Hey Gang!

I'm off to a new venue for pitching tomorrow.
It's an experimental college run by Gary Shushett.
Students from all over the world attend his classes.

http://www.sherwoodoakscollege.com/

Gary's been around the industry for decades.
His brother, Ronald, is the writer/producer of Alien, Total Recall & Minority Report.
The institution has unprecedented studio access.

After I took Gary's class at InkTip, he invited me to attend the college.
He felt I would be a good candidate to put in the room with feature producers.
I found the website quite impressive, so I signed on for their next event.

http://www.sherwoodoakscollege.com/?p=70

I'll be in the room with producers whom can green light a project.
Several of them have produced family movies.
So, they're getting a full dose of my purple slime zombie pitch, wish me luck!

Regards,
E.D.

Wow, sounds great, Brett!  Knock 'em dead, Kid...knock 'em dead!

Hey guys!

Back from the bowels of Hollywood.
It was the hottest day of the year to date.

Sherwood Oaks is a mainline adrenaline rush for film industry junkies.
There were 14 participants broken up into two groups of seven.
Each group got a producer for one hour.
Each participant got a total of seven minutes for pitching and feedback.

At my pitching table to my right, was a 2002 Nicholls Fellowship winner.
On my left was a producer of the 2012 Jeremy Irons film, "The Treehouse". *gulp*

This event is about getting honest pitch feedback from successful producers.
Starting dialogue in the hopes of cultivating relationships is the frosting on the cake.
They might invite you to send a one page or logline to them, if they really like you.

According to their videographer, no producer has ever asked for a script on the day.
I pitched seven producers yesterday. I got four script requests.

Two more gave me an open door policy to send loglines and synops to anytime.
And number seven offered me a coverage "tryout" for one of his development scripts.
He works with new writers to develop his ideas into marketable scripts.
He currently has a three picture deal with screenwriter, Allan Loeb.
Loeb's recent credits include: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps &  Just Go With It.
He also wrote "Rock of Ages", the Tom Cruise extravaganza set for release in 2012.

I highly recommend you check out Sherwood Oaks website.
It is truly a hidden gem that can supercharge any amateur's hopes.

E.D.

Brett,

As I said before, very impressive.

Thanks for the report!

Gary

Hey guys!

Thought I'd revisit this thread in lieu of tomorrow's event.
It's a similar format, minus the table pitching this outing.

Here's the skinny...
http://www.sherwoodoakscollege.com/?p=70

I'm more interested in the production companies.
In fact, one of the execs there I know really likes Zombie Playground.
It will be nice to reconnect with her again and kabbitz.

There are some A-list companies attending that I haven't pitched yet.
Pitching the agents and managers are gravy to me, right now.
And of course, very few of them even know about, Clone Wife.
That story was fresh drafted from scratch. Once it's vetted, I'll post it next week.

I wanted to address something from the event I went to two months ago...

And number seven offered me a coverage "tryout" for one of his development scripts.
He works with new writers to develop his ideas into marketable scripts.
He currently has a three picture deal with screenwriter, Allan Loeb.
Loeb's recent credits include: Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps &  Just Go With It.
He also wrote "Rock of Ages", the Tom Cruise musical set for release in 2012.


Number sever worked out very well, for me.
I now have official ties to a CAA repped production company.
This helps get me into industry insider sites and boards.
It's not about the sale of my material. At all, actually, And I like it.
For me, it's about working with people who live and breathe this stuff every day.
And while I learn, I get to contribute to their slate of properties.
And in turn, get to wear other "hats" that are industry related.
And that allows me to have many "irons" in the proverbial fire.
So, Mr. OnTheVergitis passes me right by, I'm too busy to worry!

I got put under the gun early this week on a project.
I had one hour to complete an assignment to improve a pitch going to CAA.
And I loved the pressure! And, in the process, met another feature producer.
That guy loved my recommendations, and I really dug a movie he produced.
We haven't met, but he knows my name from the documents.
You can bet I'll remember his name, and now we have something to talk about.
Because one day, we'll chat and that "common ground" is supreme currency.

