How would I contact "important" people for advice?
I’m at the point now where I won’t get anywhere in my TV writing career unless I ask for advice from someone higher up on the food chain. It’s been one of my biggest stumbling blocks to connect and network with such people because I have been afraid of them and afraid of “bothering” them.
Heck, when I interned for a big TV show during uni, every time I saw the star, I would scamper away as if in fear that he would see me, flick a finger in my direction and electrocute me for being in his path.
I’ve been to seminars and workshops now of writers and producers and their answers for how to get your work seen is the wishy-washy “Well, it happens differently for everybody” answer. I want to know how to help myself, so I’m looking to, say, contact the Jacquemettons (they write episodes of Mad Men) and ask for advice, but I know such people are busy and they aren’t obligated to help me. Also, I’m not looking to use people.
What do I do?
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Are you interested in other peoples feelings or are you interested in helping yourself as a writer? to make a mark in this world, you have to be a brave individual. this means doing things that you would normally not do, in order to better yourself. go to the top and rattle some cages! this is what it takes to be noticed by the right people.
Example: my mother is in a nursing home. she was being neglected and two serious falls, injuring herself. i filed a complaint with my state. no investigator contacted me. i started through the chain of command to find out why i had not been contacted. supervisor after supervisor was contacted and no results. finally, i went to the top…....the Commissioner for the State of Tennessee.
I rattled some cages and got results. this is what it takes for you to prosper in writing endeavors.
Go out and shake some cages. it works.
@aprilsimnel do you have membership in any groups like the Scriptwriters Network, Writers Guild of America, Screenwriters Federation and the like?
I’d say do an internship or really work the relations you have from the past (any academic, industry or social connections may be only x-degrees away from what or who you are looking for). In this day + age, I’ve found it surprisingly easy to reach out to people + even have a couple of project runway peeps as clients + friends! Linkedin is a great place to connect on the biz side of things. I’ve also found conferences to be swell. Cheers + best of luck!
Added here to amend my Q properly:
I’m in my early 40s now (I don’t look it in the least, but I’m tired of being told I have to hide my age). Because of fear of these rich and whatever people, I squandered my opportunities when I was working in TV/film production, mainly by letting one really famous writer/producer’s nastiness to me when I asked to intern for him colour my thinking about approaching people in his position. And he was really, really nasty and dismissive of me. It took me nearly 15 years to realize I hadn’t done anything wrong by asking if he accepted interns.
@bkcunningham – No. The Writer’s Guild only allows working writers to join. But I’ll look into the other ones you mentioned. I’ve not heard of the Screenwriters Federation or Scriptwriters Network. Thanks!
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