[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s Marketing Strategies

Learned: Above all else confidence in pitching is significantly elevated. Thank you.

The employed Strategies include No. 14 (contests) and No. 15 (contacting lower level producers). I also contacted an upper level producer (fr. Gone in 60 Seconds).

Although contest quarter-final results are not yet published (for PAGE or Nicholl) there is positive traction from the other two strategies where scripts are requested from two, including one who likes my A-List suggestions. These producers know who’s looking for work and how they are motivated based on who might choose to direct the project.

Many thanks for your expert assistance. Hope to meet up someday.

With best regards,

Gord

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s Query Letter Draft ONE

Learned how to create interest in producers enough to ask for the synopsis or script.

Draft 2:

Dear ,

A friend suggested you may be interested in this one.

Question: How does an outdoor entry mat become a “test kitchen” grille? Answer: With electricity. Lots of it.

Question: But, why? Answer: To fry the assassin who is about to come for her.

GWEN relies on a stranger’s instructions left on the recorder found on her steps. The message says, “If you wish to survive you must trust me. Because more are coming.” Furthering her fright, the message is from the first assassin who came for her.

With time nearing zero she has no choice but to follow the assassin’s course because she cannot trust anyone else, especially police and the FBI.

On edge while waiting in darkness, Gwen glances at the timer counting downward on her computer, marking the next killer’s arrival. With her tranquil existence utterly shattered and her psyche frayed, her head spins over why the first assassin didn’t kill her. Or if it’s a surreal ploy to make her an easy kill for the next one who comes.

But MARA knows it’s no ploy. As a black woman Mara is perhaps the world’s most formidable assassin. She too is now marked for death when foregoing the hit on Gwen. Mara’s reversal of deadly intent occurs with her first glimpse of Gwen’s face just as she’s about to pull the trigger. In that moment her conscience is utterly shocked.

The moment also brings Mara back to haunting memories of the day when she was but ten years of age, when standing before her mother’s newly placed headstone. That frightening memory from thirty years past recounts when Mara’s identical twin sister, Gwen, was cruelly torn from her side to neither be seen nor heard from again.

BIO:

As a 30+ year litigator with persuasive stories published in countless courthouses across the country, Gordon faces harm from a number of NDAs on many confidentially resolved matters, should truth be told. For that reason this one is inspired entirely by purely fictional accounts and characters.

If you like the concept, I’d be happy to send the script.

With best regards,

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s Target Market

Title: Hardwired

Log: When mistakenly given a file outlining a wealthy psychopath’s heinous scheme, Gwen must trust her very survival to the deadly assassin who’s sent to retrieve it.

Genre: Thriller

What I learned: Data research the IMDB sites.

Six movies:

(NOTE: Not all found producers are listed below. But I know where to find them. What follows are only the first tier of producers from the listed movie).

1. Black Swan (2010) (1 Oscar win)

Producers: Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Brian Oliver

2. No Country for Old Men (2007)

Producers: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

3. Identity (2003)

Producer: Cathy Konrad

4. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Producers: Ron Bozman, Edward Saxon, Kenneth Utt

5. Atomic Blonde (2017)

Producers: A.J. Dix, Eric Gitter, David Guillod, Antony Johnston, Ildiko Kemeny, Beth Kono, Kelly McCormick, Nick Meyer, David Minkowski, Jeff Morrone, Anthony Muir, Joe Nozemack, Steven Scavelli, Marc Schaberg, Peter Schwerin, Ethan Smith, Charlize Theron,

6. John Wick (2014)

Producers: Basil Iwanyk, David Leitch, Eva Longoria, Mike Witherill

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s phone pitch

What I learned: The keys are brevity, a hook, and silence to allow the producer to ask questions.

Hi, I’m Gordon and I’m wondering if I could run a quick logline or concept by you?

If logline:

When mistakenly given a file outlining a wealthy psychopath’s heinous scheme, Gwen must trust her very survival to the deadly assassin who’s sent to retrieve it.

If concept:

In Hardwired the world’s most formidable hit woman must retrieve a private file and kill the person who stole it. But that file is not stolen. Instead it is inadvertently included with a hundred more files, sent to a cyber analyst who must digitally encrypt them with her own proprietary, secret, unbreakable code. But the assassin doesn’t know this. In fact she’s been lied to by the psychopath who hired her. And when following through with the “hit,” when just about to squeeze that trigger, the assassin is confronted with a shocking detail that causes her to gasp – she is about to “waste” her long-lost identical twin sister.

