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#Scriptchat Transcript Career Coach @ShawnTolleson January 31,2016
Shawn Tolleson gave out some great screenwriting career advice for our chatters. Zac Sanford @zacsanford moderated. Enjoy!
- IT’S #SCRIPTCHAT O’CLOCK w career coach @ShawnTolleson37 - @zacsanford moderating. Chat fr here: http://www.tchat.io/rooms/scriptchat …
- It's #scriptchat o'clock. Please welcome our guest, career coach @ShawnTolleson37.
- Hello one and all. While we're waiting on our guest, how's everyone doing? #scriptchat
- Hey everyone! great to see you all! #scriptchat
- Hello @shawntolleson. For those who don't know you, why not tell us a little about yourself. #scriptchat
- Thank you, @SarahAlexis4 #scriptchat
- Hello all you happy people. #scriptchat
- Okay... I'm a filmmaker, a writer/director, and a career coach. #scriptchat
- So, I bring my real world experience in the industry to my work with my clients. I've been a career coach for 10 years #scriptchat
- I've been in the business since 1997... I'll let you do the math #scriptchat
- I started as an actor and then transitioned to directing theatre. Then transitioned to filmmaking #scriptchat
- I've written and directed for the first web series created parallel to a network TV show #scriptchat
- directed 20 plays #scriptchat
- sold a pitch to Warner Bros. #scriptchat
- developed material as an unknown writer and attached an established director, pitched 25 companies and created a bidding war #scriptchat
- and pitched all the way up to network #scriptchat
- And I just finished post on my debut feature as a writer/director. i wrote the script which won a screenplay contest #scriptchat
- #scriptchat Another week has passed & Nicholl has yet to open for entries. 😐 What's up with that?? Why the delay??
- wrote the biz plan and raised the money inc a successful crowdfunding campaign #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson Sounds like you've dabbled in a bit of everything, which is great. How did you get your foot into the door? #scriptchat
- And to those following along, feel free to ask any questions. #scriptchat
- two more things you should know... I produced and PM'd for 8 years for music videos, commercials and high fashion stills #scriptchat
- and I'm the mom to twin 5 year old girls #scriptchat
- whew. I'm tired of typing #scriptchat
- ah... foot in the door... I started faxing productions (back when we faxed) and got a PG on Armageddon #scriptchat
- re: working with clients... as I said, I've been a career coach for 10 years this month... I look at where writers r starting #scriptchat
- and what tools you have in your toolbox #scriptchat
- I look at what would be a breakthrough for you... by breakthrough I mean not impossible and not predictable #scriptchat
- but the sweet spot in between. impossible is simply not possible in the time frame you've given #scriptchat
- predictable is what you've already done... which is what most people do over and over again #scriptchat
- then we look to identify in a very specific and measurable way what would be the next breakthrough for your career or goal #scriptchat
- So, doable, but against the grain? #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson What kind of "tools" do you typically look for when first working with a writer? #scriptchat
- doable, certainly, but bold, specific, perhaps outside the box (but not always)-- a breakthrough will take #scriptchat
- you, your career or your project to the next level #scriptchat
- the accomplishment of your big dream (the one you rehears the speech for in the shower!) is built on breakthrough on breakthru #scriptchat
- okay... i'll take these one at a time... tools: map of relationships (who you know) hitless (who you need to know) #scriptchat
- material... is what you have and what you're trying to do strategic? or are you running in too many directions? #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson Do you read all the scripts someone wrote & evaluate their progression? #scriptchat
- I think a lot of writers suffer from what I like to call Mulitple Infant Syndrome (my made up analysis) #scriptchat
- what I mean by that is that too many people have goals or projects that are in their infancy and they have too many of them. #scriptchat
- as the mom of twins, I'm here to tell you that multiple infants is WAY HARDER then only one #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson Might be my problem. #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson Any advice for those of us who live outside of Hollywood & know no one? #scriptchat
- think of your goals as infants (especially when starting out) you have to do everything for them. #scriptchat
