Lesson 3

[Christi Falk]

Christi Falk Producer/Manager

1. How would I present myself and my project to the Producer?

I would let the Producer know my availability and contact info for whenever something comes up with the script that needs altering. If I have a manager at that time, I would also ensure they have his contact info. I would ask what’s most important to them about this job.

I would let them know that I take my role seriously and if anything threatens the film not being made, please let me know as soon as possible and I’ll be happy to rewrite what we’re doing.

I would confirm who his proxy’s are and who not to listen to. I would ask for a direct line to him when someone offers conflicting instructions.

For the project, I would emphasize the well known IP and the PG13 script that is bound to secure the funds and attention needed to have the story completed. I would also say that there are many sequels that could be spawned that would not be Agatha Christie but of my own making.

2. How would I present myself and my project to a Manager?

First, I would present my completed Agatha Christie, my locked room mystery and my military Sci Fi ready to go. I would tell him that I’ve got several snips of papers and backs of envelopes that are current works in progress that can be made into Features.

I would let him know that money is important so I must work for a living until Screenwriting can replace the living I’m getting from my current job.
I would tell him my deal breakers and ask him for his. This is a legal partnership-possibly for a very long time- and we should both be comfortable.

I would confirm I’ll probably only be doing writing assignments as selling scripts post strikes and the current AI wars will be difficult.

What I learned today is that Managers and Producers go hand in hand to help the movie get made

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  Christi Falk. Reason: forgot last bit

[Jane Alcala]

Jane Alcala, Producer/Manager Assignment

What I learned today is: It broke through to me that emphasizing the emotional journey of my characters and heartwarming ending will be important in both pitching my script, as well as making sure those components are as clear in my script as possible.

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 present myself with my credits as Executive Producer and Producer on two feature-length films to demonstrate my familiarity with making films. I would emphasize the qualifications I have to know the world of the script I’ve written, and the true stories underlying the script’s fictional situation (I’m a former parole agent who performed stand-up comedy and befriended a former sex-worker stand-up comic. We both perform(ed) stand-up comedy about our former jobs. She has been my consultant on script and contributed some material to it.) I would emphasize the two most marketable components of my script (unique twist on a movie about stand-up comedians, and two leading roles for comedic women actors who can play off each other). I would emphasize the emotional journey each of the characters take, how the two character’s influence each other to grow/change; and how and why the movie ends on a heartwarming note.

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

Since I have only one script, and don’t yet have ideas for additional feature film or TV projects, it seems doubtful I will be able to pitch to managers. However, I would emphasize my credits on two existing feature films and play up my former writing credits as an arts publicist and entertainment journalist. I would advise of the short film script I’m creating. I would lastly emphasize the most marketable features of my script and the emotional journies of the characters in my script. I would advise that I live in Los Angeles and that I don’t currently have a job that conflicts with my ability to write to deadlines.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  Jane Alcala.

[Richard Brooks]

Richard Brooks- 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 will make sure my script is as tight as can be. Understand the story, the characters and roles that will attract talent, and formulate an idea of the possible budget and areas I can enhance or modify in order to manage the cost to produce from the story angle. I will highlight the screenplay’s similarities to other successful movies and identity the niche the movie will fill once produced.

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

To the manager, I will present my best finished scripts and any ideas for other stories I have that we can develop into pitches to sell. I will express my work ethic and determination to succeed as a screenwriter and highlight my past writing successes and network of contacts throughout the industry.

What I learned today is the different focus of the potential producer vs. the potential manager and how they are focused on different areas and needs from the writer and the script. I learned the importance of being flexible with the script and willing to rewrite upon request.

[Robert Smith]

ROBERT R. SMITH PRODUCER /MANAGER

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

I’ll present a one sentence high concept pitch, a well-written marketable script and view the producer as a fellow creative and take his notes as one who wants to see my screenplay on the screen, i.e., as notes from a supportive fellow writer.

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

I’ll present a one sentence high concept pitch, a well-written marketable script and view my manager as one who would want to advance my writing career. I’d share with the manager my other projects that I have written or have in development and state my availability to do paid writing assignments. As with the producer, all notes will be taken seriously from someone who has in heart my success in the industry because my success is his/hers.

What I learned today…?

I learned the importance of writing not only to meet my needs but also the business goals of the producer and manager.

That the producer’s goal is to is to secure well-written, marketable projects that are easy to sell to actors, directors, funding sources, and distributors.

The manager’s goal is to have writers of marketable projects who will continue to write and collaborate with him/her and who is available to do paid writing assignments.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by  Robert Smith.

