Glossary: Manuscript and Tentpole

At readers’ request, I’ve added two new terms to the Glossary:

MANUSCRIPT
The typed (as opposed to type-set) version of a novel, as originally submitted to the publisher by an author. Much of the editing and revision of a book takes place at the manuscript stage.

TENTPOLE
A major motion picture, generally released in the summer or Christmas season, which is the primary focus of a studio’s marketing attention. The term comes from this analogy: if the tentpole fails, everything will collapse around it.

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May 25, 2005 @ 11:21 am |
Filed under: Film Industry

2 Responses to “Glossary: Manuscript and Tentpole”

  1. BB says:
    May 25th, 2005 at 1:23 pm

    I’ve always been a little puzzled about “step deal” myself. Also “blind deal” is another one. (And no, I don’t have either, which I think is a bad thing ;-)

  2. Kimberly Seilhamer says:
    July 21st, 2006 at 4:28 pm

    I’d like to add that “tentpole” also encapsulate those projects that provide an umbrella where numerous other projects fall under it… like Lucas’ STAR WARS, etc. They are generally one huge, marketing machine.

    My 2 cents.

    KS

 

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