{"id":2011,"date":"2009-11-17T17:12:21","date_gmt":"2009-11-17T17:12:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/\/?p=2011"},"modified":"2009-11-17T17:12:21","modified_gmt":"2009-11-17T17:12:21","slug":"opportunities-online","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/opportunities-online\/","title":{"rendered":"Opportunities Online"},"content":{"rendered":"
The reason I got my deal for an online series with FrematleMedia was management had an opportunity to watch me work. \u00a0I had been consulting for them on their new and long-running dramas \u00a0for a number of years. \u00a0They knew how I was to work with and what my general approach to drama development was. \u00a0They watched and knew me personally.<\/div>\n
I think “being watched” is how any one gets any deal in this business. \u00a0It absolutely goes back to your principle of “who knows you.” \u00a0No one is going to risk any kind of a substantial budget on someone they don’t know on some level. \u00a0Spec scripts used to be the way people got to watch and get to know a new writer. \u00a0But those days are pretty much gone. \u00a0Budgets are too high and most everything is an adaption, a franchise property or a remake. \u00a0There are plenty of better known writers ahead of a newbie. \u00a0What a newbie brings to the table is a new eye, a fresh take and original ideas– not easily financed any more (with the rare exception). \u00a0Then there is the nightmare of distribution even if you do get financed.<\/div>\n
That is why I believe online comedy and drama is the future for talent. \u00a0The barrier to entry is low. \u00a0Productions values can be minimal because the screen is small. \u00a0What makes a series successful is really clever and engaging writing. \u00a0The online series is very much a writer’s showcase. \u00a0All you really need is a distinctive voice. \u00a0Distribution is equally available to everyone.<\/div>\n
To prove how clever writing emerges in even the most minimal format– take a look at the article below from THR:<\/div>\n
“Twitter sensation Shit My Dad Says is headed to television. \u00a0CBS has picked up a comedy project based on the Twitter account, which has enlisted more than 700,000 followers since launching in August and has made its creator, Justin Halpern, an Internet star.<\/div>\n
“Will & Grace” creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are on board to executive produce and supervise the writing for the multicamera family comedy, which Halpern will co-pen with Patrick Schumacker. Halpern and Schumacker will also co-exec produce the Warner Bros. TV-produced project, which has received a script commitment. \u00a0The comedy’s title will change if it gets on the air.<\/div>\n
Halpern, 29, had moved back in with his parents in San Diego, and on Aug. 3 he launched “Shit My Dad Says,” a Twitter feed featuring colorful — often profane — comments and pearls of wisdom made by his 73-year-old father during their daily conversations.<\/div>\n
Full article is here: \u00a0Shit My Dad Says<\/div>\n
So Justin Halpern got a deal based on 140 character Tweet depictions of his dad. \u00a0He translated his ear for dialogue into a running comedy. \u00a0The Powers That Be watched him do it. \u00a0Believe me. \u00a0They are watching everywhere! \u00a0There are staff people whose only job is to troll the Internet for new talent. \u00a0If you are talented enough to develop a following they will find you– guaranteed.<\/div>\n
Don’t forget Juno scribe Diablo Cody first got noticed for her blog about being a stripper among other things.<\/div>\n
From her Wikipedia page:<\/div>\n
“Cody began a parody of a weblog called Red Secretary, detailing the (fictional) exploits of a secretary living in Belarus. The events were thinly\u2013veiled allegories for events that happened in Cody’s real life, but told from the perspective of a disgruntled, English\u2013idiom\u2013challenged Eastern Bloc girl. \u00a0Cody’s first bona fide blog appeared under the nickname Darling Girl after Cody had moved from Chicago to Minneapolis, Minnesota.<\/div>\n
Then, Cody signed up for amateur night at a Minneapolis strip club called the Skyway Lounge. Enjoying the experience, she eventually quit her day job and took up stripping full-time. \u00a0Based on the popularity of Pussy Ranch (her City Pages Newspaper blog) received, she was able to secure a publishing contract with Gotham Books. At the age of 24, Cody wrote her memoir Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper.”<\/div>\n
As another site says: \u00a0“she gonzo-blogged about the local sex industry until people with money began to notice. “<\/div>\n
Cody wasn’t the overnight success everyone depicted– she put in long hours developing a distinctive voice that got notice online. \u00a0She was being watched until they knew her.<\/div>\n
Last but not least, the WGA has just admitted its first member for writing a self-financed online series– her name is Ruth Livier. \u00a0Her Writers Guild membership is based entirely on her online credits. \u00a0Livier is a 30+ actress who feared the roles were dwindling for her age range and for her ethnicity. \u00a0Here is the story and a whole Guild issue about writing online series in general. \u00a0WGA Written By<\/div>\n
Here is what Livier has to say about creating her series:<\/div>\n
“In the entertainment community there is typecasting. The \u2018powers that be\u2019 don\u2019t really know what to do with you. In my case I am not dark enough to fit their Latina stereotype and not white enough to be white. That\u2019s why writing and producing for New Media is such a fantastic option. It affords us the opportunities that traditional media hasn\u2019t. Let\u2019s be real, the opportunities to break in through \u2018traditional\u2019 channels are slim. Like my friend Dennis Leoni says, \u201cThe oldest form of affirmative action is the \u2018Good Ol\u2019 Boy\u2019 network.\u201d And he is right. Try breaking through that! If you are not a part of the GOB network, mainstream media is super expensive. I don\u2019t know about other Hispanic Americans with similar upbringings to mine, but rich relatives do not abound. No one has the private money to fund theatrical projects. I am not complaining. I\u2019m grateful for my life experience.<\/div>\n
I\u2019m just saying New Media, the vehicle we are now using for Ylse, is a fantastic resource and a wonderful opportunity for us. We have immediate and unaltered access to a world audience and are circumventing traditional media platforms which are controlled by a small few.”<\/div>\n
Read the full article here<\/div>\n
As the old foundations crumble there is plenty of opportunity for talent willing to think and create in a new way. \u00a0This is the good news in the old media Armageddon. \u00a0My advice is don’t waste your time on a dying paradigm that’s more interested in excluding you than including you. \u00a0This is a tremendous time to be a pioneer and create new ways to tell stories.<\/div>\n
Laurie Hutzler<\/div>\n

