The Journey of a Screenwriter

I've been ghostwriting for various clients and consulting for small online businesses for years now. But when I was sitting in my seat daydreaming in fifth grade, this was the furthest thing from my mind. I wanted to be a writer, a legitimate writer.

Writing novels was my first love. I'm one of those who dreamed of writing America's Best Seller. But a few years ago, Walt Disney was offering a great opportunity. They were awarding one year positions to screenwriters. So, I took a stab at it.

I wrote my first screenplay. I called it Hermit in the Village and it got me started on screenplays. Obviously, it didn't get me the position at Walt Disney because once I finished the screenplay I read the very important small print information that my screenplay needed to be copyrighted either through the Guild or at the Library of Congress. The LOC takes about three months and I just didn't qualify to be in the Guild let alone copyright my screenplay through them.

So, it was stored and worked on for the next year until the opportunity presented itself again. But then, a completely different opportunity came along and my screenplay went on the back burner even though my love for writing them never did. Now, I have a fresh screenplay that just came to me as an inevitable write that I simply had to do before someone else did. It's along the lines with what happened to The Dukes of Hazard and Starsky and Hutch. Only this television series is serious with funny quirks and someone is bound to write the movie for it. It might as well be me.

The issue is that it is finished and the journey begins. I want to walk you through it because it is intriguing what I'm doing here and it just might help you if you have the same aspiration. See, I have an interesting strategy. I have contacts in celebrityville. That's right! If I can't get in touch with the celebrity myself, I certainly can get a hold of any celebrity's manager, agent or publicist. I've been doing it now for a few years and I've finally decided to start writing a blog about it at celebrityadvocatetoday.com.

Search: Directors

With the screenplay finished, I need to find a director. But, it's not as easy as thumbing through a Rolodex. The person who doesn't put their homework in will never get anywhere. There are search criteria that you will have to follow because you can't just pitch a screenplay to any director. And by the way, by director I also mean any filmmaker, producer or Entertainment Company that might want to look at it.

Keep Dignified

Pitching your screenplay to just anyone is wasted time. Quentin Tarantino would most likely not be interested in this movie. So, getting a hold of his people wouldn't be ideal. Plus, I don't brush elbows with celebrities. I just happen to know how to get in contact with many of them. But let's just say that one day I happen to bump into Quentin at a party, I would most likely ask him who I should pitch "IF" the conversation would indeed happen.

I would not pitch him and lose all my dignity in half a second. Even though just about everyone in Hollywood was a starving artist at one time, it's not attractive to chase and pester celebrities. Talk to celebrities as if they are people and you'll get further. Treating them like a meal ticket will turn them off immediately even though a few of them find it flattering.

Find a Match

So, I'm rolling through my proverbial Rolodex and I pull out all the directors I have in my black book. Again, I only want to find the ones who match. Plus, I can't pitch them all at one time. There is an unwritten rule about that. So, I need to really go one at a time and the best way to save time is to find the best match.

Here's what I did:

First, I think of a movie that closely resembles mine. That MIGHT be The Dukes of Hazard as a first shot. I say might because there might be a better director suited for me out there somewhere. But, looking at The Dukes of Hazard is a good first shot that gets me started in my search.

Second, IMDB.com is a database that offers great information on anything you want to know concerning movies. I do a quick search for The Dukes of Hazard and I find Jessica Simpson so I know I have the right movie because they did make another one. I want to work with the guy who cast Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Jessica Simpson and a good old boy for real Willie Nelson.

Third, the search produces Jay Chandrasekhar as the director of The Dukes of Hazard so, that's as good of a start as any. If I am going to pitch him, I have to understand that it is going to take some time. But, time is worth it. People who want their movies shot yesterday, don't care enough about their work. There are people out there who just want to be celebrities for celebrity sake. But, the only ones who last in Hollywood are the ones who care about their work. It comes through in their projects and their fans appreciate it.

After looking through his profile, I find that Jay is a comedian. But, he has an impressive list of movies he has directed including Super Troopers, Beerfest, and he's in the process of doing Super Troopers 2. My screenplay still fits his style of work. If it hadn't, I would have simply flipped to someone else and began looking through their portfolios to see if they match. Now, don't get me wrong. The only reason I am looking for a match is because I don't want to waste a few years pitching to director after director and becoming an annoying pest in the inner circles. Finding a match insures that you are heading in the right direction and are best increasing your chances of getting seen let alone making a deal.

So, my final step is to look Jay up in my "Rolodex" and find his contact information. I put together my synopsis and treatment. Then, I contact Jay's company to see if they would like to look over my work. Not too pushy, but the right amount of aggression. I do have to explain how I think Jay would love the movie. But you see, I've already done my homework. I'm not just shooting in the dark. I have answers and I use a bit of my business consulting finesse to get me in there.

Sit back, relax and go back to work. Don't bug them every day. File 13. Don't go see them. File 13. It's the "don't call us, we'll call you" game and there is a way to play. If you wait about a month, that's a good amount of time to follow up on your contact. You may not get an answer then, but you will definitely be appreciated for not bugging them. Make sure you don't take for granted that they obviously know who you are. Make sure you remind them about the screenplay, what it's about, why Jay would love it and basically have a cut down version of the same conversation you had a month ago. Who knows? You just might get an appointment that day.

If you are wondering how I know how to contact so many celebrities, I will tell you when you visit celebrityadvocatetoday.com. Every journey and every step of the journey can best serve as a key for anyone else who would like to try. It can't hurt to try. The rule of thumb is if you don't ask, then the answer is "No." That's a rule I live by religiously.