| Once upon a time, there was a young man who | | | | see things in an entirely different light. I |
| very much wanted to be in show business, or | | | | call myself a writer and producer ? and those |
| more specifically, making movies. He | | | | are accurate titles ? but the business I'm in |
| attended one of the best film schools in the | | | | is really manufacturing, sales and |
| world, while there discovered the joys of | | | | distribution. Huh? |
| writing and producing and everyone around him | | | | |
| had high expectations about his career. Yet | | | | Think about it. As a professional writer, |
| for more years than he cares to admit, that | | | | you're manufacturing a product ? the things |
| career was stalled. | | | | you write. In order to get paid for that |
| | | | product, you also have to have a sales, |
| Yes, ladies and gentlemen, that young man was | | | | marketing and distribution mechanism in place |
| me. And this article is for everyone who, | | | | so that the scripts you write can generate |
| like me, has visions of having their name up | | | | money for you. |
| on the big screen as a writer. It's all | | | | |
| about the importance of getting a balance of | | | | Of course you have to have the talent and |
| what I call ?macro training.? | | | | skills to consistently deliver quality |
| | | | scripts and do so on time. But talent and |
| Over the years, I've invested tens of | | | | skill alone don't hack it. If you want to be |
| thousands of dollars in classes, seminars, | | | | a successful, consistently and steadily |
| books and retreats all intended to teach me | | | | working writer, you have to understand that |
| to be a better writer. Don't get me wrong. | | | | you're in the business of creating and |
| Many of these classes were well worth the | | | | selling products. Your products are your |
| money when it came to teaching me about the | | | | scripts. |
| CRAFT of screenwriting. I absolutely learned | | | | |
| a lot. But talent and craft by themselves | | | | Like any manufacturer, in addition to |
| are not enough to make you a regularly | | | | dedicating part of your business to |
| working professional screenwriter. | | | | developing and creating products, you also |
| | | | need to address the sales, marketing and |
| I learned through painful experience that if | | | | distribution of those products (scripts) |
| you want to succeed as a professional artist | | | | along with the business affairs aspect |
| in show business, whether it's as a writer, | | | | (contracts, accounting, etc.) of working with |
| actor, director or any other craft that's | | | | your customers (studios, production companies |
| employed by the networks and studios, you | | | | and/or networks). You don't have to do it |
| have to treat your career as a small business | | | | all by yourself, but you do need to make sure |
| with yourself as the CEO. As countless | | | | these aspects of your business as a |
| people have said to me over the years, it's | | | | professional writer are handled. Just by |
| called Show ?Business? for a reason. | | | | making that shift in the way you see yourself |
| | | | and your career, you'll immediately transform |
| Eureka! This was the missing piece. When it | | | | from would-be writer to an entrepreneurial |
| finally registered with me the importance of | | | | professional well on the road to success. |
| treating my artistic endeavors like an | | | | |
| entrepreneurial small business, I began to | | | | ? |