\"howard-suber\"

In his class emails he talks about the truism “it’s not what you know, but who you know” which reflects the nepotism, name dropping and almighty rolodex or contact list in Hollywood. \u00a0He turns this notion on its head and says the more important thing is “who knows you.” \u00a0In his class, Dr. Suber<\/a> emphasizes the importance of having credibility and a stellar reputation. \u00a0In my email to him, printed below. I reference his more accurate and useful truism and apply it to my experience and the importance of “being watched” in the context of making a deal or getting a job in the entertainment industry and how New Media affords you the best platform.<\/p>\n

Dear Howard–<\/p>\n

For several years, I have been a consultant for FreMantle Media, one of the leading worldwide media companies. I’ve met and worked with their executives, producers and writers across Europe and Australia. I recently started developing my own online series with them. \u00a0The reason I got my deal was management had an opportunity to watch me work. \u00a0 They knew my work ethic, how I relate to their business and what my general approach to drama development was. \u00a0They watched and knew me personally.<\/p>\n

I think “being watched” is how any one gets any deal or any assignment in this business. \u00a0It absolutely goes back to the principle you articulate about “who knows you.” \u00a0No one is going to risk any kind of a substantial budget on someone they don’t know on some level. \u00a0Spec scripts used to be the way people got to watch and get to know a new writer. \u00a0But those days are pretty much gone. \u00a0Budgets are too high and most everything is an adaption, a franchise property or a remake. \u00a0There are plenty of better known writers ahead of a newbie. \u00a0What a newbie brings to the table is a new eye, a fresh take and original ideas– not easily financed any more (with the rare exception). \u00a0Then there is the nightmare of distribution even if you do get financed.<\/p>\n

That is why I believe online comedy and drama is the future for talent. \u00a0The barrier to entry is low. \u00a0Productions values can be minimal because the screen is small. \u00a0What makes a series successful is really clever, interesting and engaging writing. \u00a0The online series is very much a writer’s showcase. \u00a0All you really need is a distinctive voice. Distribution is equally available to everyone.<\/p>\n

To prove how clever writing emerges in even the most minimal format– take a look at the article below from THR<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“Twitter sensation Shit My Dad Says<\/a> is headed to television. \u00a0CBS has picked up a comedy project based on the Twitter account, which has enlisted more than 700,000 followers since launching in August and has made its creator, Justin Halpern, an Internet star.”<\/p>\n

“Will & Grace” creators David Kohan and Max Mutchnick are on board to executive produce and supervise the writing for the multicamera family comedy, which Halpern will co-pen with Patrick Schumacker. Halpern and Schumacker will also co-exec produce the Warner Bros. TV-produced project, which has received a script commitment. \u00a0The comedy’s title will change if it gets on the air.”<\/p>\n

“Halpern, 29, had moved back in with his parents in San Diego, and on Aug. 3 he launched “Shit My Dad Says,” a Twitter feed featuring colorful — often profane — comments and pearls of wisdom made by his 73-year-old father during their daily conversations.”<\/p>\n

Full article is here: \u00a0Shit My Dad Says<\/a><\/p>\n

So Justin Halpern got a deal based on 140 character Tweet depictions of his dad. \u00a0He translated his ear for dialogue and sense of humor into a running comedy. \u00a0The Powers That Be watched him do it. \u00a0Believe me. \u00a0They are watching everywhere! \u00a0There are staff people whose only job is to troll the Internet for new talent. \u00a0If you are talented enough to develop a following they will find you– guaranteed.<\/p>\n

Don’t forget Juno<\/strong> scribe Diablo Cody first got noticed for her blog about being a stripper among other things.<\/p>\n