- A great read on having too many things in their infancy http://jessicaabel.com/2016/01/27/idea-debt/ … #scriptchat
- and they don't just grow up like humans. You have to nurture them to grow. if you don't give them attention, they shrink #scriptchat
- so, when looking to take your career to the next level, YOU HAVE TO FOCUS-- and part of what I do is get people to laser focus #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson What screenplay competition did you win?? #scriptchat
- That's a great analogy! #scriptchat https://twitter.com/shawntolleson/status/693965331765817345 …
- give me a sec. just reading your quetsions! #scriptchat
- okay... there are many things you can and should do on the business side. it can truly be overwhelming. so, what I like to do #scriptchat
- is identify the one breakthrough goal that is head and shoulders above the others and is STRATEGIC. meaning, it will lead to #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson If you fall behind on questions, most will re-ask down the line if it was missed. :) #scriptchat
- next thing. Then I like to narrow down what the heck you should be doing to accomplish that goal. You do need to network, #scriptchat
- tbut you don't need to go willy nilly to every event. or you won't have time to write #scriptchat
- what I like to do is identify exactly who you need to get into relationship with and then strategize from there #scriptchat
- so, an example is this: you want to work in television. Your breakthrough goal is to get staffed on a one hour drama. #scriptchat
- once we know that, and which one hour dramas (because you can't target all 300+ of them) #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson Advice for writers who live outside LA??? #scriptchat
- we identify who should be on your hitless. There will be a north star show that you're right for #scriptchat
- #scriptchat Exactly and would be the best events. @shawntolleson
- there will be "constellation" shows around that north star show. #scriptchat
- Who on those constellation and north star shoows so you need to meet? #scriptchat
- how best to meet them? events? mentorship letters? introductions from friends you know? #scriptchat
- classes? other work you do? #scriptchat
- okay, pausing for a sec to review #scriptchat
- outside LA... so, i have a story for you... I speak at the GAPF most every year. I also do one on one coaching at the GAPF #scriptchat
- I had a private client who had flown in from Iowa. We worked on her goal for the pitchfest and her strategy #scriptchat
- She narrowed down her approach and got really specific with who she was pitching, how she was pitching and what she was asking #scriptchat
- she did all her pitches and got GREAT RESPONSE. #scriptchat
- Great American Pitch fest is GAPF, sorry #scriptchat
- Anyway, she asked if she could keep working with me and I suggested my ongoing program THRIVE (will post link a bit later) #scriptchat
- so she got on my thrive coaching calls and i coached her in her follow up. how to be politely persistent. #scriptchat
- She is in dialogue with several production companies about her projects #scriptchat
- also, I found one of her log lines to be charming and asked her if she would be willing to send me the script #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson Do you read all the scripts someone wrote before you decide to work with them? #scriptchat
- I read it and thought it needed a lot of work, but I thought she had a unique idea and a hooky take on a premise #scriptchat
- So, the circumstances were such that my manager was talking to me about pitching TV MOWS and did I have any ideas. #scriptchat
- i wouldn't have a TV MoW to save my life, because my ideas are totally different #scriptchat
- but I thought of my client and asked her for 10 ideas-- if she'd be willing #scriptchat
- she was excited, send me a ton of ideas #scriptchat
- I ran them by my manager and she really liked one. #scriptchat
- I asked my client if she'd want to write one of her ideas, and she jumped at it #scriptchat
- I just signed with new representation two weeks ago and lo and behold, one of the things we talked about as the #scriptchat
- easiest transition for me with my feature is to TV MoWs and the best way is to have an option on a script #scriptchat
- which is of course what my client is writing. my new reps flipped when I pitched it to them... we are going to go out with #scriptchat
- go out with it in a bout 2 months #scriptchat
- pausing again #scriptchat
- my point here is that you've got to identify who you are as a writer, be specific with who you target to get into relationship #scriptchat