Likely Questions:

<u style=”background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit;”>What’s the budget range?

Can be done in the range 15-18M. It also satisfies “contained” requirements if needed.

Who do you see in the main roles?

It seems VOD audiences absolutely love “bad ass” women. Recent example, Elsa Pataky in Interceptor (2022) (watched 9,800,000+ hours thus far).

But in Hardwired that “bad ass” woman is black. So is her twin sister. Meaning, she plays two roles – one as the world’s most formidable female assassin, the other a formidable, NSA-trained cyber analyst. Those likely to jump at getting connected include:

Rosario Dawson – The Waterman (2020) (adventure drama $383M)

Zoe Kravitz – plays Catwoman in The Batman (2022) (action crime $770M)

DeWanda Wise – a scrappy pilot in Jurasic World (2022) ($393+M opening weekend)

How many pages?

103

Who else has seen this?

It’s out for coverage with producer ____________’s favorite guy. And also, producer ____________ who also just sent it for coverage.

Why do you think this fits our company?

Your company is having huge successes measured in “viewing hours” with thriller and action genres involving scrappy and tough women (same example, Elsa Pataky in Interceptor, watched 9,800,000+ hours on your service thus far). This script, Hardwired, has that same exciting role this time portrayed by a tough black woman. And although she’s in an evil business, she’s not the real evil, here. Also, this story has unique, surprising twists not really seen before.

How does the movie end?

Jeb, the evil mega-rich villain, picked the wrong lady assassin to lie to, and to hire to kill her own identical twin sister, and then to try and kill her with other assassins when she wouldn’t kill her own kin. But when she comes for him, Jeb has an “ace in the hole,” the contents of that same file, outlining the horrid plan which is about to kill hundreds of innocent souls and which is not stoppable except by him. So, must he live?

Simultaneously, Gwen, the innocent analyst, awaits the next assassin. Mara had prepared her for this very battle in her absence to deal with Jeb. but Gwen forgot to do one final thing for it to work. Who survives? Gwen or the next incoming assassin? And then, how does a hungry bear get involved?

In the end, both Mara and Gwen prevail despite overwhelming odds. Mara finally reveals her true identity to her long-lost identical twin sister, Gwen. As for the super evil Jeb, Mara edges him out in a martial arts battle to the death, ending in simultaneous gun shots toward the other. And Mara is able to anonymously alert “authorities” just before Jeb’s evil plan deploys.

This ending is upbeat. But there’s more shocking twists and turns. Want more?

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s Pitch Fest Pitch

I learned a solid method to pitching and gained the confidence to do so. Thank you.

Hi. I’m Gordon.

I spent nearly a year researching the major factual components for this project, interviewed more than a hundred individuals and amassed 300 documents in the writing process. That was a thrill. But today I do have a THRILLER called HARDWIRED.

A black woman, GWEN, would be murdered by one of the world’s most formidable assassins. She’s targeted merely because she inadvertently received a file that should NEVER have been sent to anyone. It belongs to a rich psychopath. He orders the “hit” on Gwen.

But when locating Gwen, and just about to pull the trigger, the assassin suddenly vanishes. Instead of executing her, the killer leaves a recorder. Its message says, “if you want to live, you must trust me and do exactly as I say.”

Now why would anyone trust the assassin sent to kill you?

If she follows the assassins’ instructions will she survive?

But then, why does the killer forego the hit in the first instance?

PRODUCERS’ QUESTIONS

BUDGET:

Mid range (12-25M). Depending on talent. It has only four roles. Two roles are played by one actor. And it easily satisfies “contained” requirements if necessary.

WHAT ACTORS DO I LIKE IN LEADING ROLE:

Rosario Dawson – The Waterman (2020) (adventure drama $383M)

Zoe Kravitz – Catwoman in The Batman (2022) (action crime $770M)

DeWanda Wise – Scrappy pilot in Jurasic World (2022) ($393+M opening wknd)

GIVE ME THE ACTS OF THE STORY

Act I: (25 pgs)

1 Opening page: GWEN (protagonist) meets the next assassin who smashes through her door just as the final seconds of a countdown tick off on her computer.

2-10 Set up: Bulk of story starts six days earlier: Gwen lives a tranquil existence in mountain/lake cabin. She works from home, secretive computer stuff is all we know.

