Part LVII: Deciphering Screenwriter and Filmmaker Resume Speak

Much like the highly-acclaimed article I wrote “Deciphering Consultant Speak”, I think it’s time to decipher, in a much similar way, “screenwriter and filmmaker speak”.

Like the afore-mentioned “consultant speak”- to many folks, screenwriting speak is hardly noticeable, yet it is usually the one thing that client point to as justification for choosing that particular writing “professional”.

In many instances, it is a decision they live to regret, and that’s when they contact me.

Many of these indicators are “tricks of the trade”- marketing tools in an effort to beef up one’s experience and claims. If you’re choosing someone to write for you, and paying them up to tens of thousands of dollars for that screenplay, you want to make sure you are getting what you are paying for.

Here are some of those indicators:

1. The “award-winning screenwriter” - This claim means nothing if the specific awards aren’t mentioned anywhere on their site or business profile. There is a huge difference between winning the Nicholl Fellowship or Scriptapalooza screenwriting competitions, and winning the Oshkosh Screenwriting, Beer and Brat Competition.

2. “Development deals” - This is an impressive claim, and one might be inclined to take this type of consultant seriously- and hire them, since this is one of the goals most screenwriting clients’ have- but are you just going to take their word for it? I would want to know more about these deals, specifically whom they are with, the names of the projects, and where they are in the process. Some might want to claim “privacy”, but if a development deal is going on ten years, I don’t think privacy is a concern at this point. IMdb Pro can usually provide more information on these developments. There is always SOME information you can glean, if they are willing to share it with you. What if you want to hire this screenwriter to work with you on your project, but he’s suddenly called away to work on this “development deal” project? If you’re going to CLAIM it, better be able to back it up.

3. “Considered to be the best…” - Okay…by whom? Normally, one doesn’t toot their own horn. Others who are pleased with your service are very willing to do so through recommendations and referrals. Check out if the consultant HAS any recommendations. I always provide a sheet of some recommendations, complete with the person’s FULL NAME and contact information who provided the recommendation. There is a group of screenwriters out there that claim to be one of “The Top 10 MOST Requested Screenwriters”.

This is complete bullshit, manufactured by this group. This same group manufactured “Screenwriter’s Day”. This is all self-promotion on behalf of this group- although it’s been very effective.

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4. “…has consulted with (fill in major studio names here)” - Again; an impressive claim. Is it true? Has the screenwriter provided specifics on these projects anywhere – as in, the name of the project, or what did thee “consulting” involve? Did you punch up the script, or did you recommend a food catering company at the shoot? Currently, my IMdb has a listing for me as an “Executive Script Consultant”, which is how the producers described my work. It did consist of consulting on the screenplay and overall concept, rewrites and punch-ups (approx. 25% of the final screenplay included my rewrites), and other additional work. I would have preferred a writing credit, but I’ll take what they offered. The good news is that, by virtue of working on this project with a signatory company, I have been certified for membership with the Writers Guild of America (WGA).

?5. “Options”; “Screenplays Sold”; “Film Festival Laurels”; etc. – This is really where the rubber meets the road with screenwriting and filmmaking. There is a vast difference between an option and a script sale, and making a no-budget film with your friend’s over Labor Day weekend, and running a full blown movie set. There is no reason to exaggerate any of it. I constantly see profiles of screenwriters who claim “multiple options”. An “option” is when a producer (or anyone, really) agrees to take your screenplay and “shop it”- trying to find funding for the project, so they can move forward. In the legitimate option world- real screenwriter, real script, real producer- that producer will PAY you for keeping this particular script out of circulation for a stated amount of time (usually 6 or 12 months initially). What they are saying to you is that I like this script and I want to make the film, so here’s some money (usually $3500- $10,000) to keep it out of circulation (meaning you cannot market it, promote it, or enter it into contests, etc.). They know you may be losing other opportunities with this screenplay, so they are paying you for those missed opportunities.

However…

…when you dig down more deeply in these “option” claims from screenwriters, most of them are not real options. They are “no-pay” options, and it’s usually someone they know trying to find someone to fund or film this screenplay of yours. Most of the ones I’ve seen were “shorts”, which makes the claim even more laughable (Sorry- I do NOT put “shorts” in the same category as features or TV pilots). Let’s be real- a “no-pay” option is a “thing”, but not a real thing. I’ve never heard one film funded and filmed with a no-pay option. Why would you take your screenplay off the market and keep them out of competitions for no money in return? It’s crazy. If they don’t have money to option it, they’re never going to finance it to film it. Take their dog for six months- anything!

