I talk with my hands
Back in March, I was a panelist on a Writers Guild Foundation forum about publicity — specifically, how film and television writers should approach promoting themselves and their work through the media. As I wrote at the time, it seemed to go pretty well.
This afternoon, I was ego-Googling and discovered that clips from the seminar are available on YouTube:
The audio’s not terrific, and so you’ll probably need to turn your speakers up. This is the main section with me; there are two other parts focusing on other panelists, which you can find if you click through to the main YouTube site.
Chris Day, the head of publicity for UTA, references a memo I wrote around the time of Big Fish. You can find a .pdf of that here.
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June 2nd, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I come from a long line of Italians, so naturally, I talk with my hands also.
I like the way you seemed very comfortable with the audience. I think that gives them the opportunity to absorb a lot more information, instead of a “I’m John August, I wrote this and this and this” spiel.
Plus, it must be humbling to hear that Chris Day lists Go as one of his favorite films of all time. (It is pretty damn good.)
June 2nd, 2007 at 11:27 pm
Humbling? I do not think that word means what you think it means.
June 3rd, 2007 at 4:37 am
Whoops, didn’t mean to put humbling. Thanks for pointing that out.
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:09 am
You have a very engaging style.
Thank you for posting the YouTube clip. I was particularly interested in what you had to say on the topic. You seem to have done a very good job in this area.
June 3rd, 2007 at 9:06 pm
Completely unrelated to the post but… Do you mind if I ask you something?
How can you like Lost man!? I mean, I understand Joe Nobody liking it and thinking Paulo’s role in the series, for instance, was something planned out years in advance that made perfect sense but you…!?
Of course everybody is allowed to like the show – Kate and Juliet are in fact two reasons to watch it heheh, but seriously: when I come here, when I go to Triggerstreet.com, Zoetrope, etc, places where screenwriters hang out and see everyone and their uncle giving the show two thumbs up I can’t help but bang my head on the wall and wonder: Wake up you people, the damn thing is obviously being made up as they go, I mean, are you seriously expecting a proper, non-letdown answer to the monster and the numbers, for instance?
Sorry to come here and whine, but there’s a question somewhere deep down in my rant that I would love to see you answer.
Namaste and good luck!
June 5th, 2007 at 10:59 am
I thought you were very telegenic.
June 6th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I would like to become a Screenwriter. I’m 19 and I am currently enrolled in Keystone College in La Plume, PA. I have always loved being creative in the form of writing, as that is one of my favorite subjects. Ask anybody who knows me, I am very creative, imaginative, and humorous. I love making people laugh,think, and challenge their minds. Writing is something I love to do, and to have my vision put on a screen for all to see amazes me. It’s like thinking of difrerent movements, piecing them together in a choreographed dance, and performing it for an audience. It’s something I am passionate about.
I will be going back to school in the Fall as a 2nd year undergrad. Currently I am majoring in Communication Arts (BA) and possibly a minor in Theatre. I will also try to take a screenwriting course along with other electives. My question related to this post is: Is getting involved in Media a good outlet for a screenwriting career? I’m thinking that after school, I should try get a job in the field of Television Broadcasting, all the while writing screenplays. Hopefully with enough experience and exposure I can start a screenwriting career. Easier said then done, I know, but I guess thats how it goes.
Some people think this is just something I thought of over night. “Your to otimistic”, “Your being unrealistic.” That does intimidate me…a little bit…OK, No it scares me a hell of alot! Does any one have any advice?