| Smoke 'n' Mirrors Entertainment, Etc. Pamela Leeds Producer, Story Analyst, Editor & Consultant |
| Hi there and welcome! If you have written, are writing, or are contemplating writing a screenplay, I wish you all the very best and would be delighted to work with you to help you write the best possible screenplay. For over eight years, I have worked as a professional Story Analyst/ Consultant in New York and Los Angeles for A-list companies, including: The William Morris Agency, HBO, Douglas/Reuther Entertainment (the former company of Michael Douglas and Steven Reuther), Turner Pictures, and Hallmark Entertainment, while I continue to work closely with individual writers. As a Producer, I have optioned and developed materials for motion pictures and television, which I have submitted to studios and top production companies in New York and Los Angeles. Currently, I am looking for projects to produce and have excellent connections in the Entertainment Industry. Trying to navigate the wild, unpredictable and unwieldy waters of the Entertainment Industry is a harrowing and daunting process -- even for the most seasoned professionals. Under the best of circumstances, it's still a difficult and complex ordeal. Who can you trust? As you probably know by now: everyone has an opinion. No matter how good or sadly misguided their advice and/or intentions may be, just about anyone who reads your script or hears the story will offer opinions and advice. To say this can be confusing is an understatement. In the creative process, one always wants to keep an open mind and be able to accept good advice as well as constructive criticism. But, exactly how knowledgeable and perceptive are these opinion-givers? And, what is their true motivation? Unfortunately, not everyone will want you to succeed in making your dreams a reality. Then, there are those people who don't really know what they think, but they'll be damned if they'll let anyone know it, and therefore, will give you opinions and advice anyway. And, don't kid yourself, in this volatile and highly competitive business, many Industry executives are fueled more by insecurities and paranoia than creativity, and in order to justify their jobs, often complicate the process with excessive story notes and demands that do little to enhance your screenplay. Sometimes, they just chip away at the essence of your characters and story, until they barely resemble what you wrote. Frustrating is not the word. One can begin to question one's sanity, i.e., "Am I the only one who truly understands this material or has a clear vision for it?" Or, "I wonder how these people really got their jobs?!" As if your life isn't difficult enough... Of course, in the end, this screenplay is your baby, and it is you who must be satisfied with what you have written. All screenwriters have people from every aspect of a project, e.g., execs, actors, assistants, bankers, Kraft Services employees and God-only-knows-who-else (let's not even discuss family and friends) giving them heaps of advice on their screenplay. Just stay focused, believe in yourself, try to filter out the negative, and take time to "picture" new options for your story and characters. Since you are writing for a visual medium, it is vitally important for you to picture what you write. Either you will come up with something fresh and interesting, or you may realize that you are satisfied with what you have written. Just try to enjoy the creative process and have fun with it! If you can survive this process, the rewards creatively, financially and in so many other aspects of your life can be phenomenal. However, it will take a good deal of hard work, dedication, discipline, patience and, hopefully, a strong passion for making great movies. I look forward to the opportunity to work with you, and wish you all the very best with your project(s) and career! Pamela |
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