by Voyage | Mar 17, 2010 | Uncategorized
In an age when many decisions in Network Television are made out of fear (i.e. the now infamous Conan O’Brien vs. Jay Leno debacle), it’s easy for both current and would-be TV writers/producers to jump on the bandwagon of cynicism. Despite what may seem like a constant brain-drain towards less and less cerebral or character-driven programming, there’s still a market for your unbridled creativity. For the March issue of the Starbird, Nat Mundel interviews Chris Levinson, an accomplished writer and producer for shows like Party of Five, Dawson’s Creek, and Law & Order. In this interview, Nat and Chris break down the broad points and steps to be taken when pitching a show idea to a room full of (up to 12!) scary network Execs. From what Chris tells us, passion is definitely a contagion that network Execs are more than happy to get infected with. 1) Explain why you’re passionate about the project. Why did you create this show? 2) Pitch your logline. 3) Take your audience through a character breakdown. 4) Walk everyone through an episode breakdown. Treat it like a performance! 5) Bookend the pitch with your passion! Infect the Execs with it! Archives December 2024 (2) November 2024 (2) October 2024 (3) September 2024 (2) April 2023 (1) January 2023 (1) December 2022 (1) October 2022 (1) June 2020 (1) April 2020 (1) February 2020 (1) January 2020 (1) October 2019 (1) August 2019 (1) June 2019 (1) January 2019 (1) April 2018 (1) March 2018 (1) February 2018 (1) January 2018 (1) December 2017 (1) November 2017 (1) October 2017 (2) July 2017 (4) April 2017 (1) February 2017 (1) January 2017 (1) December 2016 (1) November 2016 (1) October 2016 (1) September 2016 (2) June 2016 (1) May 2016 (1) April 2016 (1) February 2016 (3) January 2016 (1)... read more
by Voyage | Oct 18, 2009 | Uncategorized
Who wouldn’t want to be known as a vital creative force in the workplace and in life? Creativity is a unique and core component of our species, some believe it’s the very reason for our species. And yet so many of us shy away from it. Why? Because the road to true creativity is fraught with real fear, and so we opt out in one of two ways: We project creative excellence onto others – the artists, the visionaries, the people who can’t get up in the morning and hold a day job, and so on. The failing here is seeing creativity as a gift bestowed on a select few rather than a muscle to be worked out by all. We lower the bar – i.e. we praise tired, mediocre work as creative genius. Here, creativity is demystified, readily available for the claiming, even if we fail to understand exactly what it really is. The “sin” here is reversed: Seeing creativity as pure muscle and ignoring the subtleties that arise from a natural given talent. How then should we tap true creativity in a world where it is regularly forsaken or faked? Here are seven steps that will help cultivate and channel creativity, handpicked from across the expansive ethers of the Internets… 1. Have the COURAGE to try new things and risk failure. Every big breakthrough starts as a harebrained idea. This doesn’t mean you should constantly go off the deep end, just that you should balance your portfolio of solutions with an investment in the new and untried. Over time, the risk is usually worth the reward. 2.... read more
by Voyage | Sep 14, 2009 | Uncategorized
I sat down with Michael Garcia, former VP of Drama Development at HBO. With hits like The Sopranos, Big Love, and True Blood-a whole new perspective on the art of pitching emerged Nat: Why don’t you tell me a little bit about your career? M: The factual account is like this: I moved out here 11 years ago. I started at 20th Century Fox as an assistant in comedy development and left to go to Industry Entertainment before starting up at HBO. Over 7 years I became the Vice President and the co-head of Drama series. Nat: Is there a value system you live by that brought you up the ranks so quickly? M: I had just turned 24 years old and I was an executive already, right? And what happened was that I shifted my way of thinking from one rooted in ambition, to thinking, “What can I give in this situation?” How can I help? It takes the pressure off, and it all becomes about learning, and people, and facilitating communication. Nat: So it’s almost as though regardless of external frames of reference-wealth, money, power-you were able to capture a core essence of who you are. M: Exactly. When I finally started to have integrity, then everything made sense. There are two polar orientations: 1. What do I get from this? verses 2. What can I give to this? Nat: Let’s use that as a turning point and step into the minds and hearts of the artists who are trying to get their stories told. M: If you can walk into a room knowing who you are... read more
by Voyage | Sep 9, 2009 | Uncategorized
With seven simple tips, Harvard psychology professor Stephen M. Kosslyn utilizes his latest research on cognition, memory and perception, to offer some pointers for filmmakers conquering the final frontier-marketing the product. Join our resource page on Facebook, “The Art of the Pitch” for more great tips on how to effectively present ideas and to share your insights with others. 1.) Use Words AND Pictures. The brain processes both in two different places; using both is twice as effective! 2.) ALWAYS tell a story. Whether it’s the story of the film, the story of the making of the film, or the story of you, our minds connect to narratives! 3.) SPECIFY and TAILOR: NEVER the Lowest Common Denominator. Soccer moms in Encino might have a different agenda than hipsters in Silverlake. Get creative in how you market and approach both! 4.) Speak TO people, not AT them. If you can establish that connection with your audience, they are going to like you and your film that much better. 5.) YOU are the key element to selling your film. The greater the range of communication tools in your arsenal (ie personal anecdotes, jokes, etc) the better. Think Barack, people. 6.) Take a Breather. A photo, blank slide, joke, cartoon. They give your audience a much needed break to absorb what they’ve already learned…pace the gems! 7.) Going Guerilla. Be prepared for questions, interaction, getting down and dirty with your audience! Interaction with your audience and your market is key to your success in doing this. So don’t be afraid to talk about it and sell it!! Archives December 2024 (2) November... read more