Set ups: (not disclosed)

11-25 Debate section. Questions: Will Gwen ever know she’s being hunted? Would she survive?

p.14 – Catalyst moment – Chris files incident report against Gwen’s stated request. Chris doesn’t know, it would become the road map of assassins to locating Gwen.

Act II-1 (35 pgs)

26-44 (not revealed)

45-61 Gwen’s discreet and private world begins to implode. She finds the file, reads it, gets sick, knows she’s about to be killed. Wonders how much time she has. How she would survive.

(remainder not revealed)

Act II-2 – Mara’s revenge on Jeb. Gwen’s survival against assassin. Gwen survives FBI scrutiny (28 pgs)

61-89 (remainder not revealed).

Act III – Concluding scenes (15 pgs)

89-103 (not revealed)

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s Query Letter

What I learned: Slap them awake to take notice. “You need to read this one.”

Dear

A friend suggested you may be interested in this one.

Two questions:

No. 1 How does an outdoor entry mat become a “test kitchen” grille?

Ans. With electricity. Lots of it.

No. 2 But why?

Ans. To fry the SOB assassin coming to her doorstep.

Gwen relies on a stranger’s instructions left on the recorder found on her steps. Its message from the first killer who came for her, says, “If you wish to survive you must trust me. Because more are coming.” With time nearing zero she has no choice but to follow the assassin’s course and trust no one else, especially the police and FBI.

On edge while waiting in darkness, Gwen glances at the timer counting downward to its final minute on her computer, marking the next killer’s arrival. With her tranquil existence utterly shattered and her psyche frayed, her head spins over why the first assassin didn’t kill her. Or if it’s a surreal ploy to make her an easy kill for the next one who would come.

But Mara knows it’s no ploy. As a black woman Mara is perhaps the world’s most formidable assassin. She too is now marked for death when foregoing the hit on Gwen. Mara’s reversal of deadly intent occurs with her first glimpse of Gwen’s face just as she’s about to pull the trigger. It shocks her conscience.

The moment also brings Mara back to haunting memories of the day when she was but ten years of age, when standing before her mother’s newly placed headstone. That frightening memory from thirty years past recounts when Mara’s identical twin sister, Gwen, was cruelly torn from her side to never be seen nor heard from again.

BIO: As a 30+ year litigator Gordon faces harm from a number of NDAs on many a confidential matter, should he reveal the truth. For that reason this one is inspired entirely by purely fictional accounts and characters. Except for….

Hardwired is the title. If you like the concept, I’d be happy to send the script.

With best regards,

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s Synopsis Hooks for Hardwired

I learned the importance of choosing among MITs or high impact scenes to create a one-page synopsis for a great thriller.

TITLE: Hardwired

AUTHOR: Gordon

GENRE: Thriller

LOG: When mistakenly given a file outlining a wealthy psychopath’s heinous scheme, Gwen must trust her very survival to the deadly assassin who’s sent to retrieve it.

Synopsis: In the hours before the next hooded assassin would come, Gwen works past her sheer fight to prepare. Not knowing if her efforts might save her, she nervously glances from her focus on the shiny new front door mat to eye the fresh chicken breast in her hand.

She relies on a stranger’s instructions left on the recorder she found on her steps. Its message from the first assassin who came, says, “If you wish to survive you must trust me. Because others are coming.” And she does over all others, even police and the FBI.

Gwen never asked for any of this. A brilliant cyber analyst, she lives a peaceful, discreet life. By design she works from home, remaining a ghost to public and electronic worlds. But her tranquility is shattered when she’s mistakenly sent a file, one so horrid it causes her to violently retch. And one she knows would result in her death merely because she’s read it.

Adding to her fright Gwen’s confidant and lover, a deputy, files an incident report outlining Gwen’s emergency call after her tense face-to-face standoff with a home intruder, a hungry bear. This report, she knows, would become the assassins’ roadmap to her doorstep.

With a final glance of resolve toward the chicken breast she gently lobs it toward the shiny new outdoor mat. On contact the deep electric HUM is instant. The meat POPS, SIZZLES, then BURSTS into big flames. Gasping in shock Gwen quickly clicks off the big power switch. She dashes to the kitchen, returns with an extinguisher, aims and sprays. Flames at the entrance disappear into a billowing white fog. When clearing Gwen stares in disbelief at the charred, smoking remains of what was once a chicken breast. It is also the spot where she hopes the next assassin might step.

