Archive for May, 2008
WHO'S THE MAN IN THE MIRROR
I’ve been absent from this blog for just over a month. I’ve been struggling with areas of my life and haven’t found the words to express myself… until now.
There’s a saying I offer to aspiring writers that seek my advice. Here it is: If the desire to write is not immediately followed by the action of writing then the TRUE desire is not to write.
Last night it occurred to me that I could replace “write” with anything and take my own advice. Frankly, that truth/discovery surprised me.
As I looked at my life, specifically, the areas that have been a challenge, it afforded me the opportunity to face the disturbing truth: I was not taking the immediate actions necessary and required to manifest my desires.
That propmpted me to query whether or not the desires, in question, were that of the 37 year old standing before me in the mirror or some other version of myself (a younger version of myself).
I have come to the conclusion that I need to rexamine my desires, my dreams, my expectations…that I need clarity from the 37 year old that lives within this physical form.
It’s terrifying to accept full responibility for yourself and to acknowledge that you have been operating on auto-pilot. But, I am ready to face those fears and live life by design and to truly live as a deliberate creator.
THE RIGHT HOOK
I recently hosted a tele-seminar which afforded aspiring screenwriters, from all over the world, the opportunity to listen to an insightful and stimulating discussion about screenwriting as a professional and the opportunity to ask questions, that pertained to their personal challenges, directly to the various guests whom participated on the call – it should be noted that all the guests are successful, established veterans with at least 20 years plus of professional expertise.
Among the copious number of questions presented and addressed in this forum, the following question prompted me to share my thoughts here.
“I’ve emailed a number of managers and agents seeking representation, but have not heard back from anyone. What’s the trick to securing a good agent or manager to represent me and my screenplays?”
The trick?
There is no trick. The answer lies in your introduction, your very first writing sample, and most importantly (drum roll please)your logline.
As an aspiring writer there is a vast number of tools which can aid you in the pursuit of representation, I will focus your attention here on one — the query letter.
Most representatives delegate the trifling task of reading incoming queries to an assistant or intern. But, truth is most representatives do read queries. Even more importantly, representatives actually respond to ones that HOOK their interest.
If you are not generating any interest from query letters it simply means that you need to redraft your letter and specifically your logline.
Here are three basic guidelines to consider when crafting your next query letter:
1 – Know Your Market
Targeting CAA’s or any of the top tier literary representatives is simply the wrong strategy. They are shaping careers, not inventing them. They are elevating a career, not commencing one. Targeting boutique entities that will likely always develop new talent is a more appropriate and useful strategy. New blood is welcomed.
Do some due diligence on the target. This affords you the opportunity to personalize the letter. Hear me: I’m not suggesting that you make this some rambling saga. Keep it simple.
2 – The Right Hook
The industry is changing and will continue to evolve but, what will not change is this… Representatives are seeking material they can sell in a competitive marketplace!
Your logline is the essential ingredient to this query letter. I recommend that you always introduce your most commercial big idea. Your logline should evoke the imagination to see the movie poster, the video box.
If it doesn’t, rework your, one to two sentences, logline until it does. The goal is to entice the reader to request the script just as a trailer’s purpose is to sell tickets. This is the coming attraction moment.
3 – The First Impression
Absolutely never neglect the basics of spelling, grammar, clear and vivid writing. This is your first impression… it matters! Your query letter itself functions partly as a writing sample.
Everyone this is your sales tool, not sales pitch. Don’t make the mistake of confusing the two. This is not the place to ramble on about how great your screenplay is or how engaging your characters are… that’s for the reader to decide.
So write a professional, intelligent, concise, intriguing query that includes a compelling and commercially viable logline and not only will you entice representatives to ask for more, but you’ll be one step closer to a sale.
Video Tip #4 – The 8th Habit of Successful Screenwriters?
The Good German divx Crash Landing full
If you have any specific questions or topics that you’d like to see covered in this Video Series, please leave a comment below.
And if you have any comments about THIS tip – good OR bad 
– please leave it below.
May Your Life Be Extraordinary,
Marvin V. Acuna
I HAVE AN IQ OF 80
Some of you know this, some of you may not. I’m latino. So I am often invited to participate in groups that desire to expand diversity in the world of entertainment.
Tonite was one such experience. I was invited to a dinner hosted by NBC/Universal. I had the extraordinary opprtunity to dine with the co-chairman of the studio along with his executive team.
If you are curious, it was hosted at Ca’Del Sole (http://www.cadelsole.com). I had radicchio and arugula salad, creamy venetian dressing with shaved armesan cheese, (the entree) grilled marinated whole boneless corn-fed chicken, lemon zest, herb sauce, and (desert) warm chocolate and almond cake served with vanilla cream sauce, and lots of the pinot grigio. Food is always better when its… free. And frankly, I have never felt so abundant than when it’s free alcohol!
One of the executive spoke about the upcoming film Twilight ( http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/twilight/). It’s his prediction that Twilight will generate $75M dollars this weekend. He said it was so frustrating to see this happening because it wasn’t his franchise. He decided to find out if it had ever been submitted to his studio.
What he discovered blew his mind. In 2002, this studio was introduced to the outline of the book. Thereafter, the manuscript, and finally the book itself. All of which received a pass. Here’s the rub. The person that passed is no longer in the entertainment industry. Ugh.
Since that discovery he has attended many previews, focus group screenings, and ultimately it confirmed for him what he knows to be true… know your market.
The reader/executive that passed on Twilight Lonely Hearts download didn’t understand their role in the system. He said that they were seeking in material what they personally connected to, not what an audience would connect to. And in this misunderstanding of their role… they missed an incredibly valuable opportunity to own a new HOT franchise.
He ended with the following, “you have to treat material from the point of view that I have an IQ of 80. I need to capture the broadest audience SO what I need are people who know their market!”
THE NET APPEARED
I attended an internet marketing lecture today. Beyond the fascinating insights, I witnessed the brilliance of a friend step into the picture of his mind. He was a key speaker and a recognized expert in the field.
I recalled a dinner from a couple years back as he prepared to make a change in his life, specifically his career choice. He expressed his concerns, fears, yet he leaped into the unknown of change.
And a net appeared.
It’s beautiful to witness.