All for $195 and one afternoon of my time.
I feel like I've learned so much in the last two months.
And it all started with attending a Sherwood Oaks event.

Regards,
E.D.

Sounds good, Brett!  Looks like you're rocking the house. Hope it comes together for you, man.  I really do!

Sounds like you're dong great Brett!

I was doing similar things 2 years ago, but find myself having nothing ready to "show" when insiders actually asked to read my stuff. Very embarrassing and I still hate myself for it. I blew my chances...now I'm no longer interested.  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Sounds like you're dong great Brett! I was doing similar things 2 years ago, but find myself having nothing ready to "show" when insiders actually asked to read my stuff. Very embarrassing and I still hate myself for it. I blew my chances...now I'm no longer interested.

Pia,

I agree, you need to be able to answer that dreaded question...
"What else you got?"
"They" don't always tell you to be ready with a good answer.

Why aren't you interested any longer?
Got bit by the production bug and like doing it yourself now?

E.D.

I should update this thread after last week's event.

I was pretty nervous taking out Clone Wife to this crowd.
The folks attending Sherwood Oaks are not assistants or secretaries.
These are the actual producers, managers and development people.

In a nutshell, it was fairly epic.

I had a 40% higher success rate than Zombie Playground.
And when I say success, I mean, the company requested the script.
A script request is pretty much the ultimate when "cold pitching" a company.

The only folks not excited about the script were the twenty something crowd.
About 70% of the 30+ crowd asked for the script.
One woman stopped me 30 seconds in and said, "I have to read this script."

There was a late add to the producer list that was gold for me.
I got to pitch the producers of "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind".
He immediately picked up on the impetus it had on Clone Wife, got very excited.
And saw how Clone Wife has elements of a reverse engineered spin on that idea.
Then we spent the rest of the time geeking out over Eternal Sunshine.

Naturally, I rode that wave of goodwill, so my pitch got even better.
It's a confidence game of volleys, I have to generate interest with strangers.

Speaking of pitching, I was thinking about a thread dedicated to that.
"The Anatomy of a Pitch", or something like that.
If SS members would be interested, I could shepherd that.
Share how I construct my pitches for ZP and CW.
Though I honestly don't know how many of us are pitching our material.
If anyone's interested, give a shout!
Maybe I should start an inquiry thread anyway.

Zombie Playground got heat from a movie/video game company.
This connection could lead to more video game writing work as well.

Anyway, I send out all my script requests Monday, but one.
The last one was a bit of an odd request.
A well known manager asked me to record the script and send it to his house.
Apparently, he liked it enough to by-pass his own story department.
It gets even better...
The manager got a director attached to the next project for my "ultimate Travis".
So, I impressed someone with one degree of separation from my dream cast!
I'm recording the script and getting in the mail, post haste.

People come from all over the world to attend Sherwood Oaks events.
The access is unprecedented, hopefully something shakes out.
There's no better gauge of your preparedness than these events.
And the fact that these execs offer honest feedback on your pitches is pure gold.

Regards,
E.D.

Congrats Brett

I'll be interested in that pitch inquiry since I would like learn and practice pitching my feature once it's completed. However, I believe they have something along those lines "Pitching to Babz". Not sure though.

Gabe

Quoted from Mr.Ripley Congrats Brett I'll be interested in that pitch inquiry since I would like learn and practice pitching my feature once it's completed. However, I believe they have something along those lines "Pitching to Babz". Not sure though. Gabe

Hey Gabe,

I was thinking of a thread where I'd break down how I construct my pitches.
If something like that would benefit SS members, I could be game.

But I'm certainly no one of consequence to hear pitches in a producer capacity.
That would definitely fall into Miss Babz's prevue!

E.D.

That sounds like a good thread. SS members can do participate. For instance, i can pitch and explain why I pitched it a certain way. The more practice, the better.

