Follow The Yellow Brick Road To Your Goals!

It was a sunny Sunday morning, May 9th, 1970. I just sat down for breakfast at a quaint little restaurant in Hollywood. I was going to the MGM auction for a second day. The day before I had snagged a cool prize and it only cost me $20.00. I loved looking for movie props and memorabilia from the golden age of film. My budget was $100.00, so as you may have guessed, you can’t buy much with that. Still, you must remember it was 1970 and one hundred bucks was like a thousand back then. As I sat down, I noticed a gentleman sitting alone at a table across from me. Except for him and me, that part of the restaurant was empty. He looked very familiar. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. He gestured to me to come over. So, I did, and he asked me to sit down. The man was actor Buddy Ebsen.

I was honored that he invited me to sit at the table with him. He said, “No one should sit alone for breakfast.” He held out his hand and introduced himself. “I’m Buddy Ebsen.” I said, “I know. Good morning, Sir. My name is Lee Shargel.” We shook hands. The waitress walked by, and he called her over. “Could you please bring another menu for my guest?” “Certainly,” she said. “Can I bring you coffee?” She asked. I said, “Yes Please.” We sat there for a minute as she walked away. I was carrying a bag with the MGM logo on it, and I set it on the table. He asked If I had been to the auction, and I said “Yes. The day before." I opened the bag and pulled out the cigar box I purchased for $20.00. In the box was the treasure I found. I pulled out the Superman ring. He asked if I knew what it was. I thought it was a movie prop. He said it wasn’t. I handed him the ring and he looked inside it and asked if I was aware of the inscription. I looked at it but was unaware of what it meant. He read it to me. “With love from Toni.” I put it on, I remarked but alas, no superpowers. He laughed and told me the story behind it.

The ring was given to George Reeves, the original Superman, by his lady friend, Toni Mannix. She was the wife of MGM general manager, Eddie Mannix, who apparently, knew of the affair. Buddy was a wellspring of information on the history of Hollywood’s golden years. He asked if I was going to look at the costumes and props from The Wizard of Oz. I said it was first on my list. I knew that he was cast as the original, Tin Man, and I asked him what had really happened. He replied that it was true. He had an allergic reaction to the aluminum dust they used to color his skin. While he was in the hospital MGM replaced him with Jack Haley. He told me that he was still plagued with aches and pains by the make-up from that “Damned Movie!”

We sat and talked over coffee and breakfast. I told him that one day I hoped to become a best-selling author and write and produce my own movies. “Lofty goals and how do you plan to accomplish this?” He asked. I replied, “I’m not sure.” He said, “To find success in Hollywood you must follow the Yellow Brick Road. But! There are shortcuts if you know how to find them.” I laughed at his response.

“It seemed to me that the shortcuts that lead to success on the yellow brick road in the golden years of Hollywood have long since been paved over with disappointment and stop signs at every juncture.” That was my reply. “Not so,” he said. “Yes, the road is now a crowded freeway of disappointment to those who give up easily and take the next exit. As I lay in the hospital I wondered if my career was over. As it turned out, it wasn’t.” We sat and talked for what seemed like hours. Finally, we said goodbye, and we both left the restaurant. His wisdom and kindness regarding success in Hollywood have remained with me to this day. So much has changed since then and yet so much has remained the same. He told me about “Gatekeepers,” and how to get past them. What producers look for in a story and how to get it in their hands. Of course, you might think that it was easy back then, but alas, it was not. But if you are persistent and determined, your story could make it to the big screen. Today there are many avenues to success if you do your homework. Probably one of the best ways to get your project started on that Yellow Brick Road that leads to OZ (Hollywood) is to have your script read by a professional who can give you pointers on polishing your script, so it shines brightly. You don’t have to be a millionaire but be wise about investing your time and money.

Do Your Research

Once you have finished your script, what next? What category does it fit in? Is it a thriller, comedy, feature film, or TV show? How about an action screenplay? Sci-fi is popular, but not easy. How about a scary horror script? I have written them all. I have written over twenty-two screenplays in all the above categories. Two have been produced. I have script doctored scripts that became feature films, a TV show, and a bunch of shorts. Some have won awards at festivals. What I did then still holds true today. I did my research. I found ways to get my screenplay into the hands of the right person who could move it forward. What are studios, or execs looking for? Read Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and other publications on the net to learn what they are looking for. As a rule, I peruse them every day for at least 30 minutes.

STAGE 32, in my opinion, is one of the best resources for getting your story read by a professional who can help you move your project forward. Don’t be dismayed if you get notes that tear your script apart. Sometimes you need to have skin like the “Tin Man.” My TV pilot script for my ROM-COM, NUMBER 54 has been read five times by five different execs and everyone helped me move my project forward. (By the way, it’s still moving.)

Nowadays, there are so many avenues to get your project picked up and produced it’s mind-boggling. Another good venue for your script is screenwriting contests. Remember, someone always wins! It happened to me. My project, BEYOND THE FAÇADE, (IMDB) became a feature film. It was a thriller.

Back then when I started, it seemed a lot easier. A few phone calls to the right person and wallah! The gatekeeper gave me the name of the right person to send my project to. Not so easy anymore.

Beware Of Scammers

Unfortunately, there are many people out there who will pray on your desire to get your project produced. They will make promises that could cost you a fortune and go nowhere. I can’t say it enough, DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

It is also wise to protect your work by registering with the Writer’s Guild (WGA). Obtaining a copyright is not difficult, either. People stealing your idea for a great story is rare, but it could happen. So, protect your work.

Pick One Story & Go With It

I know some writers who write, write, and write some more but never send their work anywhere. Don’t fall into the “Perennial Writer,” trap. The only way your work is going to get noticed is if you get into the hands of someone who will not only read it but give you pointers on how to polish your work if it needs it.

A Reminder

Just a reminder, I don’t work for STAGE 32 so I do not get paid for endorsing them as an excellent avenue for writers and others interested in making contacts that can help them promote their work. It is my opinion that STAGE 32 offers the best opportunities for writers seeking to have their work produced.

Follow The Yellow Brick Road

A brief success story. When I found the path that led to OZ, I was elated. My movie was cast, the crew was assembled, and we shot the movie. It took about two weeks, and the film was in the can. After a month of editing and music composition, it was done. Now came the fun part. Who was going to see it? The film made it into a few art houses to mediocre reviews. I was disappointed so I never entered it into a festival. I should have. Lessons learned. Buddy gave me some good advice that to this day I still rely on. Never give up on your quest to have your work displayed on the big screen. Not everyone makes it. Those that do, find that Yellow Brick Road through determination and perseverance. Believe in yourself and your craft. Write, write, write. Have your work reviewed by whatever means possible. Academy Award-winning writer, Dalton Trumbo (my personal hero) was a prolific writer. Follow his example and you will find OZ.

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