Happy Friday!
In my SVA class, all ten of my wonderful students have each created an original concept and are developing a “bible.” Very proud for them!
We were fortunate to have Caytha Jentis, creator and producer of The Other F-Word, to talk to us this week.
Caytha’s a former student, and her success is derived from a combination of talent, hard work and perseverance. Once an agent in LA, she used her business savvy to bring her writing to the screen.
In my classes and seminars, I always stress the necessity of having basic business knowledge. I tell my students, “You’re your own producer until you get one.”
I recently wrote a book, How To Sell Your Screenplay in 30 Days, which teaches the skills needed to protect and sell your work. The first step after completing a work is to copyright it and then to create a marketing plan and follow it.
Another key piece is to decide what your role will be once your screenplay or TV pilot is sold. Do you just want to sell it? Or direct? Or produce? Do the research so you understand what these roles mean and how much they pay.
I look forward to teaching a Creative Business Of Screenwriting seminar at NYWIFT on November 8, 2017 from 6:30 to 8:30. It’s open to the public and there is still room for a few more attendees. Also, NYWIFT has a membership drive running this month and you can get a good discount. Check it out.
Halloween is coming up fast. Will you dress up? One exercise to use when developing characters is to figure out what costume your characters would wear to a Halloween party, and what kind of party that would be.
Happy Halloween!
Here’s to your successful writing!
Professor Marilyn Horowitz
