Table of Contents
Dedication
Special Thanks
Introduction
Screenwriter Spotlight #1: Erin Cardillo
Chapter 1: Understanding the Industry
Section 1.1: Profession Evolved: Screenwriting Through the Ages
Section 1.2: The Industry Today
Section 1.3: Becoming a Screenwriter in Today's Industry
Screenwriter Spotlight #2: Kirk Moore
Chapter 2: So... How Do You Break In?
Section 2.1: General Insights from Agents, Managers and Executives
Section 2.2: Reverse Engineering Your Break
Section 2.3: Luck Favors the Prepared:
Section 2.4: Your Personal Narrative
Screenwriter Spotlight #3: Marissa Jo Cerar
Chapter 3: Your Craft
Section 3.1: The Importance of Craft
Section 3.2: Screenwriting Advice from Industry Professionals
Section 3.3: But... Is it Ready?
Section 3.4: Decoding the Voice
Screenwriter Spotlight #4: Terrell Lawrence
Chapter 4: Getting Representation
Section 4.1: Agent, Manager, or Both?
Section 4.2: What Managers and Agents Look For
Section 4.3: Attracting Representation
Section 4.4: The Writer/Rep Relationship
Section 4.5: Representatives on Representation
Section 4.6: Positioning Yourself for Representation
Screenwriter Spotlight #5: Eric Koenig
Chapter 5: Winning a Screenwriting Competition
Section 5.1: Screenwriting Competitions as Vetting Avenues
Section 5.2: The Screenwriting Competitions that Matter
Section 5.3: But are They Worth It? Industry Perspective
Section 5.5: Making the Most of Your Win
Screenwriter Spotlight #6: Greta Heinemann
Chapter 6: Acceptance Into a TV Writing Program
Section 6.1: Overview: Television Writing Program
Section 6.2: Television Writing Programs - Requirements
Section 6.3: Television Writing Programs - The Industry Perspective
Section 6.4: What You Can Do Right Now To Position Yourself For a TV Writing Program
Screenwriter Spotlight #7: Chandus Jackson
Chapter 7: Receiving a Feature Writing Fellowship or Lab Placement
Section 7.1: Breaking down the Feature Fellowships
Section 7.2: The Best of the Best: Labs and Fellowships
Section 7.3: Positioning Yourself for a Feature Writing Fellowship or Lab
Screenwriter Spotlight #8: Melissa London Hilfers
Chapter 8: Selling a Spec Screenplay
Section 8.1: How Does Today's Spec Market WorK?
Section 8.2: Getting a Spec Out to Market
Section 8.3: The Anatomy of a Spec Sale
Section 8.4: When a Spec Doesn't Sell - Measuring Success
Section 8.5: The Prestige Lists
Section 8.6: Positioning Yourself for the Spec Market
Screenwriter Spotlight #9: Moises Zamora
Chapter 9: Television: Getting Staffed
Section 9.1: Today's Television Landscape
Section 9.2: The Hierarchy of The Room
Section 9.3: Getting into The Room
Section 9.4: Working Your Way Up: The Benefits
Section 9.5: The Room: Compensation
Section 9.6: Positioning Yourself for Television Staffing
Screenwriter Spotlight #10: Joe Webb
Chapter 10: Selling Your Television Pilot
Section 10.1: Bypassing the Room: Become a Television Content Creator
Section 10.2: Construction Your Show
Section 10.3: Pilot Pitch Meetings
Section 10.4: The Anatomy of Setting Up A Pilot
Section 10.5: Selling a Pilot: Financial Expectations
Screenwriter Spotlight #11: Barbara Curry
Chapter 11: General Meetings & Writing Assignments
Section 11.1: General Meetings
Section 11.2: The Road to Writing Assignments
Section 11.3: Developing Your Take
Screenwriter Spotlight #12: Diarra Kilpatrick
Chapter 12: Breaking In the Unconventional Way
Section 12.1: Query Letters, The Black List, Live & Online Pitch Opportunities
Section 12.2: Web Series and Short Film
Section 12.3: Other Avenues for Recognition: Novels, Plays and Other Supplemental Materials
Screenwriter Spotlight #13: Tawnya Bhattacharya & Ali Laventhol
Chapter 13: Everything You Can Do For Your Screenwriting Career Today
Section 13.1: Preparing Yourself for the Industry
Section 13.2: Writing Partnerships
Section 13.3: Every Screenplay is a Brick: The 3-Step Approach
Section 13.4: Networking & Your Screenwriting Community
Section 13.5: Your Industry Education
Screenwriter Spotlight #14: Isaac Gonzales
Chapter 14: The Kitchen Sink - Insights, Guidance and Advice from the Industry
Section 14.1: General Advice from Industry Professionals
Section 14.2: Mistakes Writers Should Avoid
Section 14.3: Living in Los Angeles
Section 14.4: Overnight Successes and How Long Building a Screenwriting Career REALLY takes
Section 14.5: Jeff Portnoy's 5 Things Every Writer Should Know
Screenwriter Spotlight #15: Danny Tolli
Chapter 15: Final Thoughts
Section 15.1: Advice for Working Writers
Section 15.2: Lee's Final Thoughts
Screenwriter Spotlight #16: Michael Perri