| HOW I CAN HELP YOU Are you tired of getting the same negative responses to your submissions? Would you like some professional, straightforward, insightful and helpful advice? First impressions are everything. Yes, I know, you've heard this cliche a million times. Nonetheless, it's true, especially with respect to the Entertainment Industry, where busy executives are constantly flooded with requests from family, friends, other professionals and countless strangers. However, once an Industry professional has met you in person or via telephone, or read something of yours, if he/she has formed a negative opinion of you and/or your writing, it will be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for you to deal with that person (and perhaps even that company) again -- unless you are very well connected or established. Therefore, your first contact with each Industry professional must be handled in an especially thoughtful and professional manner. In addition to being polite and articulate on the phone, or in person (in which case, being on time and prepared with materials, are also important), a writer must come up with the goods: materials that are well-written, nicely formatted and presented. The competition is fierce, and you cannot imagine how fast the quantity of reading materials piles up in a busy office. Bragging about yourself (unless you have good credits, have won established contests, prizes, etc.) will not impress professionals. However, being straightforward, articulate and to the point, as well as considerate and appreciative of the professional's time should put you ahead of much of the competition. What you honestly need are detailed and comprehensive story notes (written or verbal) that will give you new insights into your story and characters, as well as provide you with viable and interesting solutions and alternative choices for your material. A screenwriter needs to learn how to write effective and affecting dialogue, as well as create unique characterizations that are interesting, three-dimensional, memorable and appropriately likable or unlikable. In addition helping you to create the best story and characters possible, I would like to help you to mold these elements into the most compelling screenplay you can write. And I don't mean a cookie-cutter, paint-by-numbers, formulaic screenplay, but one that has your unique voice and its own life. In addition to story notes, I can also write a professional logline and synopsis for you, and this can be extremely helpful when you are trying to market your screenplay. Since most Showbiz executives are inundated with materials, they are more likely to read the logline and synopsis before reading your screenplay. At least this way, you can have the option of knowing that the logline and synopsis you are submitting are well-written and honestly present your story and characters in the best possible light, while they look professional as well. On the other hand, a company Reader (who, no doubt, is swamped with materials, under-paid, under-appreciated and under serious deadline pressures) may skim over your material and write a brief synopsis that doesn't make your story and characters sound especially intriguing, exciting, original or well-written. Your cover letter is also extremely important, as this may be the first thing that will introduce you and your writing to the professional, and I can help you write this as well. Please keep in mind that most executives read coverage BEFORE they even look at the submitted materials. Therefore, if the coverage isn't great, and they have no personal or professional connection to the writer(s) and/or person(s) who submitted the material, they may never read it. Everyone needs encouragement, especially in the arts, where one is so vulnerable and constantly opens oneself up to such harsh criticism -- often by those who enjoy being cruel and/or who could never create what they enjoy criticizing. In order to create, an artist needs a safe place in which to have healthy and constructive dialogues with a person or persons who will give him/her opinions that come from a healthy place, not from jealousy, resentment, confusion and/or frustration. We all know that just a few thoughtless words of criticism can crush a person's spirit, and often have long-lasting and devastating results. How many of us, perhaps as children, stopped doing or pursuing something we enjoyed or wanted, or perhaps even developed a complex, just because someone made a careless, discouraging and/or cruel remark? Artists need to be encouraged and nurtured, not bullied and berated. Sometimes, the difference between success and failure is just having the confidence to DO IT and be proud of your accomplishments. One of the most valuable tools a writer can learn is to think for him/herself, and to try to see things from different points of view, perspectives and in terms of the highly co1mpetitive marketplace. I would like to help you to do this. I truly enjoy working with writers in a collaborative and productive effort to help each one write the best possible screenplay. I look forward to working with you, and wish you all the very best with your project and career. Keep writing! Best, Pamela |
| Smoke 'n' Mirrors Entertainment, Etc. Pamela Leeds Producer, Story Analyst, Editor & Consultant smoke_n_mirrors_entertainment@yahoo,com |
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