Mark Francisco's Lounge Discussions

Feel free, Evelyn! I'll tell you upfront that I write all my own material, so if you're looking to network with me as a potential buyer I advise you to spend your time on someone who might meet you halfway on that issue. If you want to talk about screenwriting, film finance, or anything else, please feel free to ask any questions you have!

Pamela Bolinder : In my case, I'm working with a producer who is shepherding them through the development department at a studio... and that's an irregular situation built on both our own long-term relationship, and on the 50% commission I offered her to make it happen.

"What comes next" can mean a million different things. Every single film production has its own, unique, crazy story. That said, it does only take two things to succeed in showbusiness - and we are 100% responsible for building and maintaining both of them. One is the strength of our craft, which must be absolute. Any show deserves the absolute best person for that production in any given role... so make yourself into the perfect person. Secondly, a showbusiness career needs the strongest of communities. Each of us is responsible not just for our relationship with each person in the community, but for those people's relationships with one another - audiences and colleagues alike.

How many shows have immaculate craft and strong, vibrant communities around them and still fail to put butts in seats? Not very many. Make your craft immaculate and your community powerful, and what comes next is pretty well handled!

Julie Rojas: My fiancee is Aleut, and she has the same goals in mind. We're working on a couple of Native-driven projects together right now!

By far, the best screenwriting tool I've found is Syd Field's "The Screenwriter's Workbook." Check it out - it's $10 on Amazon. Beyond that, the most important thing is to remember your scenework fundamentals as an actor. Too many screenwriters are concerned with conveying themes and ideas... when a movie is about actions in conflict, driven by strong and personal motivations. As a screenwriter, the most important thing to remember is "don't show, don't tell"! Give every actor a strong action that's hard to fulfill, make sure that the actions draw the actors into conflict, and end the story as soon as the action is done!

Remember why we call them actors!

Glad to be of service, Pamela Bolinder and Julie Rojas! I told my fiance about your comment, and she added you to her network. Her name is Marie Ipiluni.

Tennyson you are correct of course i was lucky to have A FB friend Alexander Dietrich to edit my script for free with an undertaking that my script will sell but people seem to be prejudice against writers like me.

Enjoy finding your way around.

I deleted my Facebook. Garbage. I live here now.

I can't totally bash FB because I got my first connections/opportunities through there. But, yeah, I think it's time to graduate from there and live in the real world here.

Another awesome share Landis Stokes ! I just read this last week and wrote Emily about it. Good for her for baring her soul, that was really brave of her.

Right? Very encouraging.

Very inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

Agree. Thought Emily did a fantastic job with this.