A Screenwriter’s Advice on Breaking Into Hollywood
How does one even land a job in Hollywood? These roles aren’t often listed on LinkedIn.
I was lucky enough to speak with an alumni from my university with extensive writing credits on an original series and a feature film. A few words of advice from this lovely alumni who took 30 minutes out of her day to call me:
Cold email producers. Don’t spam them or be rude. Put yourself out there — -ask if they need a production assistant. (Yes, it’s true that most writer’s don’t start in the writing room. A majority of television staff writers start with “below the line” work). Working as a production assistant may be beneficial for writers, given you will understand the process of organizing and filming a show/film.
Have polished (spec and feature) scripts ready. A good resume with work experience is nice, but ultimately it is your portfolio that will make or break you. You can build your portfolio through writing workshops, an MFA-program, or a writing fellowship. Even exchanging work for feedback over Twitter is a step in the right direction.
Spec scripts have become increasingly popular in recent years, given showrunners want to know that your writing can mesh well with their existing program. It’s a common misperception that one writer writes for one character. If you are a staff writer, you will be expected to write dialogue for all characters.
Take the odd jobs. Whether you’re a production assistant or doing other seemingly menial tasks on set, you’ve got one foot in the door. Work these jobs with a positive attitude, be kind to those around you, and you may just meet someone interested in reading your script — or letting you write for their project.
So, where do I find Production Assistant jobs?
Facebook groups, StaffMeUp, and listings on local film office pages are great resources to scour.
Finding work is difficult and breaking into Hollywood is even more challenging, but it’s not impossible. Have a good attitude and write that spec script!