- nurture those relationships (which is really hard when you have not much to report) #scriptchat
- Take your time. You're doing great and faster than most guests. RT @shawntolleson: pausing again #scriptchat
- and look for ways to collaborate with the people you meet. I asked my client if she'd be willing to send me ideas. #scriptchat
- then if she'd be willing to write on spec (which she was already doing, of course) #scriptchat
- then if she'd be willing to take my feedback (and she waited for it for weeks sometimes with my crazy schedule) #scriptchat
- I don't know what will happen, but it sure is more then she had happening a year ago in her tiny mid-west town #scriptchat
- as far as screenwriting goes #scriptchat
- We're halfway through the chat with @shawntoleson, talking career advice. #scriptchat
- You can find out more about Shawn's career coaching at http://entertainmentcareerstrategy.com/ #scriptchat
- okay, questions to help you narrow down your focus... what are you really motivated to do? What has you get up in the morning? #scriptchat
- I'll continue with the quests to focus in a sec, but wanted to give you the link to THRIVE #scriptchat
- You can do it from anywhere and first month is only $7 :) #scriptchat
- Bookmarked! #scriptchat
- back to questions... sometimes I hear people say they want to write for TV, but they are writing features. #scriptchat
- or they say they want to write for TV but they never watch TV #scriptchat
- or only a few shows #scriptchat
- What do you want to do most? And what do you actually do? What you think about and take action on is where your breakthrough #scriptchat
- where your breakthrough will be. Also, what's the most straightforward path? #scriptchat
- You might want to write huge studio block busters, but those can be very hard to get financed and in the door #scriptchat
- If you want to write features, it can be helpful to write something that can get made on a smaller scale. #scriptchat
- this is not hard and fast advice, but these are all questions to think about #scriptchat
- politely following up: okay... there are four keys to a successful meeting or exchange: relationship, excitement, logistics #scriptchat
- and action #scriptchat
- each exchange-- phone, email, meeting, etc. -- they all need to have all four of these #scriptchat
- When you're following up, you've got to work on relationship first. Don't just jump to "did you read it? #scriptchat
- even though that's likely what you feel. What's most important for you is almost never what's most important for anyone else. #scriptchat
- everyone knows this, of course, but most people forget it when they care deeply about something and the stakes are high #scriptchat
- NEXT QUESTION: Do you read all the scripts someone wrote before you decide to work with them? #scriptchat
- I do not read all scripts. Sometimes I read, sometimes I do not read. It depends on what the client needs. #scriptchat
- it's a decision we make together about where to allocate the time #scriptchat
- #scriptchat Yeah, but did you read it?
- Yeah, but did you read it? SORRY DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS QUESTION #scriptchat
- I think I"m through most of the questions. LMK other questions, thoughts! #scriptchat
- Hilarious. Every Article on #Screenwriting u Never Have to Read Again - Script Magazine https://shar.es/1hBnsX via @scriptmag #scriptchat
- If anyone's question was missed, feel free to ask again. Or any new questions out there? #scriptchat
- #scriptchat Just mimicking impatient writers Shawn.
- Once again, if you missed Shawn's site, it can be found at: http://entertainmentcareerstrategy.com/ #scriptchat
- Is this a one-sided #ScriptChat tonight? Should we remain silent?
- not one sided. shoot me your question! #scriptchat
- @GorillaProducer No, no, no. Ask away. #scriptchat
- @writeranthonydp ur funny :) #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson What is one of the biggest mistakes you see young writers making that hinders their career? #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson How do U know if writer has what it takes 2 B taken seriously by the people with whom they develop relationships #scriptchat
- Go Into The Story | Re-Write-O-Rama: Day 31: Re-Write-O-Rama: Day 31. January 1: Type FADE IN / Th... http://bit.ly/1VA4qsi #Scriptchat
- #scriptchat I know. I'm so funny but I put my characters through hell. :)
- @SarahAlexis4 good question... what kind of work do you do? If you had to tell me your breakthrough goal as "By 12/31/16 I will #scriptchat
- By 12/31/16 I will have... what would it be? #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson What was the competition you won??? #scriptchat
- #scriptchat Yeah what sarah said.