The timer counts downward on Gwen’s computer. It marks the next killer’s arrival. She remains on edge and in a quandary over why the first assassin didn’t kill her and instead, becomes eager to help her. Or is any of it even real?

But the first assassin knows it’s real. As a black woman MARA is perhaps the world’s most formidable assassin. But she too is now marked for death when foregoing the hit on Gwen.

Mara’s reversal of deadly intent occurs with her first glimpse of Gwen’s face just as she’s about to pull the trigger. It also brings Mara back to haunting memories of the day when she was but ten years of age, when standing before her mother’s newly placed headstone.

That frightening memory from thirty years past recounts when Mara’s identical twin sister, Gwen, was cruelly torn from her side to never be seen nor heard from again. It’s also the identical memory Gwen relives often.

Not yet revealing her identity to Gwen, Mara does what’s necessary to protect her twin sister at all costs, including eliminating evil at its source, the file’s author, and where more surprises lurk.

And so, here they come.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Gordon Cowan.

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s High Concept/Elevator Pitch

What I learned doing this assignment is: finding the story’s high concept and formulating a 30 second pitch that defines the journey in an impactive way. And to keep refining, and refining, and refining.

1. The big picture explanation of lead character’s journey: Hardwired

Can innocence survive sheer evil?

Can an innocent analyst survive a psychopath’s hired assassins when mistakenly sent a file that outlines his heinous plot to kill hundreds?

2. How can you tell it in the most interesting way possible?

Dilemma: Mistakenly receives a dangerous file that pegs the protagonist for instant death

Main Conflict: How to survive the mission of an ultra rich psychopath to keep secret what the hero inadvertently received?

What’s at stake? Life or death of the hero. Life or death of hundreds of others who are the subject of the villain’s plot should he succeed. Can innocence survive sheer evil?

Goal/Unique Opposition: How to get the file to someone who can be trusted in a way that is survivable. Can the hero trust the first assassin who comes, who says, “trust me”? Can the psychopath be stopped in time? Who to trust when money from an ultra rich guy can corrupt anyone, even police, FBI?

3. What is your Elevator Pitch?

Question: What are you working on?

Answer: Just wrapping up a final edit to the latest screenplay.

Question: What’s it about?

Imagine, if you mistakenly receive a file you knew instantly when reading marked you for death, what would you do? You are a private, good person. Obviously you’re not trained to defend against hardened, lethal assassins who would arrive any moment to retrieve that file. And if you are truly a good person, you have to get this file to authorities. But who can be trusted when the authorities may be corrupt? What would you do? How do you survive?

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon’s 10 Most Interesting Things – Hardwired

Not in any order of importance:

1. Publicly the villain is an empathetic and generous philanthropist. Privately he’s a dangerous psychopath, hell bent to kill anyone discovering his dastardly plans.

2. First page: Gwen (protagonist) is about to be murdered by an assassin who breaks through her front door with gun and silencer, ready to kill her.

3. The moment when the deadly assassin Mara recognizes she is about to kill her own long-lost identical twin sister, Gwen.

4. A surprise visit by a dangerous and hungry wild bear who, because of the protagonist’s kindness, ultimately “saves the day.”

5. When, after the assassin is horrifically killed he somehow morbidly rises from the mist, refusing to die while still armed with his handgun.

6. When Gwen reads the contents of the horrid file, causing her to vomit, and then recognizing (in a subtext way) she is marked for death and would be killed at any moment.

7. When Mara stands-in and takes the place of her twin sister, then “beats” both the FBI’s interview and the FBI’s polygraph exam. And where the FBI never realize they have in their midst one of the world’s most deadly assassins but let her go.

8. Jeb’s morbid plan revealed by the file mistakenly given Gwen.

9. The “Hit Man” and the “mark” are long-lost identical twins.

10. Mara, in the end, never reveals to her sister Gwen that Jeb may be their long lost half-brother. And never reveals to Gwen that she killed him.

What I learned: Picking through the screenplay to find revealing moments that could help sell the script.

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon C

Producer/Manager

Presenting to Producer:

Subject Line – Gordon C.

First line – Producer/Manager

Presenting to Producer:

(Sorry, screenwriting formatting doesn’t paste well. Forgive me?)