Good deal, Brett - I enjoy reading your posts because it's refreshing to see somebody attack this like they really want it. Best of luck to you -

AJR

Quoted from ajr Good deal, Brett - I enjoy reading your posts because it's refreshing to see somebody attack this like they really want it. Best of luck to you -

Are you serious? C'mon, everyone knows Brett is a layabout who sits on the couch waiting for his ship to come in instead of swimming out to get it!! Just like you!  

Quoted from Grandma Bear Are you serious? C'mon, everyone knows Brett is a layabout who sits on the couch waiting for his ship to come in instead of swimming out to get it!! Just like you!

LOL! That's me, alright.
In my boxers on the couch eating Cheetos waiting for my seven figure spec deal!

E.D.

I prefer Triscuits...

I'm still open to the high 6 figure deal for starters...

Ooo. I know I don't belong on this post but all I gotta say is that is awesome!

I wish you the best of luck.

Quoted from nawazm11 Ooo. I know I don't belong on this post but all I gotta say is that is awesome! I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for the well wishes!
Apologies for missing this comment earlier.

Class Update:

Tomorrow I have another table pitching event.
It's being held at an indie production company's studio.
Several companies owned and operated by stars will be in attendance.
Reps for Morgan Freeman, Pierce Brosnan, David Duchovny  and others will be there.

This is the style of event I met the feature producer that got me working.
So, I'm hoping to connect with a similar caliber of talent.
Then after the Super Bowl, it's back to the spec grind.

Alffy, cross those gangsta fingers for me!

Regards,
E.D.

Good luck. Let us know how it all went.

Gabe

Hey Gabe,

Thanks for the well wishes.
It was a good day yesterday.
The event was held on a studio lot in Santa Monica.
Though the table pitching felt a little stilted overall.
Most of the attendees were opinionated newbies.

Professional highlights of the day:

Pierce Brosnan and David Duchovny's company requested Clone Wife.
Their development guy has a great shorthand for story construction.
I was practically tripping over myself trying to keep up with his brain.

Had lunch with Stuart Gordon, the brain trust behind "Re-Animator".
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002340/
We geeked out on Polanski and his horror techniques for twenty minutes.

Then I found a chance to mention a script I'm developing with a colleague.
He was immediately interested and asked me to send him more material.
So, it was doubly nice to be to get something out there for a colleague too.

After that chat, it made more sense to me that Gordon worked with William H. Macy.
They did a wonderfully creepy film together called, "Edmond".
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0443496/
Before that, they tried to get "House of Re-Animator" off the ground.

Back to the Macy connection...guess who's parking spot is right next to Gordon's...



Macy and Mamet go way back and Mamet wrote Edmond, which Gordon directed.
Makes you wonder if the whole deal was hatched in the parking lot!

And yeah, I totally stood in David Mamet's parking spot.!

Regards,
E.D.

Wow, sounds great, Brett.

Did you and Stuart Gordon have lunch together, or you and a bunch of others had lunch with him?

Were the "opinionated newbies" paying wannabe writers or the industry peeps hearing the pitches?

Best of luck!

Quoted from Dreamscale Wow, sounds great, Brett. Did you and Stuart Gordon have lunch together, or you and a bunch of others had lunch with him? Were the "opinionated newbies" paying wannabe writers or the industry peeps hearing the pitches? Best of luck!

Hey Jeff,

Sorry I missed this...

Stuart and I hung out in line at the commissary.
He heard table pitches at the studio where he keeps his offices.
It's why were able to get so many working pros in one place.

They don't have to drive, we come to them.

The newbies in question were paying people.
Our rep was running late, so to kill time, we practiced pitching.

Then this one guy was telling me how I should provide pitch feedback.
And taking my construstive criticism personally, etc.
And I was like, "Dude, I'm just constructively filling some time here."

Shusett came over and vouched for me, then said noobs apologized.
Then said noobs watched me work on Gordon in the lunch line.

Which led to the Planski chat over our paninis.
So, a slow start ended with a fun day.

Regards,
E.D.

CLASS UPDATE:

So, for the next three days I'm in producer and studio meetings.

http://www.sherwoodoakscollege.com/?p=57

This is a series of informal talks that breaks up into even smaller groups.
15 students. 23 producers and executives. All in 3 days.

