Feel free to post questions you'd like me to address that you didn't think to ask live or that came up as you watched the on demand video later. I'll happily answer questions here as an ongoing forum for this episode of the series. Stage 32 Next Level Webinars: for Film and TV Producers Available Now (and for a full year) as Video on Demand for Screenwriters 4/3 for Actors 5/21 for Crew 6/26 from From Afar 10/28 the Film Markets and Festivals 6/11/15
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Thank you so much for the AMAZING webinar, also for an awesome Q&A at the end!
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Hey, Heather, just to clear up the confusion, I was the one who asked about networking from afar. I think Vincent may have asked a different question. However, I'd love to help you edit your presentation and maybe get some topics in there that people who are not local to LA might worry about. Thanks for the great webinar and the help!
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Your webinar was filled with a ton of good info. Thanks!
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Thanks for the wealth of information in your webinar, Heather!
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Thanks guys! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! ;-) Bryan, Rick, Fiona - you're all so welcome! Yes, Kevin, I have a lot of Networking from Afar stuff that's great - I've taught it before - but it's dated - so I wanted to overhaul it and do more research. I'll happily share what I've got and maybe you can help me dust it off a bit? ;-) Why don't we start with you sending me burning questions and I'll answer those as best I can - and that'll direct my/our research? ;-) THANKS GUYS! SO GLAD you got a lot out of it and enjoyed it! ;-)
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Thanks, Heather, this was very informative.
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So glad, Tiffany! Holler if there's any loose threads left outstanding! ;-)
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Heather, I just heard you mention your grandfather was a western star! My great uncle wrote westerns. He even wrote one for John Wayne. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0878328/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
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Oh Tiffany! That's great! They might have even known each other! My Grandpa was Johnny Mack Brown: http://www.b-westerns.com/brown.htm
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6 degrees and a few generations ; )
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Heather, I really enjoyed your webinar. How often does an author pitch his/her novel, rather than a screenplay, to a producer? I just read an interview of Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick, producers for Divergent, in which they say they read the MS, before the books were even published, and proceeded from there. They stated, that in their opinion, a MS is, in many ways, easier to work with, as a studio can then shape the story with it's own screenwriters. In your experience, does this happen very often?
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Happens all the time. Lucy Fisher and Doug Wick are awesome. Every time I read a book and think: "Man, this would make a great movie!" I get the jump on the whole industry and research the rights and Lo and Behold! Lucy and Doug have already locked 'em up! ;-) Producers with really long-established, solid gold reputations or excellent webs of relationships, spheres of influence or deep pockets ;-) can usually get "leaked" manuscripts in development or being prepared for publication (which can take 6 - 9 months) - but those're usually from major publishing houses. Self-published novels really have to crack about a million in sales to ever get on anyone's radar or have some viral heat for some issue, cause or demographic. There's always got to be a hook. But, my long winded answer to your question is: YES. ;-) Happens ALL the time. I'd almost say even more than 50/50 the past few years as it's all been about adaptations, remakes and sequels - but the original spec is making a comeback! ;-) But books will always be movie fodder! ;-)
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I'd also add ;-) that screenwriters always think getting a book published is easier than selling a script - and authors always think if they could just get a movie made out of their manuscript, their book'd be a best seller. The producers want a best seller to start with ;-) cause they want that audience following, that safety net that they should be able to sell tickets to say…20% at minimum - of the book buyers. And publishers, ditto - love a book "spin off" of a well known film. It's all about getting on the radar - whichever way you enter or regardless of what is written first. Just write something BRILLIANT! ;-) (and marketable - that people want to read and see! ;-)
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Thanks for sharing these insights. I have PM'd you with a further question.
Sure, Dianne! I PM'd you back! ;-)
Hmm.. your message must be held up in cyber space - there is no reply in my messages... would email work better? diannelk@gmail.com
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Where is the article? Or the interviews? No wonder we’re always going down the same paths! We’re looking for all the same things! ;-) Well, Dianne - I’d go after them. Submit it! And I’d be happy to look at it, too. For NBC or one of their outlets, though it sounds like it’d be perfect for NBC as a companion show to Grimm? Hits the same demographic? Maybe? :-) Or the CW? Anyway, if you want to send me the synopses of the three books - like one pagers for each - or any kind of marketing materials. Have you done a pilot or a series bible? Have you ever written either?
