[Gila Zalon]

GILA’S MARKETING CAMPAIGN

What I have learned – that I am limited in what I am actually able to do. But if I don’t give it a try, nobody else will. So here goes:

Marketing Campaign #6

Strategy #11 – Send out query letters

I am creating a list – but I’d like to get some feedback on my query letter from Lesson 11 before I go any further.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

What I have learned: the importance of grabbing attention at the outset.

Gila’s Query Letter Draft TWO

Dear
I am an award-winning writer who has had one feature produced that received distribution and 2 short films that appeared at many film festivals.
I believe another of my screenplays fits your genre and budget parameters.

Title: The Rife Machine
Genre: Socio/Political Crime Thriller
Logline: Police Chief Anthony DiMucci faces a drug company lobby that would stop at nothing, even murder, to get hold of a cancer-curing machine which could seriously undermine their profits.

If this interests you I would be happy to send you a script.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s Query Letter Draft ONE
Dear
I am an award-winning writer who has had one feature produced that received distribution and 2 short films that appeared at many film festivals.

My screenplay, The Rife Machine, is a crime thriller in which Police Chief Anthony DiMucci faces a drug company lobby that would stop at nothing, even murder, to get hold of a cancer-curing machine which could seriously undermine their profits.

With the problems we have been having with both drug company prices and a proliferation of drugs that lead to addiction and even suicide, I feel my screenplay has great marketable potential. And it is both within your budget and your genre perameters.

If this interests you I would be happy to send you a script.

Cordially,

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.
• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

This is really 10a Reply – there are two Lessons 10

Gila’s Target Market (10a)
What I learned:
Wos. I now have a numbers file (Excel for the Mac) for the producers that I can contact. Unfortunately the list on imdbpro did not give me the years I targeted, so I have to start again. But I get the idea and I’ll work on it till they give me the correct years. I haven't got the time right now.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

ASSIGNMENT
Gila’s Target Market
The Rife Machine
Political Cop Thriller
Police Chief Anthony DiMucci is up against a drug company lobby that would stop at nothing, even murder, to get hold of a cancer-curing machine which could seriously undermine their profits.
What I learned: How to find producers to approach with my project will take lots of time but is well worth it. This is invaluable.
Make a list of five or more movies that are similar to yours and five actors that you might want to play your lead characters.

The Fugitive
Constant Gardener
Michael Clayton
Erin Brockavich
Dirty Pretty Things

Using the Targeting process above, go to http://www.imdb.com and find 50 to 100 producers (or more) for your specific project.

I don’t think I can fit it here, but I’ve done it in my computer.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s Phone Pitch
What have I learned from this lesson? Short and sweet. Don’t overdo it. Give them a chance to think it over.
1. Tell us which of the four strategies you are going to use to open your pitch:
Lead with credibility.
Hi, I’m an award-winning screenwriter that has had one feature-length and 2 short films produced. I was wondering if I could run a quick logline past you?

2. Give us your script for phone call pitches, like I did above.
The Rife Machine is cop thriller that deals with a drug company lobby that would stop at nothing, even murder, to get hold of a cancer-curing machine which could seriously undermine their profits.
3. Give us a one or two sentence answer to the questions a producer may ask:
What’s the budget range?
About $5M to $7M.
Who do you see in the main roles?
Brian Cranston, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kelsey Grammer
How many pages is the script?
110
Who else has seen this?
Buffalo 8, Dreamgrifter Films, Euldora Financial
Why do you think this fits our company?
You have done socio-political thrillers
How does the movie end?
My hero loses his job and the bad guys win…temporarily.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Hi. My name is Gila Zalon. Sorry I got to this so late but the class is competing with a short film on which I am a producer. I have had one full-length and 3 short films produced. I was a producer on another full-length movie. I have written 6 scripts that I feel are complete. I have written and directed plays for both children and adults. And I have had a successful career as a dancer and actress. I am in my 80's and screenwriting has been my third career. I hope to learn how to get producers interested in my other scripts. Since starting this class another of my scripts has gained interest from a production company. That may add to what I learn in this class. Good luck to all of you.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

GILA – I agree to the terms herein.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s Pitch Fest Pitch.
I’ve learned that being short and concise is what I have to learn. I will definitely carry this over to my other scripts. Even though the chances of my attending a pitch-fest are not very likely, this will help me in approaching producers either by phone or even email.
I’ve had one full-length and two short films produced and won awards for all. I also produced a full-length award-winning movie. One of my scripts is under consideration by Euldora Productions.

