At a screenwriting conference session I attended in Austin, I remember a top screenwriter telling us how her big career break, the one that elevated her to A-list status, came out of the blue – from a mere acquaintance. She was grateful, of course, but also mused at what had just happened to her. After she’d struggled for years, nearly giving up, one strong referral from this benefactor resulted in her working with one of Hollywood’s biggest name directors and put her career on solid ground. Lucky breaks, she discovered, were for real.
And what also surprised her, she said, was how the big break had come around. She said that she had nurtured relationships with so many others in the business. She’d been generous with her time and support, ideas and good will. But not one of her friends and acquaintances had done anything to give her a leg up in the industry. It was a near stranger who stepped up to the plate.
Her takeaway? Screenwriting work is a business, like any other. You need to work at initiating, negotiating, and closing deals. You offer your skill set on a project by project basis. You do excellent work. Word gets around. Then lucky breaks happen.
inSh