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Just wanted to say thanks, I finally got a quiet 90mins to watch your webinar and I thought it was superb, much appreciated. N
Neal - I'm so glad you enjoyed it! And got a lot out of it! ;-)
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Hi Heather! I've just been able to listen to your webinar in full - fantastic information and insight! Thank you for such a thorough presentation! I have two questions I'd love your insight into... First: One of the things I'm curious about is when you see "Created By" credits (more so for television than features). Sometimes there is overlap with the writer, but often it the Creator isn't the writer. I've often read it's even more difficult to sell/pitch an idea than a script, so do these people usually have a long, successful resume? Have ins or work for the networks? Both? Or IS there a way to pitch and shop ideas? If so, what do you put together for this? A treatment - or is that just for features? A show/ premise "Bible"? Even if pitching ideas is difficult, I'd love to know the best way to organize/flesh out my ideas for my own records that would also then be in the right form to pass along should I ever have the chance...
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Second: The "miniseries series" seems to be catching hold as some cable networks are making series with seasons that are 6-10 episodes in length instead of the standard 22. I've read it's not wise to pitch miniseries, but with this new wave, do you see that changing and this trend growing? Because the format is different, would you suggest doing anything differently in preparing/marketing/pitching? Or would you use the same principles talked about in your webinar, (tracking tv producers, etc.) and just writing in the appropriate format?
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Also - do you have any books on writing/craft (both for screen and television) that you would recommend?
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Thanks again for the superb webinar! Really enables me to focus my efforts and energy!
Annie - Great! Yay! ;-) Actually, I shared tons of samples (of series bibles, pitch packages, biz plans, etc.) in the webinar I did for Producers (https://www.stage32.com/webinars/PowerNetworking-for-Film-and-Television...). What is your show? Sitcom? One-Hour Dramedy? Procedural? Serial? "Created By" may or may not be the original writer and/or the Show Runner. Show Runners are essentially TV's Royalty. Unlike feature films, where the EP (Executive Producer) is often the person who put the money up (or is a courtesy/obligatory title for delivering some other element), in TV, the EP is usually the King of the World, ;-) the creative and business brain behind the show (i.e.: Chuck Lorre, J.J. Abrams, Aaron Sorkin, David E. Kelley, Shonda Rhimes, Tina Fey, Ryan Murphy, Carol Mendelsohn & Pam Veasey, etc.). Check out a blog I did for Scr(i)pt Magazine: http://www.scriptmag.com/features/writing-a-tv-series-without-whining. Another one, http://www.scriptmag.com/features/which-show-should-i-spec, might be helpful to you, too. USUALLY, the "Created By" credit DOES go to the original writer. Usually. These are, of course, very hard credits to get - like winning the lottery ;-) unless you're already an All Star - then you're given something more akin to a carte blanche. Every deal is different but what some writers trying to break in don't realize is the marathon of evolution between their idea and an actual make-able/marketable show - and that may be why sometimes, that credit shifts and evolves through development. ANYTHING can be pitched! LOL! ;-) Of course, you can shop ideas - but ideas are far more easily stolen than fully developed (and traceable) show concepts (with character breakdowns, episode ideas, maybe even a pilot and sample episode script, etc.). If you haven't bothered to fully work out the show, that's a bit like saying you have an idea for an invention that could be patented but - it's just an idea (and you haven't tested or prototyped it) - so, if someone else comes along and puts up all the money, tests it and actually CREATES it (i.e.: does all the creative/business work)...why do they need you? That's not remotely saying that ideas are a dime a dozen or anything - but series concepts can change so much - from genre, length, characters, milieu - everything. Start-up entrepreneurs know how much their businesses/products/services change from idea to execution. So, to protect yourself - and stay in the game - you have to BRING IT :-) - something REAL and TANGIBLE to the table (i.e.: a copyrightable script, a WGA registered treatment, a really great series - worked out and fully developed, great characters, a wonderful sense for dialogue, subject matter expertise of the world, etc.). If you're LUCKY ;-) you'll be paired with a great Show Runner who can help you polish it and bring it up to broadcast standards - or a development team who's willing to work with you and mentor you as you helm the creative. It's a business. At least in the mainstream profit world. There's always YouTube if you want to do it all yourself - but again, still - you have to actually CREATE it. Not just