2. Tell us your genre and title.
Title: The Rife Machine
Genre: Political Crime Thriller

3. What is your one or two sentence hook?
Police Chief Anthony DiMucci is up against a murderous Drug Lobby which is going after a means of curing cancer that could wipe out their business. Trouble is DiMucci has the machine and wants it to cure his wife’s cancer… which leads to the deaths of innocent people. Problem: Is it worth it?

4. Please give your one or two sentence answer to each of these questions:
What is the budget range?
$4M to $7M

What actors do you like for the lead roles?
George Clooney or Brian Cranston. Right age. Interested in movies with socio/political overtones.

Give me the acts of the story.
Act I: The murder of an Alternative Doctor in a small town starts Police Chief Anthony DiMucci on a quest to find the murderer. What he discovers is a cancer-curing machine that is being sought by a murderous Drug Lobby.
Act II: DiMucci decides to use the machine to cure his wife’s cancer. The Drug Lobby finds out and in trying to retrieve the machine from DiMucci, innocent people are murdered. Defying the Lobby, DiMucci fosters an interest in and developement of the machine, but discovers that some politicians may also be involved with the Lobby. Including law enforcement mucky-mucks.
Act III: His work comes to the attention of his higher-ups and he is fired and is unable to continue any furtherance of his connection to the machine. But though the Lobby has won this round, DiMucci discovers that others are secretly continuing the work, and he vows to do what he can to help.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s Pitch Fest Pitch. LESSON 8
I’ve learned that being short and concise is what I have to learn. I will definitely carry this over to my other scripts. Even though the chances of my attending a pitch-fest are not very likely, this will help me in approaching producers either by phone or even email.
I’ve had one full-length and two short films produced and won awards for all. I also produced a full-length award-winning movie. One of my scripts is under consideration by Euldora Productions.
2. Tell us your genre and title.
Title: The Rife Machine
Genre: Political Crime Thriller
3. What is your one or two sentence hook?
Police Chief Anthony DiMucci is up against a murderous Drug Lobby which is going after a means of curing cancer that could wipe out their business. Trouble is DiMucci has the machine and wants it to cure his wife’s cancer… which leads to the deaths of innocent people. Problem: Is it worth it?
4. Please give your one or two sentence answer to each of these questions:
What is the budget range?
$4M to $7M

What actors do you like for the lead roles?
George Clooney or Brian Cranston. Right age. Interested in movies with socio/political overtones.

Give me the acts of the story.
Act I: The murder of an Alternative Doctor in a small town starts Police Chief Anthony DiMucci on a quest to find the murderer. What he discovers is a cancer-curing machine that is being sought by a murderous Drug Lobby.
Act II: DiMucci decides to use the machine to cure his wife’s cancer. The Drug Lobby finds out and in trying to retrieve the machine from DiMucci, innocent people are murdered. Defying the Lobby, DiMucci fosters an interest in and developement of the machine, but discovers that some politicians may also be involved with the Lobby. Including law enforcement mucky-mucks.
Act III: His work comes to the attention of his higher-ups and he is fired and is unable to continue any furtherance of his connection to the machine. But though the Lobby has won this round, DiMucci discovers that others are secretly continuing the work, and he vows to do what he can to help.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s Query Letter.

“Son of a bitch deserved to die” …or did he? Did any of them?

Socio-political/Crime genre.

