Selling Scripts to Hollywood
- Book Review,
by Katherine Atwell Herbert
Wordsmythe.com
After a brief reality check, and a bit of a pep talk, author Katherine Atwell Herbert gets down to business basics in Selling Scripts to Hollywood. This work is highly functional and almost utilitarian in presentation. But Ms. Herbert colors this down to earth approach with "Big Sisterly" advice derived from years of experience in the business. It is a lightning fast read at only 149 pages and every bit of that space is used effectively. The author is persistent. The liturgy is clean and direct. The refrain echoes throughout: Know your craft and know the business. There is also a wealth of reference material to move you beyond the written word towards action. This book is a compelling first step for the novice and a fresh breath for beginners, who have stumbled, unadvised, into the gaping maw of Hollywood.
Book Description
This upbeat resource book is full of encouraging advice to budding screenwriters on just how to prepare, submit, and sell their movie scripts. From structuring the plot and formatting the script to finding an agent and negotiating the best deal, this insider's information covers all the bases. Tips are offered for developing characters and storylines; using scriptwriting computer programs; sending letters to prospective agents; working with directors; getting along in the business; tapping into Web sites and workshops; and other sources of support for writers.
From the Back Cover
This all-in-one resource offers both aspiring and seasoned screenwriters the hard facts about writing for Hollywood today. Veteran script analyst and writer Katherine Herbert gives an honest and illuminating overview of the business and the role screenwriters play in it, divulging secrets of how to successfully write, develop, and sell scripts to the major entertainment venues and markets. Chapters cover: * Researching a script's market and knowing its audience * Exploring venues outside of the feature film industry * What to expect from living and working in Hollywood * How to stay up-to-date on industry news and where to find the most complete resources for research and writing * Turning a story idea into a full-length script * Formatting for both screen- and teleplays * How to articulate specific shots to create the right look * Testing a script, editing, and rewriting * Pitching to agents and negotiating contracts Helpful examples of how to format dialogue and cover pages are provided, along with up-to-date lists of agencies, writers' organizations and publications, screenwriting software, Web sites, workshops, competitions, and opportunities for further education. More than just a how-to book for screenwriters, Selling Scripts to Hollywood contains a complete set of tools for launching and advancing a thriving Hollywood writing career.
About the Author
Katherine Atwell Herbert has worked as a script analyst for DeLaurentiis Entertainment Group, Fox Broadcasting, IRS Films, Carolco, Multimedia, Viacom-Showtime, and Lightstorm. Her scriptwriting repertoire includes episodes for Trial by Jury, Murder She Wrote, and Quantum Leap, as well as several feature screenplays. Her first book, Writing Scripts Hollywood Will Love, was published in 1994 by Allworth Press.
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