Screenwriting : I'm an Introvert but I need to Network! Help! by Jacob Hayward

Hi, Jacob Hayward. I suggest checking out these networking blogs (www.stage32.com/blog/tags/networking-41), especially "Advice On Networking For Introverts" (www.stage32.com/blog/advice-on-networking-for-introverts-3394).

I like to search people's profiles for things I can break the ice with when I start conversations.

The only thing to get more comfortable with networking is networking.

i agree with Rutger Oosterhoff or be so dang good someone does it for and and takes a % !!!

i actually no a guy who in that same boat and is successful writer and comes out when he really has to other than that his agent is in the field doing the ground work for him

movies are made for money. if you find it difficult to communicate, start making money. and remember, you don't need networking and a lot of acquaintances. you need one rich investor.

Arthur Charpentier i 100% agree , i went to dinner with this rich dude & i have my i pad out like a moron im like heyyy check out my pitch deck !! he goes bro idgaf about any of that , show me the numbers and movies similar to this and how much did they make lol

It's not easy to put yourself out there, but once you do, and keep doing it, it gets easier. Take the chance and risk making an ass of yourself. You most likely won't. Surround yourself with filmmakers, at film festivals, screenings, etc. Collaborate with writers, actors, producers, directors and dive into the 'scene.

Chase Cysco, Why do rich people need money? We need to offer them something they don't have.

Arthur Charpentier it depends all of them are dif obvi !! the one i met , really liked the film industry because he was explaining how there is great tax write offs ect ....

also have to remember a rich person always wants more & more $ lol !! thats how they got rich in the first place.. they love it lol

My mentor once said you just have to put yourself out there. push yourself to attend industry events to meet the professionals. You can do it.

Chase Cysco, I think the movie business is not a place where investors come to make money. it is safer and more profitable to invest in agriculture. they come to the cinema for the sake of fame, for the sake of creating art, for something meaningful, for the sake of communicating with the creative elite. such a project should be offered to the investor.

Arthur Charpentier brother i respect your opinion , not what i have seen !! i seen a drug dealer show me his 200k tubi check dude !! he goes man this better than the dope game !!

its all subjective !! imagine you got the $ give a little "creative" 60k he makes a blair witch project and then that film produces 200M .... yea man they don't get in film for $ lol

Jacob Hayward While no one will likely mistake me for an "introvert", coming from DC I think I still have some "networking" PTSD given a lot of times the first line out of strangers' mouths, in all sorts of environments, will be "So what do you do?" "Er...sorry Ma'am, this is a grocery store checkout line...just trying to purchase my sparkling water..." The idea of selling myself to sell my art doth fill me with rancor, but I think you have to think about why you started pursuing the arts in the first place as a motivator to move yourself out of your comfort zone. Film is one of the things I can yammer about until the proverbial cows come home so maybe the cash bar networking event where someone has been telling me about their script about the first ever cat quinceanera in the US is not THAT bad...

Chase Cysco, The advertising budget for the Blair Witch movie is worth $25 million. Money makes money.

back to the basic point of this whole convo !! moneyyyyy lol (:

& yea i think on the marketing after the film was done for 60 they put in some crazy marketing funds it says 25Ms lol (: (ROI) would be 892%. which is insaneeee lol .... for every dollar spent, they made almost nine times that amount back in profit.

"The production budget for The Blair Witch Project was famously low, estimated at around $60,000. However, after post-production work and marketing, the total cost rose to between $200,000 and $500,000. The film was a massive financial success, grossing over $248 million worldwide. Its low-budget, found-footage style became a hallmark of indie horror filmmaking."

Find the right social media platforms that can help and engage to make connections. Just a little every day can really help. I've met some wonderful people here and other platforms! Much success!

... You probably do not even have to go to networking events like festivals etc (but go if you can!!); in short: you need a solid, logical plan of execution, studying the complete production process, inc. asking yourself the question "why does Stage 32 not give lectures about production companies who only make flops and can still make a next, and a next, and a next movie, while investors and others are waiting to be paid back their money!!." You don't want the standard 'producing' knowledge. You want the producer's knowlege producers DON'T want to give you. For that you need a 'real' inside friend who wants to teach you. And for that he/she will ask you " what have you done for me (lately). Nothing is for nothing in this life!! Also do research on 'with who to connect, who knows who, and why?'

I'm sharing my introvert experience. take care of your mental health, because all I got from networking was deep depression. I haven't been writing or promoting my ideas for the last 4 years. It is better for an introvert to spend time improving his skills and creativity in writing books.

Thanks EVERYONE for the advice! Very Helpful!

You're welcome, Jacob Hayward.

Focus on making simple connections when networking and be curious about getting to know people on a personal level first. Some of my go to questions to start conversations are "Where are you from?" "Where'd you go to college?" "What kind of scripts do you write?" "How long have you lived in XYZ city?" and my favorite two-parter to ask if someone is new to your town is "What do you love about living here so far?" and "What do you hate about living here so far?" Those can always spark a conversation and connection because we generally all like the same things in our locations - the food, the culture, the access to the landscape - or dislike the same things - the traffic, the rent prices, the bridge troll who makes you pay a toll of 3 gold coins every time you pass by. My focus is always to try to start organic conversations. And know that networking is a lot like dating. You're not gonna connect with everyone and there are some easy questions to ask initially see if you vibe with someone. If the vibe's there, run with it. If not, that's okay. Politely excuse yourself and onto the next. Also the people who you might be attracted to or think you'd connect with won't always feel the same way for myriad reasons. Don't hold anything against anyone. And in this industry, as a fall back if you get nervous, just talk about movies. Everybody loves movies. What'd you watch this week? If you saw something at the theaters or are going to see something, bring that up. If you saw a movie that really blew your mind or affected you, bring that up. Try to mine for those connections on shared culture. Or introduce people to the piece of culture that you really love and enjoy. Best of luck out there!