Category: Insider Tips
Why Litigation is a One-Way Ticket to Showbiz Oblivion
America is litigation crazy. As a nation, we file about 15 million lawsuits annually. An estimated 2.2 percent of our Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is tied up in civil cases. For those who file and argue lawsuits, going to court is a calculated risk. More than 50 percent of tort cases are ruled in favor […]
10 Ways To Get Hollywood’s Attention
Hollywood is a lot like a suburban tot lot, with dozens of energetic, creative, driven and ambitious kids running madly about shouting for attention. Only instead of their parents’ approval, these kids are looking for validation from agents, producers and studios with big checkbooks. As a fledgling writer or director, how do you break through […]
True-Life Stories: Getting “Real” in Hollywood
Basing a film project on true-life events has obvious benefits. True stories — particularly strange true stories — are inherently compelling. Such tales appeal to our desire for authenticity. Plus, if an event that is a matter of public record, it can never be criticized for being “unbelievable.” While Hollywood has a seemingly insatiable appetite […]
Isn’t it Ironic? Irony Isn’t Dead it Just Went to the Movies.
The premise is the cornerstone of all screenwriting. Begin with a great premise and the screenplay practically writes itself. Have a weak premise and all the knowledge of structure, character development, dialogue and formatting in the world won’t save you. So important is premise that many a screenplay pitch has sold on this element alone. […]
Give ‘Em What They Want
If there’s one refrain filmmakers always hear from both production executives and critics alike, it’s that studios want something different! They want something fresh! Something original! And this is true – but only to an extent. Just as life itself can only exist within a very narrow range of temperature, pressure and acidic extremes, so […]
Greenlightmymovie.com – Access Hollywood
Greenlightmymovie.com has teamed up with Fade In magazine and the Hollywood Pitch Festival so that no matter where you are in the world you can place your project directly in front of the motion picture and television industries’ top buyers and representatives. Some of the biggest producers and distributors are taking part, including the makers of Twilight, Harry Potter, Snow […]
Be Detail Oriented
Everyone has a great idea for a movie. Just ask. Actually, you don’t even have to ask. Go to a party, mention that you’re in the Business, and nine times out of ten someone will pull you aside and say, “You know, I’ve got a story that’s a sure-fire Academy Award-winner. It’s about this real-estate […]
The Dos & Don’ts of Pitching a Movie
When you pitch a movie, there are certain key points you should keep in mind. Here at Greenlightmymovie, we call them the Dos & Don’ts of Pitching but you can just refer to them as the best tips for a movie pitch. 1. DON’T “nut and bolt” the movie pitch (that’s pitching everything in […]
The Originality Myth
If there was a dispute over who invented calculus (Newton or Leibniz — who’s your guy?), then you’d better believe your one-in-a-million screenplay idea may not be quite as original as you thought. It’s an experience every screenwriter suffers at least once. Some may endure it dozens of times. You get a “brilliant” idea for […]