TITLE: The Rife Machine

Can a cancer-curing machine find a place in the world despite the murderous intentions of a heinous drug lobby? This is what Police Chief Anthony DiMucci wants to know as he chases down the killers of an Alternative Doctor, a doctor who used the machine—a Rife Machine— to help save lives.

Discovering that the drug lobby wants to get hold of the machine, which they believe is competition for a new cancer drug about to be released, DiMucci nonetheless uses the machine to cure his own wife’s cancer. Which leads to the death of two innocent people and almost to his own demise.

But it is David fighting Goliath, and DiMucci has rubbed enough people the wrong way. He is unceremoniously fired from the police force. Yet the machine takes on a life of its own and hints of continuous development reach DiMucci. It will live on without his help.

There are thousands of people around the world that use Rife Machines. They are a built-in audience for this movie. And with the proliferation of drugs that have led to addiction and suicide, the theme of this movie would gain recognition around the world.

SCREENPLAY CREDITS: The screenplay was a semifinalist in all competitions in which it was entered, including most recently the ISA Suspense Competition.

PRESENT STATUS: The screenplay received a very high mark on SLATED and both Made to Order Movies and Buffalo Eight are interested in participating in its production.
If you like the concept of The Rife Machine, I’d be happy to send you the script.

WRITERS CREDITS: I have had four short films and one feature length film produced. My feature had worldwide distribution. One of my short films won Best Film and Best Writer in the NJ International Film Festival, and was accepted at many other film festivals, including the California International Film Festival.

Another of my scripts received a Certificate of Merit from the American Screenwriters Association and Writers Digest. And yet another screenplay is under consideration for production by a newly formed production company.

What I learned doing this assignment? That I must work on a shorter more “hook-y” synopsis. This will take time.

• This reply was modified 6 months, 3 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s High Concept/Elevator Pitch.
What did I learn? That writing good marketing pitches is harder than writing a scipt.
1. To find your main hook, give us what is most unique about your lead character’s journey from a big picture perspective.
A good cop risks the lives of good people to save his wife from dying of cancer.
2. How can you tell it in the most interesting way possible?
Dilemma
Is one woman’s life worth risking the death of many others?
Main Conflict
Can a Police Chief save his dying wife with a machine that a murderous political drug lobby wants to destroy?
What’s at stake?
A world-shaking cancer-curing machine can be sent to oblivion rather than compete with a new drug.
OR:
A man’s life and the lives of others are at stake to save a cancer-curing machine from a destructive drug lobby.
Goal/Unique Opposition
Can a cancer-curing machine find a place in the world despite the murderous intentions of a heinous drug lobby?

3. Elevator Pitch
I’m working with an award-winning director on a script about a machine that cures cancer

• This reply was modified 7 months ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s Synopsis Hooks

What I learned doing this assignment? That a synopsis should include mostly story hooks….parts of the story that will grab a reader’s attention. But I also learned that it will take me time to get my brain around this. I’m not happy with what I came up with, but I don’t want too much time to pass.

Title THE RIFE MACHINE
Written by Gila Zalon
Genre: Political Crime Thriller
A machine that can cure cancer. A drug company that wants to destroy it. What follows? Mayhem and murder.

The murder of a doctor who cured cancer with a machine developed in the 1930’s sets Police Chief Anthony DiMucci on a hunt for the doctor’s killer. But does the machine work? His wife is dying of cancer and DiMucci needs to see if it can help her. Fearing for his life, a chiropractor who has worked with the murdered doctor, hands the machine over to DiMucci and the police. The temptation is too much. DiMucci steals the machine from his police station’s property room.

DiMucci soon discovers that the head of a Drug Lobby wants the machine even more than he does. If it proliferates it will make a new cancer drug about to hit the market seem tame by comparison. DiMucci wants to save the machine. It seems to be helping his wife. The Lobby wants to destroy it and will kill anyone that stands in their way. In fact their victims already include the Medical Doctor, the chiropractor, a nurse, and a Professor of Medicine. Is it worth all of those deaths to keep the machine from them? Is DiMucci’s wife more important than those being murdered by the Lobby?