From her Wikipedia<\/a> page:<\/p>\n

“Cody began a parody of a weblog called Red Secretary<\/strong>, detailing the (fictional) exploits of a secretary living in Belarus. The events were thinly\u2013veiled allegories for events that happened in Cody’s real life, but told from the perspective of a disgruntled, English\u2013idiom\u2013challenged Eastern Bloc girl. \u00a0Cody’s first bona fide blog appeared under the nickname Darling Girl<\/strong> after Cody had moved from Chicago to Minneapolis, Minnesota.”<\/p>\n

“Then, Cody signed up for amateur night at a Minneapolis strip club called the Skyway Lounge. Enjoying the experience, she eventually quit her day job and took up stripping full-time. \u00a0Based on the popularity of Pussy Ranch<\/strong> (her City Pages Newspaper blog) received, she was able to secure a publishing contract with Gotham Books. At the age of 24, Cody wrote her memoir Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Strippe<\/strong>r.”<\/p>\n

As another site says: \u00a0“she gonzo-blogged about the local sex industry until people with money began to notice. ”<\/p>\n

Cody wasn’t the overnight success everyone depicted– she put in long hours developing a distinctive voice that got noticed online. \u00a0She was being watched until they knew her well enough to invest in her.<\/p>\n

Last but not least, the WGA<\/a> has just admitted its first member for writing a self-financed online series– her name is Ruth Livier. \u00a0Her Writers Guild membership is based entirely on her online credits. \u00a0Livier is a 30+ actress who feared the roles were dwindling for her age range and for her ethnicity. \u00a0Here is the story and a whole Guild issue about writing online series in general in \u00a0WGA Written By Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is what Livier has to say about creating her series<\/a>:<\/p>\n

“In the entertainment community there is typecasting. The \u2018powers that be\u2019 don\u2019t really know what to do with you. In my case I am not dark enough to fit their Latina stereotype and not white enough to be white. That\u2019s why writing and producing for New Media is such a fantastic option. It affords us the opportunities that traditional media hasn\u2019t. Let\u2019s be real, the opportunities to break in through \u2018traditional\u2019 channels are slim. Like my friend Dennis Leoni says, \u201cThe oldest form of affirmative action is the \u2018Good Ol\u2019 Boy\u2019 network.\u201d And he is right. Try breaking through that! If you are not a part of the GOB network, mainstream media is super expensive. I don\u2019t know about other Hispanic Americans with similar upbringings to mine, but rich relatives do not abound. No one has the private money to fund theatrical projects. I am not complaining. I\u2019m grateful for my life experience.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m just saying New Media, the vehicle we are now using for Ylse<\/a>, is a fantastic resource and a wonderful opportunity for us. We have immediate and unaltered access to a world audience and are circumventing traditional media platforms which are controlled by a small few.”<\/p>\n

Read the full article in Hispanic Tips: News and Ideas<\/a><\/p>\n

As the old foundations of Media Empires crumble there is plenty of opportunity for talent willing to think and create in a new way. \u00a0This is the good news in the Old Media Armageddon. \u00a0My advice is don’t waste your time on a dying paradigm that’s more interested in excluding you than including you. \u00a0This is a tremendous time to be a pioneer and create new ways to tell stories. \u00a0As Gary Carter says in his lecture on Storytelling in the Digital Age<\/a>, \u00a0Old Media is based on exclusion (scarcity) and New Media is based on inclusion (abundance). \u00a0 I know which one excites me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I think “being watched” is how any one gets any deal or any assignment in the entertainment business. No one is going to risk any kind of a substantial budget on someone they don’t know on some level. Here is why online is the best way to get noticed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,123],"tags":[25,26,904,27,28,30,31,905,122,759,32,33,34,453,35,36,37,38,39,40,41,899,42],"class_list":["post-2011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nine-character-types-development-script-screenwriting-movie-film-tv-video-online-scripted-drama","category-internet","tag-character","tag-characters","tag-diablo-cody","tag-emotional-toolbox","tag-etb","tag-film","tag-films","tag-howard-suber","tag-internet","tag-juno","tag-laurie-hutzler","tag-movies","tag-nine-character-types","tag-online","tag-screenplay","tag-screenplays","tag-screenwriting","tag-script","tag-scripts","tag-scriptwriting","tag-tv","tag-ucla","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n.jpg",960,720,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n-300x225.jpg",300,225,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n-768x576.jpg",768,576,true],"large":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n.jpg",960,720,false],"ttshowcase_normal":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n.jpg",125,94,false],"ttshowcase_small":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n.jpg",75,56,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n.jpg",960,720,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n.jpg",960,720,false],"Image Size 500x500":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n.jpg",500,375,false],"woocommerce_thumbnail":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n-300x400.jpg",300,400,true],"woocommerce_single":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n-600x450.jpg",600,450,true],"woocommerce_gallery_thumbnail":["https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/30710870_10211699141895539_4496568718662303744_n-100x100.jpg",100,100,true]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Laurie Hutzler","author_link":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/author\/admin\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"I think \"being watched\" is how any one gets any deal or any assignment in the entertainment business. No one is going to risk any kind of a substantial budget on someone they don't know on some level. Here is why online is the best way to get noticed.","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2011"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2011\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2011"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2011"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/etbscreenwriting.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2011"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}