[Isti Madarasz]

Isti Madarasz Producer / Manager

TO THE PRODUCER

To a potential producer, I would start by telling about my film work to date. Starting with the fact that I didn’t go to film school, but learned everything on my own. While I was writing and shooting my own short films, I worked on sets, started from the bottom and now I’ve directed some big productions. Not only have I made my own films, but as a commissioned director I have written and directed for various movie and TV productions – which means I can work in a market environment, on commission. I would talk about my writing work or collaborations with other writers that I have done as a director. As for my new film project, I would say that for a science fiction film, it is very cost-effective, because it is set in a contemporary environment, so you don’t have to spend on expensive sets. This project should be filmed in a very poor city, maybe in the Balkans, which means travel and accommodation costs, but it makes the filming itself very cheap. The script is based on an award-winning and successful (Hungarian) novel, which guarantees that there is a strong basis from which the script can only get better 🙂 As I am writing this for myself, I want to direct it, I know that it makes it a bit more difficult to sell the project, which is a constraint for them, but it can be an advantage that I have written and directed two award-winning films in this genre and that if we were to shoot in Europe, where it is much cheaper to shoot, I have a very good local knowledge.

TO THE MANAGER

I think to the manager I would try to sell myself first and only secondarily my current project. After all, he needs to believe in me more than in this project. I would immediately pitch him two other ideas of mine, in two completely different genres, to show him how versatile I am. I’d ask him what types of projects he thought I’d have a chance to be involved in and then express my enthusiasm for them – regardless of whether I had any experience in the field. I would be really interested in what he thinks I have a chance of doing and then I would think hard about what I could create in that area that would be interesting to me and sellable to him. I would confirm that I would be very open to being involved in other people’s projects, either as a writer and/or director. Since I am Hungarian and have no experience in the American film industry, I am willing to start almost from scratch and work my way back to the top if he can get me a job.

What I learned today is that while the producer will sell a current project, the manager will mostly want to sell me, through different projects. Producers can vary from project to project, the manager should be more of a long term collaboration. And that the manager probably knows what I should be working on better than I do.

[John Chabot]

John Chabot Producer/Manager

1. To a producer I would present myself as open to change and a good listener willing to follow the producer’s advice to increase the chances of the movie getting made. When requested to rewrite, I would ask the producer her goal in the changes to ensure the rewrite meets the producer’s needs.

I would present my project as being in the producer’s market sphere and as being worthy of a name actor.

2. To a manager I would present myself as some who is willing to work hard, to work on my pitches, and to do any rewriting the manager suggests. The manager is the expert. I would say yes to whatever my manager suggests.

I would present my projects as marketable.

[Rick Whitney]

R Whitney

To a Producer. Keeping in mind they make the projects: I would present myself as listening to what their ideas are, understand that there are 100’s of ways to write a scene or act that keeps the stories theme, and ready to take notes. I would pitch the script on its highlights for example in “Apricot Cyanide”, I would simply say “What would you do if you found out your eccentric parents were poisoning homeless people as part of their civic duty and burying them in the yard?” This hits home and gives an instant visual each person can see.

To a Manager. Keeping in mind they are looking to develop writers that are marketable: Using the same skill set as for a producer, quite possibly show more of the skill of being able to write different ways to achieve a more marketable product.

I learned that although very similar, Producers are focused on a single project where as a manager is focused on the writer to create multiple marketable scripts.

[Laurie Brown]

Laurie Brown’s Producer/Manager

What I learned today is that by framing the pitch in two different ways I came up with unique pitches for both the project and myself. Also, I didn’t go back to a previous version of the logline or concept and that opened me to create something new.

To a producer I would I would present myself as

I own the story rights to an inspirational drama, WOODY, the true story of a successful advertising executive, who, when faced with the shocking suicide of her husband of ten years, successfully takes her case to the Attorney General and Congress, who together uncover the alarming web of lies and collusion behind the selling of antidepressants and the companies who peddle them – issues still present today. I am Laurie Brown, an optioned and award-winning screenwriter who writes true stories of women who are on a mission to change the world.

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

I am Laurie Brown, an optioned and award-winning screenwriter. I have written five scripts based on women who make it their mission to change the world, including WOODY, the true story of Kim Witzcak, a successful advertising executive who successfully takes on Big Pharma – in the Courts and in Congress – uncovering the alarming truth behind the deceptive marketing of antidepressants in a valiant attempt to warn others, before it’s too late for them, too.

[Gregory Kiernan]

Gregory’s Producer/Manager

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

I will present myself as someone who understands their own journey, and I will present my project first with the title (which I brainstormed to make as marketable as possible then checked it on IMDb to make sure it hasn’t been used recently), the genre (which fits their wheelhouse) and my marketable concept. I will also stop there since I understand that’s all the information they need from me. I will also have at least one more pitch waiting in the wings in case they ask, “What else are you working on?”

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

I will present myself as someone who understands their own journey, as someone who loves to pitch and as a writer who would love to get paid writing assignments as well as develop my own concepts. I will present my project only if I know it’s marketable, only after I have taken steps to make sure it has the best title I can come up with and only if it’s within the genre I’ve chosen.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that I haven’t really developed many business relationships in my life so this might be a challenge for me, but it’s only going to get better if I apply myself.