MARKETING YOURSELF

I splurged and bought the Summer 2006 Hollywood Creative Directory. I'm almost done with my latest script and plan to start picking up the phone to call producers. I have an agent, but to be honest, I don't see much progress from when I was unrepresented (except that it gives you a little clout and a foot in the door sometimes).

I went to see Madonna in concert at Madison Square Garden. She is priceless, ageless, and told the audience to never let anyone tell you that you can't accomplish your dream. She is one woman who knows the force of self-promotion and marketing. Do you think she waits around for people to call? Or ever did? I think she would drop you in a heart beat if you didn't produce or promote. Is it any wonder she's been in the biz 22 years and still tops the charts?

Keep writing and promoting yourself. Never give up. Keep the dream alive.

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE

I signed the option.

It's for nine months. This young, L.A. producer thinks he has great opportunities for our animation script. The option was for free this time (he paid $500 a year ago). Bottom line -- he can market my script better than I can from NY so we'll see what happens.

It's hot, hot, hot and humid in NYC. I'm working crazy hours in TV news. I'm still finding the energy to pound the keys though. Interesting term -- pounding the keys. I was editing with a NYC reporter the other day. He was sitting next to me writing his on-air script... and he was literally POUNDING the keys... but with such enthusiasm and joy. This is a local reporter who LOVES his work. You can just tell. He LOVES his job. Do you feel like that when you write? Sometimes I pound the keys with a little more excitement. Does it help our writing? Does that energy translate to the page? I bet it does.

Seeing lots of summer flicks "The Pirates of the Caribbean" (pretty good, but longgggg), "Superman Returns" (pretty good, but longgggg), "The Devil Wears Prada" fun, but something I've seen before (watch "Working Girl" with Melanie Griffith). I love Meryl Streep though and Anne Hathaway is turning into a fine actress. I saw her at a panel discussion for "Brokeback Mountain". She is bright, theater-trained, and an amazing personality.

Keep cool.

IN LIMBO

So my writing partner and I haven't signed the option agreement yet. The producer wants the option for a year with no financial terms attached (meaning for free). It's a dilemma because he's a new producer (young) but he works for one of the biggest entertainment agencies in L.A. He can literally walk the animation script around to offices for us. So, although we could use the cash flow, we may sign the agreement to let him shop it for free. I've made a total of $3,000 on options over the years. I'm told some writers get nothing.

I've reworked my sports script and will begin getting that out again soon. I made Act III much stronger. It seems like there is a new sports movie coming out every few months, along with animation films.

I'll keep you posted on the option once we sign on the dotted line.