- @writeranthonydp what's your breakthrough goal? I'd love to hear from you all viewing... Shoot me "By 12/31/16 I will have... " #scriptchat
- What was the competition you won??? #scriptchat http://goo.gl/UYp70K https://twitter.com/SethAlexanderXX/status/693973202511466496 …
- 1st Place Mountain Film Festival Screenwriting Contest #scriptchat
- Interestingly it was not a big contest industry-wise, but it was great credibility for the small town I was raising money in. #scriptchat
- Okay... being staffed and selling a pilot are two totally different things. So that's the first thing. The people you need to #scriptchat
- know to sell are different then the people you need to know to get staffed. #scriptchat
- Let's take the getting staffed goal: u need to identify your north star how and the shows around it. Meaning what are the #scriptchat
- components of your north star show? If its the good wife, it's single female lead, procedural, closed ended episodes with #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson By 12/31/16 I would like to have a true crime miniseries optioned/sold. #scriptchat
- #scriptchat My breakthrough goal, to be a paid writer. (With features)
- serialized personal story lines and the engine of the show is about the battle she faces both publicly and privately when #scriptchat
- possibly the worst thing that could happen actually happens to her ( that's the engine b/c she has it happen over and over) #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson "By 12/31/16 I will have... " sold/optioned the indie romantic comedy that I know is almost in really good shape. #scriptchat
- so... what then are your hitless shows. Who actually do you need to meet/get intros to on those shows #scriptchat
- its not just the show runners. of course you need to know them but everyone wants to get to them. You need to get intros to #scriptchat
- the slightly lower level producers-- co-eps, supervising producers, consulting producers, and get them to read you #scriptchat
- yes, this is hard, but it's much more doable then only focussing on show runners who are very very busy #scriptchat
- I could keep going, but I'm hoping you get the specificity with which I started breaking this one down #scriptchat
- So, build a relationship with the people of the show I am looking after. #scriptchat
- and also that what i just described it completely different then the network execs who you need to get in the room for to #scriptchat
- sell a show #scriptchat
- Then, show them my portfolio? #scriptchat
- "By 12/31/16 I will have... " sold/optioned the indie romantic comedy that I know is almost in really good shape. #scriptchat
- this one is good, but the last part is muddying it up #scriptchat
- let's go with: By 12/31/16 I will have... " sold/optioned the indie romantic comedy #scriptchat
- simple. loud and proud #scriptchat
- @JonFour I'd love to talk strategy on this one, but I'm running out of time. #scriptchat
- So, I'm going to give a plug: I work on all of these tools and much much more in my one month intensive Jump Start #scriptchat
- Jump Start is 30 hours of coaching with me and my team leaders. it start March 5th and there's both an in-person in LA option #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson Ideed. The more direct, the better. #scriptchat
- and a livestream option for those of you living outside of LA #scriptchat
- Here's the link for all the details: https://lr105.infusionsoft.com/app/page/0659603f9a2850a60e4f809691e1a86d … #scriptchat
- There's an early bird special on right now, too. Also, you can email me about Jump Start #scriptchat
- or other ways to work together: info@strategy-coachig.net #scriptchat
- in my last 4 minutes I'll just say this @JonFour #scriptchat
- Identify who your target hitlist of producers and production companies are. They are not the big studios if you've got #scriptchat
- an indie rom-com. #scriptchat
- look at film festivals, lifetime, hallmark, other places who are making your kind of movie and the poepel who are making them. #scriptchat
- imdbpro is necessary. #scriptchat
- If you don't know who you need to know, it's hard to get to know them. #scriptchat
- NO #scriptchat next week - Enjoy the Super Bowl!
- I want to thank @shawntolleson for being here tonight, and going deeper than most on her answers. Truly appreciate that. #scriptchat
- Most people do not know who they know and do not know who they need to know and they think they know no one. #scriptchat
- Make sure you give @shawntolleson a follow and follow up with any other questions you may have. #scriptchat
- cool! Check out thrive. I'd love to work with you! http://entertainmentcareerstrategy.com/entertainment-industry-coaching/thrive/ … #scriptchat
- As was already stated, no chat next week. Enjoy the game (or write some extra pages). #scriptchat
- Thanks for all the help! #scriptchat
- Loved this everyone! yes, please tweet me other questions or visit me on Facebook "Shawn Tolleson" and we'll keep talking! #scriptchat
- @shawntolleson feel free to drop in anytime! We're a very welcoming group! #scriptchat
- Thanks and night everybody. #scriptchat
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