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Lecture 15:Lecture 15:Where to Go From HereWhere to Go From Here

Professor Daniel Cutrara

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Previous Lesson

• Merging Genres• Breaking the

Envelope in The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

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This Lesson

• Preparing to Work– Pursuing your dream

• Working in the business– Moving up the ladder

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Preparing to WorkPreparing to Work

Lesson 15: Part I

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What’s Your Goal?

• Pursuing your dream.– Development– Production– Film, TV, Web

• Discovering where you will thrive.• Discovering what you’re willing to

sacrifice.• Knowing your needs

Foot in the Door

• Fellowships– Disney, Nicholls

• Internships – testing your passion

• Production Assistants– being prepared for

anything

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Swimming with the Sharks (1994)

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Networking and Support

• Support – Friends, Family, Faith– Colleagues– Interest Groups

• Networking– Conferences– Forging alliances– Getting your name out

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Preparation for Development

• Preparation– Screenwriting Classes

• Finding the Scripts– Friends and Peers– Screenwriting Classes– Script Exchanges– Simplyscripts.com TRIGGER STREET

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Honing the Craft

• Practice– Reading produced

scripts.– Keeping an eye on the

market.– Practicing on

unproduced scripts.– Taking Notes

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Portfolio

• Permission– obtaining permission

• Multiple samples– different genres– different types

• constructive

– different quality• pass• consider

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Who’s Hiring

• Production/Development– Production Companies– Agencies– Management– Coverage Services– Internet Opportunities

• Job Lists– Entertainment Sites– Hollywood Creative Directory

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Strategies

• Spec Coverage– screening the hire

• Location– Making contacts on

the Coasts– When you’re

established you have greater freedom.

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Working in the BusinessWorking in the Business

Lesson 15: Part II

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Career PathsCareer Paths

• Story Analyst– Development Track– Screenwriting

• Development– Story Editor– Creative Exec– Head of Development

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Story Analyst

• Freelance Story Analyst– Variable Pay per script– Hours

• The Union– Waiting list

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Pros and Cons

• Script Assassin– Wading through poorly

written material

• Pros– Flexible Schedule– Excellent preparation

for other work in the business

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Keeping Client Satisfied

• Meeting Deadlines• Accurate Synopses• Consistent Comments• Respect Confidentiality• Believe in your Recommendation

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Subjectivity

• Criticism you may face.– paid to shoot it down– what’s your credentials?

• What is objective about your recommendations?– Analyzing the elements

• Important to keep developing your craft

“Nobody knows anything.” William Goldman

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Facing Client Concerns

• Contextualizing the critique– 95% of scripts receive a

pass– Major concerns

grounded in the work with specific examples

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Taking it to the Next Level

• The Union• From standard

coverage to development notes

• Moving up the development ladder– assistant– story editor

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The Wrap Up

• Pursuing the Dream• Getting the job• Developing your craft

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AssignmentsAssignments

Lesson 15: Part IV

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E-Board Post #1E-Board Post #1

• Rants and Raves. Let us know what you thought worked well in the course and where we could make improvements. This is a work in progress. Your suggestions will help make this a better class.

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End of Lecture 15End of Lecture 15

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