Mind Your Business. Michele Wallerstein
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Название: Mind Your Business
Автор: Michele Wallerstein
Издательство: Ingram
Жанр: Кинематограф, театр
isbn: 9781615930760
isbn:
9. FOLLOW UP
Send a thank you note via mail or email for any kindness that was shown to you. Don't call unless that was agreed upon for a reason. Keep the note simple and direct. Thank people for speaking at an event, for hearing your pitch, for meeting with you, for giving you advice, for coming to your workshop, etc. This will remind those important connections that they were appreciated and it will keep you in their minds with a positive reaction so that when you contact them again, they will remember you kindly.
10. RESPECT
Don't take crap from anyone… except the head of a major studio. If your meeting keeps you waiting for over thirty minutes, politely tell the assistant that you have another appointment, that you will be happy to call to reschedule, and then leave. Be aware that these people will probably keep you waiting an indeterminate amount of time. Being rude is another way they like to show their power. There are a lot of stupid power plays in any field of business. The entertainment field is no different. If you wait for an hour or more, they will always treat you badly because they will know that they can. If you leave, they will remember and respect you.
In the 1980s I worked for a company known as Bloom, Levy, Schorr & Associates, a wonderful literary agency in Beverly Hills. I had set up a meeting with Zev Braun, an important producer of motion pictures and television, at his Beverly Hills office. At that time I was a middle-of-the-road type of agent who was still establishing myself in the Hollywood community. I left my office, which was not far from his, but did not give myself sufficient time to deal with the headache of finding a place to park in the heart of Beverly Hills. The street congestion was terrible and I arrived at the Zev Braun offices about seven minutes late for the appointment. The assistant buzzed Zev and let him know that I was there. I sat and waited, and waited, and waited. Zev's office was close by and I could hear him talking on the phone. His conversation was about his attempt at quitting smoking. After forty minutes of sitting there, I arose, told the assistant that I had to leave, and left. About ten minutes after I returned to my office (in a very bad mood) a call came in for me from Zev. He apologized for keeping me waiting, but he then commented that I was also responsible because I was also late. We forgave each other and laughed. Zev and I have maintained a fine working relationship ever since that fateful day.
If they continue to take long phone calls during your meeting, stand up and say that this must not be a good time and that you will call for another appointment. Then leave. If you don't show respect for yourself, they won't either. If you do show self-respect, they certainly will remember you.
1. Go over all of your screenplays and treatments very carefully to check for errors.
2. Go through your closet to make sure you always have an appropriate outfit for a meeting that is ready at a moment's notice.
3. Prior to any event or meeting, map out your route.
4. Send a thank-you note after every meeting.
5. Write a three-page treatment based on each of your projects.
TO REWRITE OR NOT TO REWRITE 7
Choosing a career as a writer is easy. Writing is hard. Rewriting is even harder.
As a screenplay and novel consultant I read the client's work, make correction notes on the manuscript, and do a write-up on the project's problems.
After that I have a phone conference with the writer and go over all of the notes verbally, answer any questions the writer may have, and give advice and direction regarding the business of writing and the entertainment industry.
When I was an agent I did the same thing with my writers’ new screenplays. There were always notes from me about how they could and should improve their work.
Invariably the clients ask the question, “Should I rewrite this script or move on to something else?”
Writing is a very personal occupation. It's about the creative genie inside of you. It's about your ego and desires. Where are the hard and fast rules that apply to everything else? They simply don't often apply to creative writing because, for the most part, you are your own boss and that gives you the freedom of choice.
To rewrite or not to rewrite, that is the question you ask of me. I don't have a stake in this process nor does anyone in your writers’ group or anyone else that you might go to for input. This baby is yours and you are asking a question for which you already know the answer.
Of course you should rewrite the script. But, having seen and listened to people's notes, you wonder if it will take too long. You wonder if you are up to the task. You wonder if this script is the right one on which to devote so much time and energy. You wonder and you wonder. Then, hopefully, you realize that rewrting is a lot of work and you are just putting off the inevitable.
Writing is a process. Rewriting is a huge part of that process. By the time you give your manuscript to someone you have rewritten it a zillion times. You might think that you're burnt out on this project or that my notes are too hard to do. If you feel this way then you need to find a different vocation. Give up the writing and go into selling printing supplies, or go back to being a lawyer or teacher or wrestler.
When you receive rewrite notes from me or anyone else it is your obligation to yourself to push a little harder and spend a little more time to improve your work. This is only the beginning. If you are able to make the jump into professional writing, you will be given more rewrite notes by producers, story editors, development executives, agents, managers, and actors. The powers that be in the business will have you rewriting yourself to death. Or, if you're really lucky, you'll be rewriting someone else, for a huge amount of money.
Do it and get used to doing it. Even if you never sell this particular piece, I guarantee that you will grow from the experience and it will add to your writing skills tremendously. It is a fabulous learning process that will help you immeasurably.
Paul Chitlik has written a wonderful book, Rewrite, which will be of great assistance to you. It is published by Michael Wiese Productions. Go to www.mwp.com to order this book.
1. Wait two weeks after you've finished your screenplay.
2. Read it through in one sitting.
3. Think of how it could be better.
4. Begin to rewrite it.
5. Repeat exercises 1-4 above.
BEWARE OF THE PITFALLS 8