Nearly 50,000 original screenplays are registered with the WGA every year.

Fewer than 200 will get made. That’s a success rate of 0.3%.

The odds suck.

Your writing better not.

I can help.

25 years ago, my first feature screenplay landed me a top agent, a solid manager and arguably one of the most respected actors working today. Since then, I have met and developed projects with every major, mini-major and independent studio industry wide. I’ve sold pitches “in the room” to Paramount, Imagine, Scott Free and AMC.

With 24 feature films, 16 TV pilots and show bibles penned over the last 25 years, and the last decade working as a Development Executive in film and TV for a top-tier, A-list company, I actually do know what I’m talking about.

I imagine you’ve already visited IMDB.com and found me. If not, visit the link. It’s very informative. And sobering.

You’ll see that, no matter the blood, sweat and tears invested over decades of hustling, there is more to making it to your first Hollywood red-carpet premiere than just writing a kick-ass script and waiting for the money to roll in.

Two things, right off the bat, that I wished I’d known before writing my first FADE IN:

#1 - You need to be a student of film. Not a film student. There’s a difference. Understanding the art of storytelling, the ways, means and traditions, is vital as you move forward. Once you understand the rules - the basics - then you’ll know how to break them! If you don’t have time to read, you DON’T have time to write. Don’t waste anyone’s time by throwing words at the computer screen and trusting to luck and timing…

#2 - Don’t underestimate luck and timing - the twin bastards of shattered dreams. You can master your craft, but these two bitches will derail even the most dedicated writers.

Hollywood is the one place you can absolutely die of encouragement.

I am not doing this to encourage you in your journey as a screenwriter. No one should be writing screenplays. No one. It’s a difficult art to master. It’s lonely. It can absolutely destroy your life. There is very little reward for the long hours spent at the keyboard. Especially now.

I’m doing this for purely selfish reasons. If I have to read through, or worse, SIT THROUGH another ham-fisted regurgitation of worn-out cliches and expositive dialogue delivered with the subtlety of a 4am garbage truck, well… you get the idea.