Breaking In: Tales from the Screenwriting Trenches is a no-nonsense, boots-on-the-ground exploration of how writers REALLY go from emerging to professional in today’s highly saturated and competitive screenwriting space. With a focus on writers who have gotten representation and broken into the TV or feature film space after the critical 2008 WGA strike and financial market collapse, the reader will learn from tangible examples of how success was achieved via hard work and specific methodology.
This book includes interviews from writers who wrote major studio releases (The Boy Next Door), staffed on television shows (American Crime, NCIS New Orleans, Sleepy Hollow), sold specs and television shows, placed in competitions, and were accepted to prestigious network and studio writing programs. These interviews are presented as Screenwriter Spotlights throughout the book and are supported by insight from top-selling agents and managers (including those who have sold scripts and pilots, had their writers named to prestigious lists such as The Black List and The Hit List) as well as working industry executives. Together, these anecdotes, learnings and perceptions, tied in with the author's extensive experience in and knowledge of the industry, will inform the reader about how the industry REALLY works, what it expects from both working and emerging writers, as well as what next steps the writer should engage in, in order to move their screenwriting career forward.
By:
Lee Jessup
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 229mm,
Width: 152mm,
Weight: 589g
ISBN: 9781138679115
ISBN 10: 1138679119
Pages: 340
Publication Date: 07 March 2017
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Table of Contents Dedication Special Thanks Introduction Screenwriter Spotlight #1: Erin Cardillo Chapter 1: Understanding the Industry Section 1.1: Profession Evolved: Screenwriting Through the Ages Section 1.2: The Industry Today Section 1.3: Becoming a Screenwriter in Today’s Industry Screenwriter Spotlight #2: Kirk Moore Chapter 2: So… How Do You Break In? Section 2.1: General Insights from Agents, Managers and Executives Section 2.2: Reverse Engineering Your Break Section 2.3: Luck Favors the Prepared: Section 2.4: Your Personal Narrative Screenwriter Spotlight #3: Marissa Jo Cerar Chapter 3: Your Craft Section 3.1: The Importance of Craft Section 3.2: Screenwriting Advice from Industry Professionals Section 3.3: But… Is it Ready? Section 3.4: Decoding the Voice Screenwriter Spotlight #4: Terrell Lawrence Chapter 4: Getting Representation Section 4.1: Agent, Manager, or Both? Section 4.2: What Managers and Agents Look For Section 4.3: Attracting Representation Section 4.4: The Writer/Rep Relationship Section 4.5: Representatives on Representation Section 4.6: Positioning Yourself for Representation Screenwriter Spotlight #5: Eric Koenig Chapter 5: Winning a Screenwriting Competition Section 5.1: Screenwriting Competitions as Vetting Avenues Section 5.2: The Screenwriting Competitions that Matter Section 5.3: But are They Worth It? Industry Perspective Section 5.5: Making the Most of Your Win Screenwriter Spotlight #6: Greta Heinemann Chapter 6: Acceptance Into a TV Writing Program Section 6.1: Overview: Television Writing Program Section 6.2: Television Writing Programs - Requirements Section 6.3: Television Writing Programs - The Industry Perspective Section 6.4: What You Can Do Right Now To Position Yourself For a TV Writing Program Screenwriter Spotlight #7: Chandus Jackson Chapter 7: Receiving a Feature Writing Fellowship or Lab Placement Section 7.1: Breaking down the Feature Fellowships Section 7.2: The Best of the Best: Labs and Fellowships Section 7.3: Positioning Yourself for a Feature Writing Fellowship or Lab Screenwriter Spotlight #8: Melissa London Hilfers Chapter 8: Selling a Spec Screenplay Section 8.1: How Does Today’s Spec Market WorK? Section 8.2: Getting a Spec Out to Market Section 8.3: The Anatomy of a Spec Sale Section 8.4: When a Spec Doesn’t Sell - Measuring Success Section 8.5: The Prestige Lists Section 8.6: Positioning Yourself for the Spec Market Screenwriter Spotlight #9: Moises Zamora Chapter 9: Television: Getting Staffed Section 9.1: Today’s Television Landscape Section 9.2: The Hierarchy of The Room Section 9.3: Getting into The Room Section 9.4: Working Your Way Up: The Benefits Section 9.5: The Room: Compensation Section 9.6: Positioning Yourself for Television Staffing Screenwriter Spotlight #10: Joe Webb Chapter 10: Selling Your Television Pilot Section 10.1: Bypassing the Room: Become a Television Content Creator Section 10.2: Construction Your Show Section 10.3: Pilot Pitch Meetings Section 10.4: The Anatomy of Setting Up A Pilot Section 10.5: Selling a Pilot: Financial Expectations Screenwriter Spotlight #11: Barbara Curry Chapter 11: General Meetings & Writing Assignments Section 11.1: General Meetings Section 11.2: The Road to Writing Assignments Section 11.3: Developing Your Take Screenwriter Spotlight #12: Diarra Kilpatrick Chapter 12: Breaking In the Unconventional Way Section 12.1: Query Letters, The Black List, Live & Online Pitch Opportunities Section 12.2: Web Series and Short Film Section 12.3: Other Avenues for Recognition: Novels, Plays and Other Supplemental Materials Screenwriter Spotlight #13: Tawnya Bhattacharya & Ali Laventhol Chapter 13: Everything You Can Do For Your Screenwriting Career Today Section 13.1: Preparing Yourself for the Industry Section 13.2: Writing Partnerships Section 13.3: Every Screenplay is a Brick: The 3-Step Approach Section 13.4: Networking & Your Screenwriting Community Section 13.5: Your Industry Education Screenwriter Spotlight #14: Isaac Gonzales Chapter 14: The Kitchen Sink - Insights, Guidance and Advice from the Industry Section 14.1: General Advice from Industry Professionals Section 14.2: Mistakes Writers Should Avoid Section 14.3: Living in Los Angeles Section 14.4: Overnight Successes and How Long Building a Screenwriting Career REALLY takes Section 14.5: Jeff Portnoy’s 5 Things Every Writer Should Know Screenwriter Spotlight #15: Danny Tolli Chapter 15: Final Thoughts Section 15.1: Advice for Working Writers Section 15.2: Lee’s Final Thoughts Screenwriter Spotlight #16: Michael Perri
Lee Zahavi Jessup, author of Getting It Write: An Insider's Guide To A Screenwriting Career, is a highly sought after screenwriting career coach with 20+ years of industry experience. Lee’s clients include writers working in film and television, participants in the prestigious television writing programs, contest winners and many more. An invited speaker at the WGA, NBC, UCLA and countless screenwriting conferences, Lee is a contributor for Script Magazine and has been interviewed by many screenwriting-centric television shows, web shows and podcasts.
Reviews for Breaking In: Tales from the Screenwriting Trenches
With Lee Jessup's incredible and informative new book, you will learn the mastery of becoming a working writer with longevity. Lee shows you the value of understanding the current state of the industry, the benefits of screenwriting competitions and fellowships, the paths to staffing on television and selling pilots, and the stories of those who are where you want to be. -Jen Grisanti, Story/Career Consultant, Writing Instructor for NBC, International Speaker How do I love Lee Jessup? Let me count the ways. With Breaking In: Tales from the Screenwriting Trenches, Lee once again brings her 'no BS' approach coupled with a wealth of timely, actionable information designed to help you fearlessly navigate the business of screenwriting. This is cut-through-the-fat, get-after-it advice that will have you on the path to building a screenwriting career. -Rich RB Botto, Founder of Stage 32, Screenwriter, The End Game
