself and your project to the producer?
– I would thank them for taking the time to meet.
– Award-winning script (it will be by the time I get to this phase)
– Give the 2-minute pitch
– Genre and budget are a match for their interests
– Any questions?
– When is it good for me to follow up?

2. How will you present yourself and your project to the manager?
– Thank them for taking the time to meet
– Let them know I’m a multi-time produced and published writer in various genres, name the more well-known works.
– Introduce them to my current project, and offer to give them the logline or 2-minute pitch.
– Let them know my current efforts to shop the project. (shows professionalism and passion)
– My goal with a Manager is: I’m looking to focus my efforts toward a successful career that keeps me working steadily.
– Thank them again
– Ask when I should follow up.

3. This lesson taught me: More about what a Manager does. I’ve never worked with a Manager and now I don’t know how I lived without a great manager in my career.