Most of these companies are very open to new material.
But you can't directly solicit them, due to the nature of the business.
However, they do take all our prepared one sheets.
So, they all get a copy of the ZP and CW synops and posters.

And I heard from the last meet that a student got heat from Depp's company.
So, even the big boys will find a way to get to you, sans representation.
This is where no one can compare to Sherwood Oaks.
That proverbial hand off of the amateur one sheets to a VP or Development head.

Another cool thing is, I indirectly know one of the execs we're meeting.
He's read and loved coverage I wrote for a project he's developing with a colleague.
And insisted my take be worked into the actual script, which is going to CAA this week.

That whole ball got rolling last fall when I connected with another feature producer.
He works with this exec and trusts me to write the coverage for the studio.

It may all sound a tad convoluted, but consider this...

Damon Lindelof's coverage for the Alien prequel led to Prometheus!
The story goes, Scott was so knocked out by the coverage, it altered the tale.
Scott met Lindelof and then got hired to reshape the prequel.

So, that's why I do coverage when a feature producer requests it.
No one else in town was asking, so why not!?!?

Have a great week, guys!

Regards,
E.D.

P.S. And let me say for the record, I owe my coverage skills to SS!
       No way I'd be any good at it without all the awesome peer reviewing here.

E.D.

Wow! You sure are busy these days.

Keep up the great work and keep us filled in here when you can.

Your hard work appears to be paying off.

I cant imagine pitching something yet, sounds scary man lol

HGW

STATUS UPDATE:

In the interest of brevity, I'm going to update a lot of stuff here for now.
I gotta hop on a plane tomorrow morning and have lots to do before then...

And the reason I'm getting on this plane is the last Sherwood Oaks event.
But that's another story I'll touch on at end.

We met with a wide range of producers in the industry.
Their producer credits include...
The Godfather, John Carpenter's The Thing and Enter the Dragon to name a few.

It was invaluable to get these guys to talk openly for a hour and to do a Q&A too.
We topped it off an afternoon with the studio head of Mandalay Vision.

He talked with us for two hours and broke down financial models for us.
It was a great intro to the numbers that propel the film industry.

As with all Sherwood Oaks events, the guests take our leave behinds.
And yes, I did get a hit from a feature producer on one of mine...

But the real eye opener for me was something completely unexpected...
We go around the room to intro ourselves to a new guest speaker.
A few attendees were local and some had worked in town.

So, when it came to me, I decided to let the cat out of the bag about my job.
Suddenly, people looked at me differently, including the guests.
Turns out most of them knew the company I work for.

And that tidbit got other working pros paying to be there interested in me.
Long story short, I have some rather nifty updates on some projects.

LIE DETECTOR

I have a verbal agreement with a producer to make the short here in L.A.
She wants to direct though, but this is where it gets even better...
She will walk me through all the business end of being the lead producer.
So, she helps me be a proper producer, while she expands her skill set too.

She already has a DP in mind and it's a similar work dynamic.
He's a camera operator/tech on tentpole feature films...
But wants to break into proper cinematography.

And when I say tentpole, I'm not kidding around, campers.
His recent projects include Battleship & The Avengers.
And right now he's shooting that Will Smith flick, After Earth.

So with this trio, we have a great little engine for production...

She is a writer/producer that loves action... that wants to direct more.
He is a tech/operator that loves action... that wants to be a cinematographer.
And I am the writer... that wants to learn everything about production.

And we all have the skill sets to help the others expand their job titles.
Which means... before we even meet, we're all on the same page with our goals...

Making a killer calling card of an action/thriller short to further our careers!

It was a no brainer for me, so I said yes on the spot and she was thrilled.
She was sure that *I* wouldn't take a chance on *her*. LOL!

See how it all fits together?
With that common goal, I know we can pull together a top shelf production.
So she brings the DP in to make her look good.
And he brings in guys he knows from those shoots to round out the crew.
And I learn to foster the environment so we can all do the best jobs possible.

