Verbal
10-03-2010, 10:36 PM
This past Saturday, I attended a talk that Michele Wallerstein was giving at the new Writer's Store in Burbank, CA. She was a literary agent for 25 years and there to talk about networking (not to mention, her book, "Mind Your Business: A Hollywood Literary Agent's Guide To Your Writing Career" www.Novelconsultant.com).
What I loved so much about her talk was how much of her heart and soul she put into writers and how direct she was. In Los Angeles, I'm finding direct honesty to be a rare attribute indeed. I still find it a novelty that it's sunny and gorgeous in L.A. every day (when in NY I'd have long since busted out my heavy leather coat), so I showed up in shorts and sandals. This prompted the advice: "And make sure you wear socks and shoes to your meeting with an executive."
She had some great tips on networking. And also recommended that you spend money on yourself to grow your screenwriting career. Here are some of her tips:
-Attend screenwriting expos and conventions.
-Have a business card to leave and always collect the cards of the industry people you meet.
-Follow-up right away. I suck at this, but have vowed to myself to get better.
-When following up on meetings, tell them what you want. The industry formula is 1 e-mail, then 2 calls (Tuesdays or Thursdays at around 11AM). If you don't get a call back, move it into the no-go category and move on.
-Attend film festivals.
-Join screenwriter groups, but use caution, many writers bring agendas with them to these (Damn, this advice was spot on, man).
She had much more advice, but these were the points I found most illuminating.
I'm in the middle of what basketball fans would call a "full court press" on my screenwriting career. I'd love any advice/ideas you have on getting out there and making industry contracts.
Thanks!
What I loved so much about her talk was how much of her heart and soul she put into writers and how direct she was. In Los Angeles, I'm finding direct honesty to be a rare attribute indeed. I still find it a novelty that it's sunny and gorgeous in L.A. every day (when in NY I'd have long since busted out my heavy leather coat), so I showed up in shorts and sandals. This prompted the advice: "And make sure you wear socks and shoes to your meeting with an executive."
She had some great tips on networking. And also recommended that you spend money on yourself to grow your screenwriting career. Here are some of her tips:
-Attend screenwriting expos and conventions.
-Have a business card to leave and always collect the cards of the industry people you meet.
-Follow-up right away. I suck at this, but have vowed to myself to get better.
-When following up on meetings, tell them what you want. The industry formula is 1 e-mail, then 2 calls (Tuesdays or Thursdays at around 11AM). If you don't get a call back, move it into the no-go category and move on.
-Attend film festivals.
-Join screenwriter groups, but use caution, many writers bring agendas with them to these (Damn, this advice was spot on, man).
She had much more advice, but these were the points I found most illuminating.
I'm in the middle of what basketball fans would call a "full court press" on my screenwriting career. I'd love any advice/ideas you have on getting out there and making industry contracts.
Thanks!