Even worse, DiMucci discovers that political mucky-mucks are working with the Lobby. And the politicians discover that DiMucci has the machine. What ensues is inevitable. DiMucci loses his job. But his wife is cured of cancer, and it seems there are forces in the country secretly developing the machine. Maybe, in some way, he can help them.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila's 10 Most Interesting Things

What I learned doing this assignment is that I have to work on pinpointing the intriguing parts of my script. That will take more time than I’m giving it.

What is most unique about your villain and hero?
Villain: A cold-blooded murderer cooperates with police
Hero: Police chief breaks the law out of love for his wife.

B. Major hook of your opening scene?
The shooting of a man in front of his home in broad daylight. Who? Why?

C. Any turning points?
On her deathbed, the hero’s wife makes a sudden recovery after using the Rife Machine.

D. Emotional dilemma?
Is saving the Rife Machine worth the deaths that ensue?
Police Chief’s wife: Is her life worth more than the lives that have been lost saving the machine?

E. Major twists?
The head of a Big Pharmaceutical lobby (another Villain) kills his Head Manager lover at the behest of the lobby’s Board

F. Reversals?

G. Character betrayals?

H. Or any big surprises?
Each of the ensuing murders, surprises in themselves, is for the purpose of finding and destroying the Rife Machine which could compete with a new cancer drug.

2. Make a list of any other things in your script that could interest a producer.

The relationship between the Pharmaceutical Lobby and politicians on every level suggests a terrible possibility in the real world.

People who have been cured by the machine are fearful of giving testimony. But don’t know who they are afraid of.

A fear-ridden chiropractor who helped use the machine to cure patients is thought to be imagining his fears. He is not.

A well-known Professor puts together a plan to develop the machine and make it known throughout the world. For this she is yet another victim.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Lesson 3 – Gila’s Producer/Manager

HOW WILL YOU PRESENT YOURSELF AND YOUR PROJECT TO A PRODUCER?

My script, The Rife Machine, was in line to be produced by a Canadian production company. A short film was produced as a kind of teaser, starring Joe Mantegna and Frances Fisher. To my horror the producer died suddenly and my script was abandoned. I am now picking it up again, because it is a timely Crime Thriller about fighting Big Pharma’s hold on the drug market; allowing drugs to proliferate that lead to addiction and suicide, or setting the price of the drugs so high that sometimes it is prohibitive and doesn’t fill the needs of those that need it most. The Crime genre is prevalent on most TV networks and engages millions of viewers weekly. This script fits the genre you are interested in, can be done on a budget under ten million dollars, and an additional plus is an audience around the world of people who use Rife Machines. This could be a big plus in finding distribution worldwide. And the almost immediate interest that Joe Mantegna took in our project leads me to believe that the story would entice more than one lead actor of note.

I think you’ll find that I’m easy to work with; that I am always willing to listen, to rewrite and to help out in any way. Most of my scripts, this one included, have received high marks in contests and script analyses. And I appreciate whatever advice or suggestions that are made.

HOW WILL YOU PRESENT YOURSELF TO A MANAGER?

I believe my script, The Rife Machine, would be of interest to any producer that is looking for a timely crime thriller with political overtones. It may sound like a very specific area, but if you watch some of the many crime dramas that proliferate on network TV you will see that people will return time and again to this specific genre. The audience appeal all over the world is great.

I think you’ll find that I’m easy to work with; that I am always willing to listen, to rewrite and to help out in any way. Most of my scripts, this one included, have received high marks in contests and script analyses. And I appreciate whatever advice or suggestions that are made. I have at least five other scripts ready to be marketed and am open to working on new projects that may come my way.

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?
That I should approach producers who are interested in the genre I have written (although that is common sense); that I should emphasize the ability of the script to interest funding/distribution, audiences and actors. And that I'd like to approach producers without a manager, if possible–although most producers won't look at scripts if it doesn't come from a manager or agent. Am I right?

