Marvin V. Acuna

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May Your Life Be Extraordinary,

Marvin V. Acuna

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May Your Life Be Extraordinary,

Marvin V. Acuna

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May Your Life Be Extraordinary,

Marvin V. Acuna

My inbox is already crowded with multiple invitations to participate as a speaker at the various screenwriting conferences/film festivals that will pepper cities across the US and internationally.

Soon you too will witness your inbox bursting at the seams with opportunities to attend the upcoming events in 2010.

As I considered what to share with you so that you could maximize those opportunities it occurred to me that an old friend, Stephanie Palmer, had written a very powerful book entitled Good in a Room.

Here are ten tips that she personally selected from her book and, more importantly, drawn from her experience as a former MGM executive.

If you learn them, you can join the ranks of those who know that they are “good in a room.”

1. Silence is the strongest start of all.

Don’t start talking until the decision-maker is ready.

If there have been a lot of people popping in, urgent phone calls or other interruptions, ask the executive if he or she is ready for you to begin. Make eye contact. Then, start slowly and deliver your first line. Make sure it is dynamite. Pause. Gauge the executive’s response. Then proceed with your presentation at a relaxed pace. Remember, even though you’re intimately familiar with your project, the buyer will be hearing it for the very first time.

2. Understand the buyer’s secret dream.

Even though top-level buyers can seem cold and recalcitrant, this is the result of seeing a seemingly endless stream of poorly prepared and emotionally needy sellers deliver mediocre pitches. Decision-makers don’t wake up thinking, “I can’t wait to disappoint people and pass on 30 projects today.” Instead, they hope today will be the day they discover their career-making project. Thus, you must position yourself and your project in a way that differentiates you from the masses and speaks directly to the buyer’s highest-priority needs.

3. Build rapport. Then, build some more.

People want to work with people they like.

Think about what you have in common with the decision-maker you’re meeting. Be ready to share a few brief, personal stories which demonstrate the attributes you believe will be most attractive to the buyer. Be prepared to ask a few open-ended questions that will encourage the buyer to speak about a non-business interest in a positive light.

All else being equal, you will have the edge if you can establish a personal connection.

4. Make your pitch repeatable.

Though you are selling your project to a decision-maker in the room, after the meeting, the buyer — if interested — becomes the seller and must pitch your idea to their colleagues or superiors. In Hollywood, this is known as the “logline.” If you can’t summarize your project in a brief, compelling statement, you haven’t thought about it enough.

Remember, the more you say, the less people hear. Choose your words carefully.

5. Acknowledge the competition.

Be prepared to answer questions such as, “What does my project have in common with other successful projects in the same industry? What were the last projects that the company purchased, and were they successful? Which of their projects is most similar to my own? What makes me the best person for this project?” Answering these key questions early in your presentation demonstrates that you have done your homework. This will encourage them to listen to what follows more closely.

6. The best meetings are conversational and interactive.

Many professionals make the mistake of performing an over-rehearsed spiel that sounds like an infomercial for their idea. Instead, pause frequently, especially when there is an opportunity for the buyer to give you a reaction or ask a question.

In an ideal world, you’d spend more time in a dialogue with the buyer, than performing a monologue.

7. Start from the beginning — always.

Even if you had a long and productive conversation the day before, you’d be surprised how much can change in the buyer’s mind. After all, you’ve been thinking about the meeting and they have, too. Assume that they’ve done more research, talked to some people and something has changed since the time you last spoke. It’s your job to figure out what that is. After some initial rapport building, do another information-gathering session. If appropriate, ask for a recap from their perspective.

8. Watch for hidden opportunities.

The buyer’s goal for the meeting may not be the same as yours. In addition to hearing your idea, the executive may be evaluating you to see if you would be a good fit for another project. Remember, when you are in the room, you are selling minimally two things: your project and yourself. Even if the meeting doesn’t result in a “yes,” making a favorable impression can be the beginning of a long-term professional relationship.

9. Don’t claim your expertise — demonstrate it.

Don’t just talk about your experience; show your expertise by positioning your project as it relates to the competition. Don’t brag or boast about past wins. If you must mention a past success, do it off-handedly and with humility. This is similar to the common rule about storytelling: “Show, don’t tell.” Remember, a lot of people talk the talk.

Those who are “good in a room” are focused on meeting the needs of the buyer and not on boosting their own ego.

10. Save a surprise for the end.

Plan multiple strategies to exit gracefully. Some techniques are to have a callback to a personal topic that you discussed at the beginning of the meeting, thank them for a specific, useful contribution they made during the meeting, or leave them a polished piece of material that they haven’t seen previously. Use a summary statement that you design specifically to be remembered and repeated.

Remember, last impressions last.

Surprise!

11. You are always in the room.

Develop your skills so that you can handle meetings that occur unexpectedly, like on a plane, at a party, or in a waiting room. More business starts from casual interactions than formal meetings across a conference room table.

The polished professional who is “good in a room” is ready for anything. But don’t feel the need to talk business in all situations. Often the best move is to say, “Why don’t we just enjoy the party, and I’ll follow up with you on Monday.”

These are invaluable tips, but they represent only the tip of the iceberg. I strongly encourage you to pick up a copy of the book for yourself. (NOTE: I receive no financial interest if you choose to purchase a copy of the book.)

Gerard J. Arpey, president and CEO of American Airlines said the best business advice he ever got was, “Borrow money when you can, not when you need to.” This is sound advice that can be translated and applied to…

Pillar #3: Networking

I find most aspiring screenwriters believe that there is only one specific time and place for networking and it’s called “An easel sitting at the entrance of some ballroom with a sign that says so.”

Best selling author and syndicated columnist Harvey Mackay said, “If I had to name the single characteristic shared by all the truly successful people I’ve ever met over a lifetime, I’d say it is the ability to create and nurture a network of contacts.”

Personal networking is instrumental to your career. It’s an invaluable tool to identifying rare opportunities suited to you, as well as to maximize the value of your current relationships.

But networking ONLY when you need to is foolish and sets the wrong tone. Relationships take time, building rapport requires patience, and entertainment professionals are naturally cautious –if not fearful– of those that are simply taking, rather than giving.

It’s pretty easy to spot those that are just networking purely to take… not to give. Therefore, begin networking before you need anything from anyone.

To start with, you must understand all your strengths and weaknesses. Then, seek opportunities where your abilities contribute value to others.

Others will want to be a part of your network if they know that you will add value. And more importantly, your existing relationships will be strengthened if you can consistently add value to those in your network.

Your mission: be the first person everyone remembers and suggests when others ask, “Do you know anyone who….”

Start now, and become a trusted node and connector, not a fragmented meteor that is visible as it enters the atmosphere.

Consider this: Networking is ALL about mutual benefit…

So why not GIVE first?

In summary, I feel it’s important for you to know… talent is only one part of the equation. If you are a hobbyist then this may not ring true to you. That’s ok. You aren’t looking to make a living off your hobby. I get it!

But, if you are reading this and are committed to working as an entertainment professional then I leave you with this…

“Business art is the step that comes after art. I started as a commercial artist, and I want to finish as a business artist. After I did the thing called “art” or whatever it’s called, I went into business art. I want to be an art business man or business artist.”
– Andy Warhol