FADE IN

INT. GORD’S ROOM – DAY

Gord leans forward into the table focused pleasantly on the computer screen. His model perfect hands impeccably manicured and comfortably clasped together compliment his crisp dress shirt. He looks cool, like a million bucks.

Below the table, in underwear, Gord’s true guerilla forested appendages attach to knuckle dragged stumps where one “hand” holds the remote he nervously taps on his equally hairy knee. The other incessantly scratches where no others would ever go.

JERRY – THE PRODUCER (Zoom like video link)

(on screen)

Look Gord. My next meeting starts in three minutes. I’ve had a frightful day, I’m dizzy from G-force meetings, smell like jet fuel, my back’s killing me, feet are swelled and I have gas.

(rolls eyes)

I’m interested in your concept. But I’m really pressed for time. So whaddaya got? In a minute or less.

On screen Jerry’s eyes widen when seeing that Gord doesn’t react, doesn’t move an inch.

JERRY (Zoom like video link)

(under breath but audible)

Jeez. Didn’t flinch. Guy’s a pro.

GORD

(to screen)

Thanks Mr. B. I’ll be gone in 60 seconds ––

JERRY (video link)

(on screen, interrupts)

Wrong movie. But go ahead.

GORD

(to screen, smiles)

Okay. If you were inadvertently sent a computer file you knew instantly when reading would mark you for death, what would you do?

(loses smile)

You’re a regular guy. Law abiding good person. Only brush with the law is when you received that speeding ticket you forgot to pay.

On screen, Jerry’s eyes squint in recollection. Gord is steely focused.

GORD

(to screen)

But obviously you’re not trained to defend against hardened, lethal assassins who would arrive any moment to retrieve that file. Sooner in time than what you just gave me.

(squints)

How are you gonna survive? What would you do?

On screen Jerry’s expression ponders, extending silence. Gord doesn’t flinch above table. Below, both neanderthal legs bounce.

GORD

(to screen)

Can innocence survive sheer evil? That’s the ultimate question here.

JERRY B (video link)

(on screen)

Not bad. What if the assassins come with toy guns and party hats?

GORD

(to screen)

Gee, hadn’t thought of that. Could be workable. May I ask your reasoning?

JERRY B (video link)

(on screen)

Yeah, yeah. There’s this project filmed in Arizona. Disaster struck when one of the prop guns went off. Live ammo. Crazy stuff.

(serious look)

Scared the studios shi… less.

(flinches)

Now they’re all over us. We must hire an army of prop gun checkers, double checkers, dogs to sniff out GSR, a local sheriff deputy. Then here come the studio’s forensic experts whose only expertise is to blab to the media and pretend they know something about acting in courtrooms. The budget, the film set, all of it gets bat s..it crazy if we use real guns.

GORD

(to screen)

Thanks for sharing. I get it. Um, yeah, it’s all doable. I can make those changes in say ––

JERRY (video link)

(on screen, interrupts)

Tomorrow. Same time? I’ll fit it in.

The upper table image of Gord doesn’t flinch. The lower half violently spasms.

GORD

(to screen)

Gosh, I was just thinking the same. Tomorrow then?

END.

Presenting to the manager:

On a serious note not sure what to include here. If, for example, I possessed three completed scripts, one in showcase condition, one needing Act III changes graciously suggested from a great source, and a third (the first actually) requiring a rewrite but “not bad” as many say, I’m not sure this would be enough with which to bother a manager. Is it? But there it is and I’d be honest. Good titles to all, good logs, great first ten pages, etc.

Among those three, one project, the thriller, is in fab shape, clearly attracts A-List talent and received good coverage from reputable outside sources. Another, an action/drama project screams for A-List talent and requires a rewrite of the last third of the script.

That said, this is my thought on why I’m focusing on producers.

All for now.

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon Cowan – Marketable Components

1. Logline:

When mistakenly given a file outlining a wealthy psychopath’s heinous scheme, Gwen must trust her very survival to the deadly assassin who’s sent to retrieve it.

2. Look through the 10 Components of Marketability and pick one or two that have the most potential for selling this script. (Tell us how your script already fulfills them AND how you might highlight these two in order to elevate the pitch).

