Ive been in the business upwards of 25 years now. How I would sum this up is, its better to build good relationships first, do business later. Be honest and direct, people in this industry can smell bs instantly.
I agree with the idea of the long game. Unsolicited material is never welcome in Hollywood. Also, as a film student in LA, I find that people are more willing to talk to you and help you when you’re a student- it’s a lot harder if you’re just looking for a job or a favor.
@@mukeshkhanal2964 Like every unproduced script made by someone outside of Hollywood is great? Grow up and get serious. I had bad experiences ghostwriting two scripts for independent companies because the people who wanted those scripts were two rigid with what they wanted.
Also, the person I contacted was so freaking nice! And he was already my mentor, before ever talking. I've been learning a lot from him, mostly thanks to you Film Courage!!! So, THANKSSS!!! 🙏🙏🙏❤️
Wow! So, I had this really important meeting yesterday with THE person I would absolutely BE THRILLED to work with and I told him EXACTLY that. Like who I am. Why is my project my heart and soul, and WHY I reached out to him. It went really well. ❤️❤️❤️
Words like Sincerity, Humility, Humanity and Counsel come to mind watching this video. Thank You so much Gary W. Goldstein, I appreciate your honest advice. Once again, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Film Courage!! Simply put, all of your interviews are a Godsend, a True Gift 🤗
Well said! However, if you'd like to be "an expert on things that you know NOTHING about", Hollywood is the place to be! Next thing that you know, people will be asking for your advice on what the President of the US or Congress is doing and they'll be quoting you in the trade and gossip papers for your valuable insight.
Thank you so much for providing an example of what to say to an assistant over the phone, it is crazy helpful! and it's so true! I work in admin for my survival job, and if you reach out to me and ask nicely, I would totally move mountains for you, I would love to help! Especially when the caller is appreciative, it makes me so happy to help them!
Art is not a real job. This expression comes because to be a millionaire artist, you need to do business. There is nothing artistic about spending 2 years of your life at a loss building a business for your arts. So you need to work hard as an artist and aside of that you must be a manager and a salesman. Business is boring. Art is joy.
Being in the "emailing assistants" game for the last three months, I found this to have some very interesting points. I'm a screenwriter, but I also love to create concepts for reality/doc shows. In November, I created the pitch deck for a unique travel series, I figured I'd start pitching it to production companies associated with Netflix. What I have ran into mostly are these companies that don't accept unsolicited material... I understand why, but it made it extremely frustrating since these are the production companies that I really trust to give control on the vision of the series. What I have found to get around this obstacle, is finding producers that are related to the folks at the production companies and emailing them, or their assistants. Now getting a timely response, or one at all, is the tough part. Thank you Film Courage and Mr. Goldstein!
Thank you so much for this video! I always had the sense that I will irritate a company with calls and destroy the relationship instead of building it. But since Mr. Goldstein says the opposite, I am gonna follow his advice. 😊 Thank you again!
I dont know. Lets say I wrote the script for Juno, or I wrote Good Will Hunting, and I sent a cold query letter. That producer would be ignoring, and missing out, on an incredible script. The script should speak for itself. If a producer ignores your query letter, because they dont know you - its their loss.
That just means you gotta be so good at writing that you win competitions, so you can sidestep the pitching process by attracting studio attention vs. vice-versa It’s not an easy path in today’s Hollywood, but it’s also not impossible :)
Nowadays you see writers ruining franchises. In the past the obstacle for writers was the world of connections. It seems bad writers with good connections managed to reach disconnected CEOs. These CEOs were disconnected from employees, and recently they got disconnected from customers too. Bad writers thought they just needed the right connections to be widely worshipped as artists. But no. There are customers, and customers have the money. So their box office fail and who do they blame? "Toxic" customers.
Gary sir talks nicely. But assistance not always helps us materialise our dreams . Head to head influence quickens the success process. It means influencing through a Head source which is close to the Head from whom we expect things. That builds trust and quickens actions. Assistances are indecisive and prolongs the process. Circle of close influence matters.
Sorry pal, I want to work, not have relationships with people. If you don't need me for the job and my skills are not good enough to sell themsleves, it's fine. But don,t expect me to be your friend.
Umm so they'll pick up the phone just gimme advice anytime,..once a week? Sounds like a bunch of rich execs who dont have talent and want to make money everytime with no effort.
In reality, here are the only two ways you may get a response... "My original screenplay X won contest Y". or "Hi producer X, I know important person Y." Otherwise, you are fucked.
This guy is such a good communicator, he could convince anyone to hand over their credit card details.
Exactly what I was thinking, and in a perfect voice for it.
This video gave me the best advice of all the +100 entries on the channel.
I agree with Zeki!
Ive been in the business upwards of 25 years now. How I would sum this up is, its better to build good relationships first, do business later. Be honest and direct, people in this industry can smell bs instantly.
This is why we see so much bullshitty movies.
And this is why see propaganda in each movie.
Because everyone fucking honest lol)))))
So you've been a janitor at some studio for the last 25 years? Good for you, Simple Jack.
I agree with the idea of the long game. Unsolicited material is never welcome in Hollywood. Also, as a film student in LA, I find that people are more willing to talk to you and help you when you’re a student- it’s a lot harder if you’re just looking for a job or a favor.
Unsolicited material is never welcome in Hollywood, you say. That is precisely why Hollywood sucks and produces the crap it does.
@@mukeshkhanal2964 Like every unproduced script made by someone outside of Hollywood is great? Grow up and get serious. I had bad experiences ghostwriting two scripts for independent companies because the people who wanted those scripts were two rigid with what they wanted.