an idea. ;-) "Limited Event Series" are certainly making a comeback. There are lots of reasons for this - some of which include: the convergence of film and television, more people watching TV in the comfort of their increasingly nice (and convenient) home theaters, the expense and effort involved in marketing a "movie of the week" or any movie - versus a series (like "Game of Thrones" - that can then be packaged in a DVD set or more likely - via Pay per view or Subscription Video on Demand through an increasing number of platforms - to name but a few. Story is story. There are lots of ways to tell a story - but many have the best way (for their material). Maybe you need 10 one-hour episodes to tell your story. Maybe it's really best told in an exciting and conclusive three act structure in 90 minutes. Maybe it has such a rich and fertile story engine that stories will keep knocking on the door, week after week, indefinitely (but hopefully 100 times! ;-) To get you into old school syndication). In terms of getting your TV show idea to the Powers That Be - yeah, that's a lot of PowerNetworking, again. Who would be the right buyer? Where might you see it on a line-up? What companion shows could you see it coming before or after? What would it compete well against? I.E.: Maybe hitting an entirely different demographic? What tone or sensibility does it have? What are the precursor shows that might serve as comparables? Are any of those Show Runners available? There's a huge challenge to getting a Show Runner attached because if you get the wrong one attached for the right broadcast or cable outlet, you might shoot yourself in the foot. These are of course high class problems to have ;-) but - as I said - if you're lucky, they'll pair you with a Show Runner they're in business with or want to be in business with - like how HBO teamed Lena Dunham (Girls) with Judd Apatow. A lot of entities - USA as a prime example - really honor the original writers voice and try to shepherd them to success. Imagine the stress and responsibility of not only creating, writing, casting, crewing up and locating/building a show, launching it in terms of marketing - and bringing in episode after episode - on time, on budget - week after week...you'd WANT (LOL!) someone on your team - LOTS of people on your team - who have PROVEN they can deliver and execute that. It's a business. With a lot at stake. You want to be free to bring the skills and talents you have to the table - and rely on people who are pros at the things you've never done before - to teach and show you the way. ;-) While they protect everyone's assets. ;) There are a zillion books I'd recommend on writing! LOL! ;-) I've probably read them all and/or are friends with many of the writers. I should probably make a recommend list! ;-) I'll add that to my To Do list! ;-) I actually broke down to my dear boyfriend's pleas (not to mention my brother ;-) who helped me move so many times in the past! LOL! to cull my insane library ;-) See: http://heatherhale.com/2012/12/selling-my-beloved-library-on-amazon. I have a ton of used entertainment industry books here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/storefront/index.html?ie=UTF8&marketplace.... But tell me what you're looking for right now. How to write an original TV spec? Pilot? Mini Series? How to Pitch? How to sell? The changing landscape? What kind of a book are you looking for? Anyway, hopefully I answered all of your many questions? ;-) I tried! ;-)
Tucson, Arizona Independent Film Meet Up! Come Celebrate Stage 32’s 3rd Anniversary! Everyone is welcome! Above and Below the Line Desert Cast and Crew! (and anyone who wants to work in the biz!) Please join us! When: Thursday, September 18th Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM (We'll arrange some sort of Happy Hour Deals! :-) Where: WXYZ Lounge at the Loft Hotel (www.alofttucsonuniversity.com) 1900 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson, AZ 85719 Why: Come schmooze and schmingle, celebrate Stage 32's 3rd birthday and get to know one another in the REEL World! ;-) And let's get those cameras rolling! ;-) We’ll have a couple of boxes for head shots, resumes and business cards if you want to drop yours off for future productions!
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ha~ha This does not create the "sense of urgency" but that's how I role here Heather~ Just loved hearing your broadcast again and am going to tear into it now. You know us Arizonans don't get a breather until it's Summertime ~ aaaaa! Congratulations on all the successes coming up. Any time you are in PHX can I take you to dinner, coffee or drinks, your pleasure? You are such an inspiration!!!
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P.S. this was the best, most worthwhile webinar for actors I could imagine.
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Wow Anne! Thank you! ;-)
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I'd love that Anne! ;) I'll let you know!
Might be of interest? Script Magazine did a Q&A profile of me (as the columnist of their Producers POV column): http://www.scriptmag.com/features/script-industry-expert-qa-meet-heather...
Write to the truth, Emily Ann! ;-) Be authentic! ;-)