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My POV
Brian Wilson
HOLLYWOOD IS CLOSER THAN YOU THINK
PART 3: WATCH TV
Here's your assignment for the week: watch some TV.
Watch a lot of TV, in fact.
But watch it in a new way. Keep a pen and paper next to you Tape it in case something juicy goes by.
And when your roomie or significant other traipses by and snidely asks, "What are you doing still parked on the couch?" you can honestly say, "I'm marketing my screenplay."
In order to peddle your wares, you need to know the market. You don't have to be in LA to learn that. You do need to watch and take notes on who creates what. Then, you find a match between your material and theirs. Follow that with a note that says, "I saw your production of "Girls and Grenades." I loved it. I would be thrilled if you were able to apply your touch to my script, "Bayonets and Beer." It's a story about a soldier who fights drunk, but must sober up to take on his sworn enemy. May I send it to you, either directly or through my attorney? I've enclosed a reply card for you. Thanks!"
Credits from movies are an obvious starting point. If you get cable or satellite (and you should if you don't), you have dozens of movies each day from which to choose. The satellite guide even gives you a logline and brief synopsis of each, another good way to sharpen your skills on each of those elements.
Beyond that, modern cable/satellite TV is awash in movie industry info. The Sundance Channel and IFC give you the scoop on the indy film world, a likely point of entry for many of us. Watch Inside the Actor's Studio for remarkable insights into the folks you hope will star in your story. E! is nothing but useful information and insight into Hollywood types, conveniently supplying info on whom to avoid, as well as useful background information ("On E!, I saw that you love German shepherds. I'm a shepherd breeder, and have written a breathtaking story about a guard dog who tracks a terrorist.") on those with whom you would like a relationship.
Talk shows give you a skimming idea of the personality of people, so you can judge for yourself if they would be right for you and your work.
We're coming into absolutely the prime time of the year to work this strategy. Awards season flushes everyone out of the bushes. Everybody wants to hype what they've done, or hype themselves so fellow industryites (that's you) notice them and think of them for their next project. Did you see the Golden Globes? I was touched by the sincerity of the response of Brian Grazer to his win. This guy is truly the king of the world, having made countless successful movies and countless money along the way. Yet there he is, overwhelmed as any of us would be, for winning an award. More than movies and money, that makes me want to work with the guy, and makes me understand the type of script to which he'd respond.
Watch the awards. Watch the interviews. Project yourself into the situation-if that person you're admiring stepped into the elevator with you, what would you say? Think about it. Decide whom you want to reach. Take notes, find out how to contact them and start marketing your work.
And when that check with all the zeroes on it comes in the mail, you can tell your friends, "See there? I told you I was marketing my screenplay."
Good luck.
Keep writing
BW
LA
[email protected]
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