“Dare to be uncomfortable” needed to hear that
Also, the person I contacted was so freaking nice! And he was already my mentor, before ever talking. I've been learning a lot from him, mostly thanks to you Film Courage!!! So, THANKSSS!!! 🙏🙏🙏❤️
Wow! So, I had this really important meeting yesterday with THE person I would absolutely BE THRILLED to work with and I told him EXACTLY that. Like who I am. Why is my project my heart and soul, and WHY I reached out to him. It went really well. ❤️❤️❤️
Words like Sincerity, Humility, Humanity and Counsel come to mind watching this video. Thank You so much Gary W. Goldstein, I appreciate your honest advice. Once again, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You Film Courage!! Simply put, all of your interviews are a Godsend, a True Gift 🤗
"No one is unreachable." Love it. Thank you.
Hollywood is not worth breaking into, unless you fit into their circle. Spare your feelings and make your own niche, work for your audience. 🌹
Well said! However, if you'd like to be "an expert on things that you know NOTHING about", Hollywood is the place to be! Next thing that you know, people will be asking for your advice on what the President of the US or Congress is doing and they'll be quoting you in the trade and gossip papers for your valuable insight.
This channel is sneaking into my faves list. Great content
“Sneaking”? It stampeded into mine! :P
Thank you so much for providing an example of what to say to an assistant over the phone, it is crazy helpful! and it's so true! I work in admin for my survival job, and if you reach out to me and ask nicely, I would totally move mountains for you, I would love to help! Especially when the caller is appreciative, it makes me so happy to help them!
Glad it was helpful Olga!
Film Courage, i just love you guys. Thank you for all this inspiring material, to me you are the epitome of transparent and wholesome film education.
Networking is the best way, but also have a solid script.
Gary's assistants seeing this video and getting ready for the incoming thousands of phone calls 😱
Art is not a real job. This expression comes because to be a millionaire artist, you need to do business. There is nothing artistic about spending 2 years of your life at a loss building a business for your arts. So you need to work hard as an artist and aside of that you must be a manager and a salesman. Business is boring. Art is joy.
Wonderful advice.
Be yourself above all else.
You're all you have and you have alot.
Peace and God Bless.
Being in the "emailing assistants" game for the last three months, I found this to have some very interesting points. I'm a screenwriter, but I also love to create concepts for reality/doc shows. In November, I created the pitch deck for a unique travel series, I figured I'd start pitching it to production companies associated with Netflix. What I have ran into mostly are these companies that don't accept unsolicited material... I understand why, but it made it extremely frustrating since these are the production companies that I really trust to give control on the vision of the series. What I have found to get around this obstacle, is finding producers that are related to the folks at the production companies and emailing them, or their assistants. Now getting a timely response, or one at all, is the tough part. Thank you Film Courage and Mr. Goldstein!
Thank you so much for this video! I always had the sense that I will irritate a company with calls and destroy the relationship instead of building it. But since Mr. Goldstein says the opposite, I am gonna follow his advice. 😊 Thank you again!
HeartSpeek.. My Personal experiances .. are vaidated by ur comments.. Thank You,..
What do you like about this advice? Anything you disagree with?
I dont know. Lets say I wrote the script for Juno, or I wrote Good Will Hunting, and I sent a cold query letter. That producer would be ignoring, and missing out, on an incredible script. The script should speak for itself. If a producer ignores your query letter, because they dont know you - its their loss.
I can write a story... but I couldn't sell a life preserver to someone drowning. ugh...
That just means you gotta be so good at writing that you win competitions, so you can sidestep the pitching process by attracting studio attention vs. vice-versa
It’s not an easy path in today’s Hollywood, but it’s also not impossible :)
Love this one
The number of 4 minute phone calls going out to assistants is about to jump 1000%
Thanks for the outstanding information !!
Great advice!
How do you succeed at the “game” ? By being a truthful and authentic human being. Imagine that.
Truthful and authentic only works if you have a good product to go with it.
I think you have to offer something. You can't just call and ask for something. Offer something you can help with.
Nowadays you see writers ruining franchises. In the past the obstacle for writers was the world of connections. It seems bad writers with good connections managed to reach disconnected CEOs. These CEOs were disconnected from employees, and recently they got disconnected from customers too. Bad writers thought they just needed the right connections to be widely worshipped as artists. But no. There are customers, and customers have the money. So their box office fail and who do they blame? "Toxic" customers.
Gary sir talks nicely. But assistance not always helps us materialise our dreams . Head to head influence quickens the success process. It means influencing through a Head source which is close to the Head from whom we expect things. That builds trust and quickens actions. Assistances are indecisive and prolongs the process. Circle of close influence matters.
I wish this video existed a decade ago.
I feel like this guy is looking down from 30,000 feet.
Do you know anybody by the name of Linda Monroe?
Hell, from stories told by A-List legends-Hollywood doesn't seem welcoming
Before you reach out, make sure that you have a great and unique product, or you're wasting your time.
Great advice
Sorry pal, I want to work, not have relationships with people. If you don't need me for the job and my skills are not good enough to sell themsleves, it's fine. But don,t expect me to be your friend.
Umm so they'll pick up the phone just gimme advice anytime,..once a week? Sounds like a bunch of rich execs who dont have talent and want to make money everytime with no effort.
In reality, here are the only two ways you may get a response... "My original screenplay X won contest Y". or "Hi producer X, I know important person Y." Otherwise, you are fucked.
Sounds like nonsense to me.