If you have been writing screenplays for film or television and trying to break into the industry for any length of time, chances are you’ve entered a screenwriting competition or two in that time. Though many enter, only a few get to have the winning experience. That is, after all,… read more →
The first time I met Scotty Mullen was at 2013’s Great American Pitch Fest, when he sat in on my career-centric masterclass. He had such determination about him, such a hunger to learn; when he showed up at my desk a month later for one-on-one career coaching, I was not at… read more →
You’ve worked hard on your script. You’ve put it out there. You’ve done the legwork. You’ve gotten it into contests, but despite your expectations, it did not place. Anywhere. You listed the material on The Black List, got a few downloads, but there was no real interest expressed. You utilized… read more →
Many years ago, in Chicago, an older gentleman came up to me during one of my lecture breaks and asked me, candidly and directly, if his age was going to be a challenge for his screenwriting career. He was eighty four then, just survived a mean battle with cancer, and… read more →
While there is no question that one can break into screenwriting while not living in Los Angeles, it’s also irrefutable that living in Los Angeles does give you an advantage. Case in point: Most writers who break in do so while living in Los Angeles. Which goes to prove one… read more →
When I got into the business of helping writers as a full-time career coach, I told myself that, as much as I loved it and as blown away as I was by the velocity with which my business took off, it’s not going to be amazing and humbling and rewarding… read more →
A few weeks ago, I met with one of my writers for a pre-scheduled meeting. Last I had seen him, he was riding high from a number of successful general meetings, and we had made plans for him to start outlining a new project. To my dismay, in our follow-up… read more →
The question “Do you need more than one screenplay to attract representation?” is one that I’ve heard come up often for many writers I work with. If you have the one great script, isn’t that enough to make things happen for you in the entertainment industry? And if that script… read more →
It’s human nature to look at other people and instantly categorize them. To make assumptions. To set expectations. To – oh no! – judge! I do it myself: Whenever I meet a new writer, my impression of them begins to solidify before they’ve even sat down with me. From their… read more →
Silence can be infuriating. You wrote a great script. You made contact through a previous relationship, pitching opportunity, or other means. You waited for the invite. When it came, you sent your script in. Well crafted. Under 120 pages. Smart. Skilled. Clean. Or else, you developed an outline for somebody… read more →
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