Selling a screenplay is a HUGE deal- when it is legit. I’m aware of a certain “international” screenwriter (out of Budapest, if I recall correctly), who makes the claim that she sold EVERY screenplay she’s ever written, including her first. This may very well be true- but it IS Budapest. When you look into the sales, you discover that they were all “sold” to the same woman producer. That’s suspiciously odd, considering not one of the screenplays were ever filmed.

The other thing I see are the dozens and dozens of laurels posted on one’s profile, META page or website, extolling the many film festivals in which their film was “accepted”. I get it- this is the ultimate goal of the filmmaker; to be accepted into a film festival…

…but, let’s explore what this REALLY means. It means the filmmaker submitted the film on time; it met all of the basic criteria of the film festival- for time, subject matter, etc.; and they paid the submission fee.

Period.

It’s not a panel of twelve jurors watching and evaluating the professionalism of each film before providing time and spec for them to show it- not with MOST festivals, anyway. Clearly, Cannes or Sundance are going to be much more selective on their entries than the Oshkosh Beer and Brat Film Festival (sorry, Oshkosh; I just love your name!). I have seen some profiles and websites with over FIFTY film festival laurels, and NOT ONE was a well-known festival. I hate to break it to you, but it’s not impressive. In fact, it makes you look pretty silly and unprofessional.

Once you know the key words and phrases often used by some to bolster their somewhat unimpressive resume, you’ll know what specific questions to ask should you want to work with them. There is NOTHING wrong with having that underdeveloped resume. We ALL have to start somewhere and it takes time and experience to get that key “job” or assignment. Don’t pad your stats for the sake of looking better. The effect is quite the opposite.

If we can’t trust your online presence, or your resume, how can we trust you?

THIS WEEK’S PROMO: Pamela Millican- Life Coach; Mind Mastery Coach; Legal Executive; author.

Author and abuse survivor Pamela Millican recently won the prestigious “Life Coach of the Year Award” for 2021. This award is given annually by Corporate Vision’s “Corporate and Recruitment Awards” team. It’s a huge award for the life coaching industry, and well-deserved. When asked how she felt after receiving this honor, Ms. Millican exclaimed “It actually made me feel rather emotional.?I think there is a very small girl still hurting inside that wants to be recognized and things like the award and your comments go a long way to giving me that- and for that, I am very grateful.”

Pamela’s book, “Making Broken Beautiful: From Tragedy and Trauma to Badass, Wealth and Success” is currently available on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Making-Broken-Beautiful-Tragedy-Success/

"Then I froze. What the hell was going on? I didn't understand as I found myself staring into a completely empty room. Paralyzed, I just stood there trying to make sense out of what I was seeing. Where was everyone and everything? Squeezing my eyes tightly shut. I could suddenly hear my heart thumping loudly in my chest and my stomach heaved with a knowing that I didn't want to acknowledge, and I felt really sick. Tears threatening to burst out of my closed eyes, I opened them and looked through the painted crack again. Maybe I was hoping to see something different...".?

Soon to be a major motion picture.

WRITER'S BIO:?Mr. Scala spent 22-plus years in the Hollywood community, and was the?Executive Director?for the?72nd Annual Academy Awards, as well as?The Soul Train Awards,?The Grammys,?The Blockbuster Video Awards Show?and?The Saturn Award Show.?

He is working on his 41st adaptation; the fascinating autobiography?"CALL ME ZENA", by?Sally Barnard?who, after a brief illness, developed high-level artistic skills overnight. He is also developing biopic projects of rock pioneer?Jimmie F. Rodgers,?Motown star?Tammi Terrell?and iconic folk singer?Harry Chapin- all while continuing to mentor hundreds of new writers and self-published authors.

Geno has two screenplays produced and currently on Amazon Prime;?"Assassin 33 A.D."??and?"The Tombs", and - at present -?is the?Executive Script Consultant?of a?major motion picture?scheduled to begin filming Spring, 2022.

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