The real secret to selling to Hollywood

[skippress]

Hey, from everything I can tell, the best way to sell scripts is to buy the Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting, read that, then take the course at http://www.screenwritingcourse.com , then buy the Writer's Gide to Hollywood and read that and then join Skip's Hollywood Hangout at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hollywoodwriters/

That pretty much guarantees success because that guy Skip Press really knows what he's talking about and all those other guys are hosers, right?

Oh, wait!

I'm Skip Press!

Forget I said all that!

http://www.skippress.com

[Rory L. Aronsky]

If I do all that, is there a possible chance that you can throw in a set of steak knives too?

[skippress]

Sheesh, I wish. My wife threw out all the steak knives so I wouldn't hurt myself. I could dig up something, though...

[mynameisnobody]

I honestly feel that storytelling is an innate talent...just as is creativity...and business savviness. Though, one can't teach individuals those aspects of the business...one can teach the technical. I hope the following sites help...

Instructional...

http://www.screenwriting.info/



Depot for scripts that have been produced....

http://www.screentalk.biz/gallery.htm

http://www.joblo.com/moviescripts.htm

[skippress]

One of the biggest bummers about Hollywood is anonymous knuckleheads who post "advice" that they're actually selling, and have no sense of humor, wouldn't you say?

[Adam Hackbarth]

The book I found the most useful to understand the technical end is The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier.

However the best thing I think someone can do is just read as many produced screenplays as possible and understand how text has been translated to screen over the years.

I read my first screenplay when I was in the sixth grade. It was called "Whatever Happened to Biff Monday?" by my uncle's friend. I was already an aspiring author back then. That really got my blood pumped.

P.S. - As always, I'm looking for some writing work.

SCREENWRITING CREDITS:
Studio 666 (dir. Corbin Timbrook)
Queen Cobra (sold to David Sterling)
Pristine Angst (sold to Poche Pictures)
co-writer of Inbred Redneck Alien Abduction (Sub Rosa Extreme)

OTHER CREDITS:
April is My Religion (Film Threat DVD) - co-producer/location sound
See Hear (award winning Charter/TCI STL show) - scriptwriter
Brand X Comedy Troupe - writer/performer - '99 season

[skippress]

You're right, there's no better way than by reading produced screenplays and learning how text gets to screen - but you don't REALLY learn that until you have done some production.

And my book's better that Trottier's, anyway. Lots of people say so, including a review last fall in the Canadian Writers Guild mag.

Got a road picture with young people? I just talked to someone who's looking.

[skippress]

Hmm, now that I think about it.

No.

[Frethel]

If Skip Press is here this place is already doomed to be a petty flame war.

[skippress]

Let's see. I say who I am. I joke around.

You are anonymous. You accuse me of something you do.

That's called "projection" - it's a psychological malady.

Too bad for you.

Adios.

[Frethel]

You started it by being nasty to Adam Hackbarth.

I remember you quite clearly from other forums.

I was just stating a fact. Sorry if I hurt your feelings
by saying what is true.

That is all from me.

[Kuato]

yeah skip - stop bein such a dick

side walks for walkin...not fancy walkin

[sirius]

I really liked Zen and The Art of Screenwriting. It's packed with interviews with famous screenwriters. After reading that book you realize there is no "right way" to write a script. In the end each writer has his own process. If you start paying too much attention to structure I think it tends to take a toll on your creativity. I'm a big believer in writing stream of consciousness, without a set structure, and then going back and seeing what's there and how things can be organized into a compelling story. Just my two cents.

[bennettk]

During these trying days of one insane mitote...I.E.:

Triple patty burgers, XXL Soda's, Super-sized barrels of cream cheese with a side bucket of hot sauce, 3 lane wide pick-up's, double fudge glazed gummy bears, Gucci bags, Armani jackets, Gap everything, friggin Walmart, K-Mart, Target, Home Depot, must have helicopter pads, Mercedes, BMW, Jet Boats & It's Survivor meets Who Married MY Dog Spot set on the back lot of Fear Factor hosted by Wink Martendale....

I'm almost getting a little tired of being sold STUFF!

...And then, out of the blue I come somewhere I can relax, maybe vent a little.

A suped up, nitro version of razzle dazzle chinwagging frazzle. Frazzel? The hot off of the presses Film Threat Forums. (Ohhh, I'm excited now) Then guess what...

I'm being sold something!

There's no escaping it...

Mitote, please no more eh!

[El Duderino Diablo]

"Don't take the brown acid! Stay away from the brown acid!"

[Furious D]

Bennettk-

I know you're annoyed at being constantly pitched at by various hucksters trying to sell you their latest book. At least this Skip Press fellow isn't trying to hide his shameless self-whoring.

If there is one thing I've learned from years of studying and writing my own scripts is that there's no magic formula to writing a feature film. It's 99% perspiration and you might still end up doing some silly kid's show.

If you'd like something that's free and easy, I've got something for you.

Some people in my area belong to a group called Screenwriter's Anonymous or Screenanon. We get together regularly and offer constructive criticism on each other's work. Info on what we do and a few helpful articles can be found at our quasi-official website:

[URL=http://screenanon.writernetwork.com[/URL]

It's all free if you can stand the annoying pop-up ads. Alas, they're the price you have to pay for free webspace.

[bennettk]

I applaud you...

There is hope for the human race after all.

Finally someone who is not as banal as (names shall not be mentioned under the grounds that it may incriminate me)

I'll check it out...For sure.

BENNETT