MARKETING RESOURCES

With these helpful resources, teach yourself the invaluable ins and outs of business in the film and television industries.

Books

• Hollywood Creative Directory

  Known as the "Hollywood Bible," the Hollywood Creative Directory puts over 11,000 producers and studio and network executives (including their titles!) at your fingertips. This information powerhouse has been termed the source for contact information and work credits for film industry professionals for twenty years. Just having a credible source of studio deals to help you create a contact list customized for your project is worth the price of this gem.
• The Script Selling Game

  There are really only two types of people in Hollywood: those who sit around in coffee shops and complain that they can’t get their script past the studio secretary, and those who understand that the success of their screenwriting career isn’t based on luck or nepotism – it’s based on understanding how Hollywood really works. Kathie Fong Yoneda, a 25-year industry veteran, shows you how to prepare to sell your script, meet the moguls, talk the talk, and make the deal.
• The Savvy Screenwriter

  A real-life guide to surviving in the film business by industry veteran and Tufts University screenwriting teacher Susan Kouguell, this invaluable script sales manual reveals: what the studios are looking for, the dos and don’ts of pitching a script, insights into how scripts are rated, as well as instructions on writing a successful query letter and synopsis, and tips on negotiating contracts, signing development deals, and working with Hollywood agents and entertainment attorneys.
• Secrets of the Screen Trade

  Allen B. Ury’s practical, no-nonsense guide to creating, developing, and maintaining a screenwriting career. From concept to sale and beyond, it’s the insider’s perspective on how to sell your script to the people who’ve seen it all before: Hollywood agents, producers, and studio executives. A must-read for anyone who is serious about writing feature films – and getting paid for it!
• The Perfect Pitch

  Hollywood veteran Ken Rotcop shows you how to make the most of your sales presentation and sell your screenplay. Industry execs typically devote about two minutes of their attention to writers who bring them ideas hoping for a deal. Can you capture their attention and pique their interest in the time it takes to order a latte at Starbucks? It could mean the difference between seeing your name at the top of a lucrative studio contract or on a form rejection letter
• Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds

  The one-minute technique for pitching and selling a script to the major Hollywood players. Best-selling author Michael Hauge reveals: The Cardinal Rule of Pitching; How to Design, Practice, and Present the 60-Second Pitch; The 8 Steps to a Powerful Pitch; Targeting Your Buyers; Securing Opportunities; and much more. Also included: “The Best Pitch I Ever Heard,” an exclusive collection of stories from Hollywood film executives.
• Breakfast with Sharks

  What do you do after you’ve finished your surefire-hit screenplay? Michael Lent, a working screenwriter in Hollywood, offers excellent insights and advice on how to manage your screenwriting career – everything from choosing an agent to understanding terms like “spec,” “option,” and “assignment.” Learn what to expect from Hollywood agents and managers, who does what in the studio hierarchy, and most importantly, how to nail your pitch so the studio exec can’t say no.
• How to Sell Your Screenplay

  In this insider’s guide, Lydia and Joan Wilen explain how screenplays are reviewed and accepted so that you have a clear understanding of how the film business works. They introduce you to the “players,” guide you in preparing your pitch, provide you with a proven system for query submission, and aid you in negotiating the best contract possible. Tips from the experts will help you swim with the sharks without getting eaten by them.

• Classes

  Sold!

  Have you ever seen and heard a working screenwriter actually pitch and sell a script? This is the first DVD to record exactly that – every pitch Chris Soth, author of Million Dollar Screenwriting, has sold, with the exact words he used to tell the story and make the sale. Then see how the story was generated: from the germ of an idea, through all three acts, until each and every scene, character, and beat was “pitch perfect.”
• Hollywood From the Inside Out

  An overview of the world of feature film development based on Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis’ highly regarded UCLA class “Introduction to Feature Film Development.” Learn about the individual players at studios, production companies, and agencies, and what happens to your screenplay once it’s submitted. Learn about the importance of loglines, script coverage, development notes, and talent lists. And learn how Hollywood agents and managers work. Invaluable “inside” information every screenwriter should know.