Musings from a young Hollywood professional

Have you ever talked to a film student about bad movies? You really should.

Posts tagged hollywood

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WriterLyn hit over 300 followers giveaway!

So, I hit 300 followers (actually 307), so I’m doing the only type of giveaway I can really afford.

I have been a television and movie script reader with a few different companies.  I have done tons of different type of coverage and treatment writing.

So here’s the giveaway:

I WILL READ YOUR SCRIPT AND GIVE HOLLYWOOD LEVEL COVERAGE and A FULL TREATMENT OF IT.

This includes:

  1. A hollywood style quality grid
  2. A summary of the script
  3. Commentary
  4. notes on characters, plot, and theme, and how to improve them.

NOW, this might be harsh, but it can DEFINITELY be useful, especially for someone who has written a few scripts but haven’t had them read by a Hollywood professional yet. 

I will not candy coat it.  It will be as if I’m recommending it to a producer or not.

THE RULES:

  1. One reblog and One like per person. Multiple reblogs will not count.
  2. The deadline to like and reblog is May 28th, a week from today.
  3. You do not need to be following me.  Though it’d be nice.
  4. The script has to be either an a) drama pilot, b) feature length film, or c) sitcom pilot.
  5. I will do a random number generator to pick the person.  You then have 1 week to send me the script for me to read.  (If you’re reblogging it for your followers, just let me know and I’ll do the number thingie again.)
  6. I will get the coverage done within the week.

(If you’re worried about theft, register your script with the WGA.  Also, rest assured that I have enough ideas of mine own, and I won’t be looking at yours.)

Filed under giveaway screenwriting screenplay television writing hollywood coverage treatment

2 notes

vanillacoke15 asked: Yes! whew! it does. I have about 11 shows I want to write an episode for, and 4 of my own pilots. i didn't want to have too many or too little. I am sure i'll whittle it down to 6 good ones or so. Do most writers have an online portfolio too. I've seen a few writing ones but they were all for different type of writing except tv/movies.

Well, an option is always to only send in your best two.  It never hurts to write them.

(msquared91 brought up on the original post that more and more places are preferring pilots to specs, so that’s something to keep in mind. Maybe write the pilots you want first.)

I…generally don’t see too many online portfolios with full scripts.  Occasionally writers will have websites that show their stuff that is already filmed, but online scripts?  Not too common. As in, I’ve never heard of it.

Generally the portfolio is something you’d give an agent, producer, or showrunner, either over email or in person, that has the scripts they’re going to try to sell (either as a calling card or as a new series). 

At least, this is how I understand it.  Followers, any more imput?

Filed under vanillacoke15 msquared91 ask television writing screenwriting hollywood

3 notes

vanillacoke15 asked: I starting work on my writing portfolio, I want to be a tv writer some day, but I can't find any examples online of how many spec episodes to write. have you seen one and have a suggestion of how many?

How many?  Well, it depends.  Some people have none, some people have TONS.

Generally (and this is a BIG GENERALLY) I hear of people always having two CURRENT spec episodes at all time.  That means you’re generally writing at least one a season, because shows get cancelled, plot twists happen that make your specs invalid, and people leave shows.

So yeah, generally people have 2 spec scripts, BUT have written TONS more, because they always have to be current.

Hope this helps!

(Also, the more you have, the more practice you have, the better you are.)

Filed under vanillacoke15 ask screenwriting tv writing hollywood film industry

7 notes

mfp01 asked: I have a question or two that maybe you could help me with. I have degree in video and sound production (associates) and have had a very hard time breaking into this business. Any advice you could give me?

Here’s a post I wrote on getting jobs in the film industry: http://writerlyn.tumblr.com/post/24767286976/jobs-in-the-film-industry-what

*****

Jobs? In the film industry? What?

So, we’re all in this together, right?  The whole following your passion, getting into the film industry, trying to survive.  Starving artist sort of thing, until you make it big.  

So what do you do in the meantime? 

I myself am in search of a post graduation job, and it just sucks.  So here’s a list of all the job sites I’m applying for, so you guys can get started as well. 

***

The UTA job list:  seen at Hollywood temp:  http://www.tempdiaries.com/p/job-list.html 

For most people this is the go-to place for job listings for assistantships and internships and such.  And every once in a while you’ll find some truly interesting jobs posted there.  This link is mostly just LA, though there are some NY or traveling jobs in it. 

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Entertainmentcareers:  at http://www.entertainmentcareers.net/sbjobs/

Organizable by area and location?  Win!  This one has a much wider variety of type of jobs, which includes camera, sports, advertisement, and broadcasting jobs.  It also has job listings for all over the country, in case you’re not in LA or NY. 

***

Media Bistro: at http://www.mediabistro.com/ 

Yeah, you have to sign up for it.  But it’s low on the spam and it has a pretty interesting spread of types of jobs, plus jobs all over the country.  

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Agency jobs: 

So, we all know that agencies are kinda part of the axis of evil.  You know what else they are?  Kickass.  

And pretty much the best way to get connected to everyone within the film industry.  Seriously.  As an assistant you are talking to the assistants of huge film directors, writers assistants, and producer assistants.  And that really boils down to you talking to the future of hollywood, cause give it 10 years, and these will be the people who are running hollywood, and you will want to know them. 

Plus, you get to read scripts, be on the front line of deals that are being made, and see the inner workings of hollywood.  Once you know the inner workings of agencies, they seem a lot less evil.  AND a lot of the bigger ones have training programs.  Win! 

UTA: www.unitedtalent.com 

CAA: http://www.caa.com/ 

WME:  http://www.wma.com/ 

Basically, call them up and ask where to submit your resume.  Simple as that.  

***

And finally, use your creativity.  Like a movie/tv show/news program?  See what the production company is behind it.  Blind call them and see if they’re accepting resumes.  

Look at your schools job board.  They might have something.  

Anyone else have any good job listing sites in the film industry?  List them here! 

Filed under ask mfp01 hollywood film industry jobs

3 notes

aquickdream asked: Hi, I noticed that you answered someone's question about how to become a talent agent (I was totally creeping through the talent agent tag haha) and I was wondering what degree I should major in if I want to work at a talent agency? I have no idea if I should major in Communications or Public Affairs. We have a marketing degree at my school, but you need calculus to get a degree in marketing and i'm horrible at it. I would really appreciate your advice if you get a chance to answer. Thank you!

Well, and here’s the weird thing, it doesn’t matter too much. 

Usually I hear of agents either having degrees in Accounting, Business, or Film. If your school has a production or business of film degree, take those.  Those will help.

OH!  And a lot have law degrees.  If your school has a law program (or something approaching that, like political science or philosophy of law) that might also be a good idea.

But then again I also know an agent who got his degree in Biology.  And I got my two in creative writing and screenwriting. And that’s not unheard of.

So it’s really flexible.

What they’re looking for is much more of a business savvy than business knowledge, and for that I would recommend internships.  See how an agent does his or her work, and see what they like about it. 

Filed under film industry agent ask aquickdream hollywood