CLONE WIFE

I have a feature producer that wants to develop the script more.
We had a great chat for over an hour on how to do that.
He believes it can be a fine studio system project and wants to champion it.
So, I'll work on developing Clone Wife more this spring for his company.

In turn, he invited me to an industry screening of his new feature next week.
It's the day after I get back from this adventure I leave for tomorrow morning...

The Next Great Adventure...

I cant go into detail right now until everything is signed but...
I've somehow stumbled into being granted the life rights to an amazing true story.
And it's so inspiring and heartfelt, this story must be told to a wide audience.

I can't believe the Board of Directors signed off on all this in a matter of hours.
And then I'm booking a flight to attend a charity benefit for their founder.
What started out as a simple inquiry, blew up into all this last week.

When Babz says that controlling life rights is king, she's not joking...
If folks learn that you control an inspiring true life story...
They want to meet you, and it's not just about the project...

One producer took a meeting with me, without knowing anything else about me.
He told me, "I wanted to meet the man that's been trusted to tell that story."
It was something I hadn't even thought of, but it makes perfect sense.

I'll be less stingy with details when I return to L.A. next week, I promise.
So, between that and Lie Detector getting all puffy, I realized something...

"Oh sh*t. I'm a producer now."

So, I pick up my new business cards today and I fly in the morning!

Regards,
E.D.

Keeping it short and simple, CONGRATS! LOL.

Gabe

Very nice, Brett.  Very impressive as well.  Good luck and keep us posted.

Good times and good luck, Brett. Although, from the sound of things, it doesn't sound like you need it. Share the talent, damn you! Lol.

Just kidding. I hope things continue to go well.

Congrats, Brett. Good luck with it.

Sounds like you got a lot cooking Brett!! Awesome!!

I quit those sci-fi people. I feel better already.  

Brett

Well done and thanks for sharing. Please keep going with this as i find it fascinating.

best of luck.

Hey all!

Mucho thanks for the well wishes!
It doesn't feel like I've been back for a week. LOL
But it took that long to keep stoking all these proverbial fires.

Guess I'll temporarily confine updates to here for sanity's sake...

Lie Detector is on track.
My director is in Vancouver right now setting up some feature film financing.
We already have our eyes on a couple actors we both like.
One's a mutual friend that's been featured in Zack Snyder and Michael Bay films.

The other actor bloke is a fella I met at an industry screening last week.
The feature producer that wants to develop Clone Wife invited me along.
So, naturally before I went I checked out actors featured in the film.

My thinking being...
If I can find someone good for Lie Detector that he's worked with...
It's better for our long term working relationship.
I like having multiple reasons to work with the same colleague.

Sure enough, there was a guy I felt looked right. And...
He definitely has the acting chops, as my pal's new movie demonstrated.

So, I put the feelers out and was offered an introduction to said actor.
He's got a solid resume and has been working steady for 15 years...
Worked alongside the likes of Bruce Willis, Tom Selleck, Teri Hatcher & Nathan Fillion.
Long story short, I get the thumbs up to send him Lie Detector.
If I can land him, then he has access to a higher tier of actors.
But I'm doing it right and going through my feature producer pal.

Yikes, getting late. Must be off.
I'll chat about the trip north tomorrow!

Hope you all had a great week!
Tell me what I missed!

Regards,
E.D.

Hi Brett - keep us posted - and reveal names wherever you can. I for one, won't tell....

Hey, wanted to post a last minute update to a class this Friday.
If you're in the L.A. area, there's a great roundtable discussion coming up!

Sherwood Oaks has lined up an impressive list of actors/directors for the class.
This morning they confirmed that J.J. Abrams will be speaking to students!

http://www.sherwoodoakscollege.....-w-producers-actors/

They've got Jay Roach scheduled too, director of Meet the Parents & Austin Powers.
And remember, guests accept one pages for attendees scripts!
All for $99! I wish I was feeling better. Anyone wanna go?

Regards,
E.D.

Great, I have to work.  And of all people!

By the time I get out of work and make my way up, I'll be bumper to bumper by the time it's over.  

I've never been to anything like this, I hope I get the opportunity to check one out eventually.