• This reply was modified 7 months, 1 week ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

LESSON 2: Gila’s Marketable Components

LOGLINE: In a classic David v. Goliath crime thriller, a small town Police Chief faces agonizing choices in the pursuit of murderers who will stop at nothing to destroy a controversial cure for cancer that could help his own dying wife.

D. TIMELY – In the 1930’s the scientist Royal Raymond Rife invented the Rife Machine which was proven to help cure cancer. The AMA and Big Pharma wanted to buy the machine and own the Patent, and incidentally make tons of money. When Rife said no, he wanted people to get the benefits of the machine without paying tons of money, a mysterious fire destroyed all of Rife’s equipment, experiments, machines—everything!

However the original machine has been duplicated and updated through the years….but in secret. Because it is outlawed in this country!

And right now with the sole goal of making money, Big Pharma is doing it again. Selling Opiates leagally that have caused health problems, addictions and even suicides.

B. TITLE – Because there are millions of people around the world that use Rife Machines — which are sold under many different names— the title alone will bring in an audience.

G. AUDIENCE APPEAL – The script is a Cop Thriller. Almost every network has at least one, sometimes up to five crime or mystery series each week that TV audiences flock to. Young and old.

J. ROLE FOR BANKABLE ACTOR – A police chief at retirement age risking his life to help save mankind would be a draw for an actor in his 60’s who may no longer be offered the exciting roles he was used to when he was young.

WHAT I LEARNED: The elements of what could attract a producer are here and though I may have overwritten my first element (D Timely) I think will know what to look for in my other scripts. So I’d like to find out if I interpreted it all correctly here.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.

[Gila Zalon]

Gila’s Marketable Components for The Rife Machine
LOGLINE: In a classic David v. Goliath crime thriller, a small town Police Chief faces agonizing
choices in the pursuit of murderers who will stop at nothing to destroy a controversial cure for
cancer that could help his own dying wife.
D. TIMELY – In the 1930’s the scientist Royal Raymond Rife invented the Rife Machine which
was proven to help cure cancer. The AMA and Big Pharma wanted to buy the machine and own
the Patent, and incidentally make tons of money. When Rife said no, he wanted people to get the
benefits of the machine without paying tons of money, a mysterious fire destroyed all of Rife’s
equipment, experiments, machines—everything!
However the original machine has been duplicated and updated through the years….but in secret.
Because it is outlawed in this country!
And right now with the sole goal of making money, Big Pharma is doing it again. Selling Opiates
leagally that have caused health problems, addictions and even suicides.
B. TITLE – Because there are millions of people around the world that use Rife Machines —
which are sold under many different names— the title alone will bring in an audience.
G. AUDIENCE APPEAL – The script is a Cop Thriller. Almost every network has at least one,
sometimes up to five crime or mystery series each week that TV audiences flock to. Young and
old.
J. ROLE FOR BANKABLE ACTOR – A police chief at retirement age risking his life to help
save mankind would be a draw for an actor in his 60’s who may no longer be offered the exciting
roles he was used to when he was young.
WHAT I LEARNED: The elements of what could attract a producer are here and though I may
have overwritten my first element (D Timely) I think will know what to look for in my other
scripts. So I’d like to find out if I interpreted it all correctly here.

[Gila Zalon]

From Gila Zalon:
1.
Genre: Political Crime Thriller

Title: The Rife Machine

Concept: When a small town police chief attempts to use a long-lost
machine that could cure his wife’s cancer, he finds himself in the midst of
a big Pharma scheme to destroy the machine and anyone that stands in
the way, including him.

2.
Many of us have been affected by drug companies who are ignoring the
risks of some of the drugs they are selling and by the inflationary prices
of the drugs we need. This is a story that opens us up to the need to deal
with this pharmaceutical crisis.

3.
I will target producers because the story is important, the lead character
can attract a star and it will appeal to an audience of all ages since it is
couched in a thriller genre. There is also a built-in audience of Rife
Machine users around the world.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by  Gila Zalon.