Response: HARDWIRED (great title BTW) is significantly attractive for an A-list actor for these specific reasons (“spoilers” included):

a. The “hit man” is actually a “hit woman.” And she’s black.

b. She’s “bad ass,” “smokes” her marks efficiently, receives $3M per hit, is a hardened “mixed arts” capable combat fighter in a “street smarts” way.

c. Her B story: privately, she has a soft heart, supports a shelter that gets kids off the streets, gets them clean. Her hit contract payments support this shelter. Subtext: she’s a street kid shelter graduate herself.

d. She’s haunted by a significant personal loss, occurring when she was 10 years old (revealed below).

e. We NEVER see her face until just after she arrives to kill her mark.

f. FIRST SPOILER: the next “job” she accepts is from a ultra rich psychopath (rich guy) who, unbeknownst to her or to rich guy, or to the viewing audience, is her very own sister, Gwen. Sister Gwen is marked for death merely because she was inadvertently given a file at work that rich guy wants nobody to see.

g. SECOND SPOILER: when the assassin sees who her mark is (still not known by Gwen or audience) she breaches the assassin’s code of conduct – she doesn’t follow through with the hit. This marks her for death as well.

h. THIRD SPOILER: Gwen is actually the killer’s identical twin sister. In other words, the assassin is about to murder her own identical likeness. It is not until just after this revelation to the assassin that the audience discovers it when, moments later in private, the world’s deadliest assassin begins sobbing when reliving the very event that haunts her (also haunting her sister, Gwen) which is the day when the two sisters were split at age ten, to be orphaned separately, in a way that neither would ever know what happened to the other.

i. She is so good that she sits-in as her sister Gwen at the FBI’s interview of Gwen (following a significant event occurring at the end of Act II). Neither the FBI nor at this point the audience, is aware that the assassin sits-in as Gwen. And she also easily passes the FBI’s polygraph of who they believe is Gwen. Subtext: you kiddin’ me? The FBI had in their own building, in their own hands, one of the world’s deadliest assassins and didn’t know it? And let her go?

j. A-list actor, whoever she is, would be given a challenging and significant role in playing two key roles – the brutal assassin AND also her mark, her identical twin sister Gwen who is the true protagonist.

Personal note: I have thoughts on who could really benefit from becoming attached to this film if it ever became made. Yes, she’s an A-List actor. And she’s played “bad ass” roles in her film career.

3. After brainstorming tell us how you might pitch the script through the two components.

Response: I am working on various pitches but have yet to refine them. And you’re making me work on it. You have my gratitude.

4. What I learned doing this assignment is to filter the script for its most redeeming components and to focus on just one or perhaps two of them.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by  Gordon Cowan.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 2 months ago by  Gordon Cowan.

[Gordon Cowan]

Title: Gordon Cowan – Project and Market

DAY 1 ASSIGNMENT

1. Give us your Genre, Title, and Concept.

Genre: Thriller

Title: HARDWIRED

Concept (log): When mistakenly given a file outlining a wealthy psychopath’s heinous scheme, Gwen must trust her very survival to the deadly assassin who’s sent to retrieve it.

2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.

In a new twist it portrays a struggle between evil and innocence, the balance of trust and truth and the breach of an assassin’s code of conduct. The project is “contained” and has a black female as the protagonist.

3. Tell us which you will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why you picked that target.

Producers. They will like it or not, up front. If they like it they head to the money.

4. What I learned today is this should be a fun class.

[Gordon Cowan]

Gordon Cowan. For the Pitch Class, I agree to the release, the one that follows:

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Gordon Cowan]

Hi John. Per the Assignment, I chose your query letter where I, too, enjoy the “thriller” genre.

Removing my “lawyerman” hat I nonetheless read your letter with interest, but kept my on-board knowledge of how the modern federal courthouse is constructed post the horrific Oklahoma City bombing.

After having run the letter through Cheryl and Hal’s suggested criteria here are my thoughts: Your letter is simple, quickly read and causes the reader (me and hopefully for you the next producer) to finish it and think on it a couple of seconds. I liked it. Your “bio” is also a hit.

I say “… think on it a couple of seconds” where I picture these producers looking at the daily onslaught of letters, much like state bar examiners who read through stacks of essays from hopeful future lawyers, the average reading time of which is… (drum roll)… six seconds per essay (the essay writer being given an hour to construct it). (Note: No, I haven’t sat for the exam in 30+ years).

So, bottom line, go for it. Break a leg. I wish you smiles and the best of success.

With best regards,

Gordon (a.k.a. Gordie, Gord, Gordo, and perhaps others)