So my roommates and I just arrived in LA from Chicago about a week ago looking to graduate this semester with writing/producing TV majors. How should students like us go about finding work here in LA? Any and all advice would be GREATLY appreciated!
Screenwriting : Student new to LA by Melinda Heaney
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I'm always surprised to hear the schools offering a major in this discipline do not offer advice on how to get work in the specific career choice. With a writing major students like you should write several spec TV scripts and use your connection to the school to get internships in the writers room of a TV series. With a producing major students like you should use you connection to the school to get internships with TV producers.
ok thank you. yea everything we've been told so far is just to go out and try and get connections. we've also been told that studios nowadays want original pilots and not specs. so far we have all been met with a lot of contradictive advice on how to break into the industry here =(
Try to get an internship for an up coming producer at one of the studios / tv networks . A former student that I use to teach went that route and landed a internship that turned into a job on the Regis and Kathy Lee show . Networking is very important, to survive out there. Remember, it's not who you know out there, but it's 'How do YOU KNOW THEM' that's what's important !!! (because everyone out there knows some one.) Good Luck
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Intern, intern, intern... Rinse and repeat.
The advice may seem to contradict because there is no, one path. Many studios are looking for original pilots. That doesn't mean that prodCo with studio deals aren't looking for staff writers - and they want to see writing samples. Most studios will not look at original pilots from unrepresented writers. Working up to the show runner position is still one of many paths. starting as the show runner is rare - even with a masters degree.
oh yeah i dont want to start out as a show runner. im fine just working my way up and getting some good writing experience for now ^^
In that case the advice you're getting is not contradicting each other. It's different advice for different paths. As a student you are in a great place to get internships. Use that. Get in that writers room. Once you're out of school internships are hard to come by. In the mean time write those TV specs. Going in to a meeting with five, excellent spec script is a huge advantage.
but everyone is telling me now that no one wants specs anymore. they want original pilots. then i get some people telling me i need an agent or manager but then others saying i dont. thats what i mean when i say contradictory. stuff like that
In order to get a job as a writers assistant you will need several spec scripts as a writing sample. In order to be considered for a staff job you will need several spec scripts as a writing sample. An original pilot written on speculation is still a "spec script". So, perhaps it isn't a contradiction but a misunderstanding. Every producer (and agent) is looking for a writer with a writing sample. Those script are written on speculation - so they are "specs". In order to submit to the major studios and prodCo's you need an agent. A writer who is trying to sell to independent producers may not need an agent. So that advice is not contradictory - but different advice for different situations.
That is a great question and I was thinking of asking the same. Kudos for already getting out to LA! That's a first step. I'd like to know how one gets a hold of these producers? Do you literally go to the studios? My school prides themselves as indie filmmakers, and the very few Hollywood courses I took wasn't aimed towards writers.
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Emi, you do not go to the studios. Producers with studio deals will not look at unsolicited scripts - if studio deals are your goal an agent is necessary. How one gets a hold of producers is research. Research producers you would like to send a query letter to. Most have offices - some on studio lots, many off of the lots. Indie filmmakers may be more open to unsolicited scripts.
Personally, I just want to be on the writing staff and even the industry show runner didn't divulge details on how to get there. Thanks for the advice D.
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@Emi - You need to have great specs/pilots to prove that you can write at that level and do it FAST, and get them read by someone who can help you to even have a slight chance of getting staffed. As a graduate, you can try and intern and work your way up, or write, write, write. It's the only way to get better.