Phil,

I am a former producer for local and national TV (news, sports, entertainment, corporate) and I enjoy writing in general. I have an B.A. in English and I’m told by coworkers and casual friends that I have a talent for writing.

I’ve always been a film fanatic, especially the golden age era of the industry. The recent influx of film production [in my home state] and the daily media stories about Hollywood icons such as Clint Eastwood and George Clooney filming here have spurred me to seriously pursue my interest.

I’d like to combine my affinity for writing and interest in the film industry and apply them to screenwriting.

I’ve read everything I can about the topic, both online and at the local library.

In your recommendation, what should be my next step? Do you recommend any workshops, online courses, or screenwriting software?

Thank you in advance for your feedback.

ANSWER:

It's officially time to start writing. Screenwriting is not a huge mystery. The hardest part is often just realizing that you're ready to get started. It sounds like you've done your research on exactly what the craft is, so now you need to start practicing.

Writing for the big screen is a format-heavy process. Meaning, it helps to have an understanding of the basic structure and format of a typical screenplay. You can do this simply by reading existing screenplays -- not transcripts, but actual screenplays. You'll quickly get an understanding of how the story, dialogue, characters and scene descriptions are laid out. When you start writing, a good timesaver to consider is to buy a software program that will do the formatting for you such as FINAL DRAFT (available at Amazon.com, FinalDraft.com, and a number of other retailers). There are others out there like SCRIPT THING, MOVIE MAGIC, etc., but FINAL DRAFT has always been my preference and is the first choice of most production companies.

The point though that I really want to get across here is that you just need to start somewhere. Start by figuring out what the beats are to your story. If you don't know the whole story, start by figuring out pieces until it seems like it's coming together. Every writer's process is different than the next and this time will be spent figuring out what process works for you. You may find that starting with an outline makes it easier, or 3x5 cards, or a story timeline, or you might find that you're most comfortable just jumping right into the script. Whatever works for you is what's right. One man's recipe for success in Hollywood is another man's disaster, so you really need to find out what works for you and go with it.

So, no more excuses -- figure out what your story is and start writing -- period. The sooner you do, the sooner you'll hone your craft and have something that is hopefully worth producing.

Good luck!

I'm going to be starting a series of articles on what you need to do to get your acting career off the ground. Keep coming back over the next few weeks as I'll be adding to this subject regularly. [p] How to get an agent, what classes you can take, what to avoid and how to get started.

Well, unlike last year when things had slowed to an absolute crawl because of the writer's strike, the first workday of the new year has definitely proven that Hollywood is back up and running strong.

Aside from the slow down in the television production realm (broadcast networks are continually pulling back on the number of shows they're buying), there is quite a lot of activity out there and you should be taking advantage of it. Cable networks are dramatically increasing the number of scripted programs they offer and feature film companies are scheduling a huge production slate for 2009 that dwarfs previous years.

If you haven't already, now is definitely the time to familiarize yourself with the Hollywood trades. I know I've mentioned this numerous times in the past (and probably will again). But it's crucial that you religiously read these to find out what's happening and where and most importantly, when. You don't have to read the printed versions, just go to their websites at Variety.com and HollywoodReporter.com to see the most recent news and updates.

If your goal is to get a job in film and television this year, make a resolution to yourself to really give it your all to find out what's out ther and what might appeal to you. There's no time like the present, so stop making excuses (you know you always can identify an excuse) and CHOOSE to push forward into your new career choice.

Wishing you a very successful 2009 and beyond!

I was speaking with a woman the other day about why she didn't seem to be getting any acting gigs. I asked her what her process was and she told me that she's been waiting to hear from her agent, but that he never seems to call her. When she calls him to check in, he seems annoyed by her call, so now she's afraid to contact him.

So, here's what I told her...

I said she has GOT to stop waiting for someone to call her with an opportunity. That is likely NEVER going to happen. She has to find the opportunities on her own. Agents have little incentive to try for non-revenue generating clients, so the only way for you to succeed in this case is to be agressive.

You have to get out there. If your phone isn't ringing, what else can you be doing to try to locate a few opportunities? What classes can you be taking? What auditions can you be researching? What people can you be meeting that can help you along the way? The point is, that you can't simply wait by the phone. Assume you MAY NEVER GET A CALL. Suddenly makes it easier to get off the couch, doesn't it?

About her agent being annoyed with her -- well, he's only annoyed because there's nothing new to share. So, share something with HIM. Tell him about the classes you're going to take, the people you've met, and so on. He can follow up on your behalf with a lot of the people you make and he can bring those people to performances you might find on your own.

Your success in Hollywood is in YOUR hands. You can succeed here if you so desire - talent or not. It's a matter of being PRO-active instead of RE-active. So, again -- close your laptop and get out there.