Writing a Letter to Get Produced
August 11 - 12, 2022
8 to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 to 7 p.m. Pacific)
“One letter can change the trajectory of your career.”
~ David Kirkpatrick
Imagine writing a letter to a producer or a production house.
Your intent is to get your screenplay produced, but is that your lede? Is that your ask?
You have one chance. One chance to make a positive impression.
How do you do it?
What do you put in that letter?
What do you NOT put in that letter?
If you want a positive response, that letter is probably different from what you might think.
And it’s a letter. Not a Facebook post. Not a DM. Not an email. A physical letter that is sent with a tracking number.
You can do this, but you need to learn the secret sauce. David Kirkpatrick, former president of Paramount and former production chief of Disney Studios, will reveal the special ingredients to writing a letter that will get your project produced.
When he wrote his first letter at age 12 to Walt Disney, it was answered by Disney himself. Over the years, through old-school letters, David has been able to connect with almost anyone in the world, from author Harper Lee to shock jock Howard Stern to the chairman of Universal Pictures.
Most emerging screenwriters write the wrong letter to producers, managers, and agents. David is leading this workshop because he’s seen so, so many writers get it wrong. And he wants you to get it right.
The key, he says, is to build a relationship, not just ask a favor.
And he’ll show you exactly how to do that in this two-night workshop.
Here’s how the class will unfold.
On Thursday night, David will walk you through the basics of writing an effective letter to a film producer, agent, or manager.
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How long should it be?
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What’s the best way to send it?
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Are handwritten letters more effective?
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How do you introduce yourself and your work?
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How do you build a relationship?
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What do you ask for?
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How do you find the producer’s address and contact information?
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How do you follow up?
For Friday night, you'll be asked to write a letter to a specific individual of your choice.
David will share his comments and changes on a half a dozen of the letters. This interactive session will help you see how to improve your own letters.
Faculty
Registration fee:
$99 for four hours of instruction
EVENING CLASS
August 11 & 12, 2022
8 to 10 p.m. Eastern (5 to 7 p.m. Pacific)
Please note: Our classes are designed specifically for live participation, so your attendance is important. If you need to miss a class for any reason, you’ll receive a passcode-protected link to watch the recordings after the course is over.
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