Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriter's Agents, 2002-2003: Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over! [Paperback]

Skip Press (Author)

Book Description

Series: Writer's Guide | Publication Date: June 7, 2001

Now You Have a Friend in the Industry!
So you want to get into show business? In Hollywood, it's not what you know, but who you know that counts. Whether your dream is to become a Hollywood writer or find the perfect producer to buy your script, at your fingertips are the insider hints and secrets you need to get discovered and succeed in this ultracompetitive industry. Hollywood guru and screenwriter Skip Press introduces you to hundreds of producers, directors, and agents and tells you how to reach them—by mail, phone, fax, or e-mail. You'll learn how to:
·Market screenplays, novels, or short stories to the right people
·Tailor your proposal to the preferences of each producer, director, or agent
·Understand the real Hollywood and everything show business
·Find the best agent or manager
"Thoughtfully written, clearly laid out, and of great value to beginners and old-timers alike. This book combines fearless opinions and invaluable hard facts—both of which are hard to find in Hollywood." —Gareth Wigan, co-vice chairman, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
"An entertaining and valuable tool for anyone interested in show business." —Paul Mason Sr., vice president of production, Viacom
"An invaluable resource for breaking into the movie and television business." —Barbara Anne Hiser, Emmy-winning cable and network television producer
"An insightful guide to the intricate Hollywood network." —Oliver Eberle, founder and CEO, ShowBIZData.com
"The bonus for readers of this book is that Skip Press is a good writer—accessible, clear, persuasive, motivating, and easy to understand." —Jerry B. Jenkins, coauthor, the Left Behind series

Editorial Reviews

Review

Now You Have a Friend in the Industry!

From the Inside Flap

Now You Have a Friend in the Industry!
So you want to get into show business? In Hollywood, it's not what you know, but who you know that counts. Whether your dream is to become a Hollywood writer or find the perfect producer to buy your script, at your fingertips are the insider hints and secrets you need to get discovered and succeed in this ultracompetitive industry. Hollywood guru and screenwriter Skip Press introduces you to hundreds of producers, directors, and agents and tells you how to reach them?by mail, phone, fax, or e-mail. You'll learn how to:
·Market screenplays, novels, or short stories to the right people
·Tailor your proposal to the preferences of each producer, director, or agent
·Understand the real Hollywood and everything show business
·Find the best agent or manager
"Thoughtfully written, clearly laid out, and of great value to beginners and old-timers alike. This book combines fearless opinions and invaluable hard facts?both of which are hard to find in Hollywood." ?Gareth Wigan, co-vice chairman, Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group
"An entertaining and valuable tool for anyone interested in show business." ?Paul Mason Sr., vice president of production, Viacom
"An invaluable resource for breaking into the movie and television business." ?Barbara Anne Hiser, Emmy-winning cable and network television producer
"An insightful guide to the intricate Hollywood network." ?Oliver Eberle, founder and CEO, ShowBIZData.com
"The bonus for readers of this book is that Skip Press is a good writer?accessible, clear, persuasive, motivating, and easy to understand." ?Jerry B. Jenkins, coauthor, the Left Behind series

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Prima Lifestyles; Revised edition (June 7, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761531874
• ISBN-13: 978-0761531876
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Skip Press (www.skippress.com) has edited a Hollywood entertainment magazine, produced and directed plays, made instructional videos, sold feature film scripts, served as the Hollywood correspondent for Boys Life, been a staff writer for a UPN kids show, published young adult novels and non-fiction series like Star Families, and taught an online screenwriting course that was available in 1,500 schools. He has published almost 40 books, including four editions of Writer's Guides to Hollywood, four editions of the Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting (including one in Russian). He had three books come out in 2009 including This Is My Song: A Memoir, by Patti Page with Skip Press. His most recent book (2010) is the Complete Idiot's Guide to Making Money with Craigslist. His most recent screenplay consultation resulted in a director getting his first feature film deal with The Bubble Factory in Los Angeles. His first how-to writing book, How To Write What You Want & Sell What You Write, has been selling steadily for almost two decades. The latest version from Fall River Books comes out in the summer of 2011. Many of the books he ghost-writes and edits have hit #1 in their category on Amazon, such at the Ultimate Guide to Video Game Writing & Design, which stays at or around #1 (Press sold the book and edited it).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars much ado about nothing, October 19, 2002

By 

Bo Armstrong (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriter's Agents, 2002-2003: Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over! (Paperback)

This book is mostly hype and little delivery. The "inside" information can largely be found on the net and/or in better-written books by screenwriters of prominence. The agent and producer listings are vague and of little help. The book tells you almost nothing about "what they want" and virtually nothing about "how to win them over." All in all, it's poorly written and verbose and could have been cut down to a third of its length. Some of it is shockingly inappropriate, such as recommending to African-American writers where they can get good fried chicken in LA. In sum, it's yet another add-water-and-stir screenwriting book by somebody long on self-aggrandizement and short on Hollywood experience. I also find it quite suspicious that twelve five-star reviews here on ... were posted within a three-day period. Yeah, right.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Should be better, April 28, 2004

By 

David C. Zartman (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriter's Agents, 2002-2003: Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over! (Paperback)

There is some decent info, but the worst part is how outdated the numbers and addresses are! You go to call a company and they're gone! Same with addresses--I had many queries returned to me because the company was no longer there. So then, what's the point of the book if you can't get ahold of the people?

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars More "advice" from someone with no record., October 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Writer's Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriter's Agents, 2002-2003: Who They Are! What They Want! And How to Win Them Over! (Paperback)

The truth is that if you want to make it in Hollywood, you have to come to Hollywood. You can't phone it in, and producers don't have the time or the inclination to track down scripts... they are sent 100 a week to choose from. This book is worse advice than you would get in one night of hanging out at any bar in LA that real, credited writers go to. I mean, look at the other credits this writer has... "your modeling career"... what the heck sort of background does this give so that the writer can speak to script writing, being that he has no script sales (verified by using Studio System, the entertainment industry database) or movies to his credit? The advice in here is plain, common sense, not insightful... and what the other poster said about telling Black writers where to get the best fried chicken in LA is just the sort of stuff you get. He spends three pages detailing how many brads to bind scripts with... and if you actaully talk to any agent, the truth is they don't care. In short, this book is worthless, written by someone with no experience in the subject.