Gary W. Goldstein - Conquering Hollywood: The Screenwriter’s Blueprint for Career Success

FROM THE PRODUCER OF PRETTY WOMAN

Conquering Hollywood

The Screenwriters Blueprint for Career Success

Gary W. Goldstein

Bigger Picture Press
Los Angeles, California

Conquering Hollywood

The Screenwriters Blueprint for Career Success

Copyright 2013 Gary W. Goldstein

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Published 2013 by Bigger Picture Press

Santa Monica, California

For information about bulk order special discounts

Please contact Bigger Picture Press

www.ConqueringHollywood.com

First Edition July 2013

ISBN 978-0-9897152-1-8

Published And Printed In The United States Of America

Book Cover Design by David Kessler

Layout Design by Thomas White

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate web addresses or other informations at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors, or for changes that occur after publication. Neither the author nor publisher has any control over and does not recommend, endorse or assume any responsibility for third-party services, products, websites or their content.

To my dad, who encouraged me to follow my intuition,

find my true gifts and, above all, be happy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

One name goes on the book, yet many contributed. To all who generously shared their time, invaluable insights and counsel throughout the writing of this book, Im deeply grateful.

To J.F. Lawton, Allison Burnett, Richard Hatem, Ilana Bar-Din, Bob Berlinger, Jon Bernstein and the many others who entrusted to me either the management of their career or the responsibility of producing their projects, its an honor to act as steward of anothers creativity and Im humbled and thankful.

A galactic thank you to my editor, Jeanne McCafferty. Ever-gracious, unyielding in her enthusiasm, fiercely smart, unfailingly thorough, Jeanne educated me every step of the way. This book fulfills its promise in large measure thanks to Jeanne who is impeccable, ever-patient, gently honest, unwilling to settle.

To my friends, inspirations, teachers, mentors and role models who make a big beautiful dent in my universe, I treasure your counsel and friendship. In particular, Adam Linter, a friend who taught me much and who left too soon. Grace Breuer, whos been my Gibraltar and whose steadfast belief has sustained me through many a challenge. And Morgan Agnes Carson, a friend whose joyful creativity, heart and contribution are a gift beyond measure.

Michael Margolis, Jonathan Fields, Peter Hoppenfeld, Michael Fishman, Jim Kwik, Tommy Bahler - friends, brothers, mentors, each of whom is a bold adventurer and deeply committed to extraordinary works of great service. All big brilliant stars in the constellation of my life, each of whom adds a dimension to my understanding and joy. Some people just make you play a better game.

Ive no doubt overlooked and forgotten to name many that deserve mention, either for their contribution to this book or simply for the exquisite pleasure of and lessons learned from our friendships.

And to an early hero, Maxwell E. Perkins, who inspired me to leave a perfectly good life as an attorney in San Francisco and run away to the circus! And, finally, to my greatest hero, my dad, who travelled an unimaginable distance and taught me more about life than I can put into words.

Gary W. Goldstein

FOREWORD

by J.F. Lawton

(screenwriter)

Pretty Woman, Under Siege, The Hunted

When I first met Gary Goldstein, I had been struggling in Hollywood for five years, dreaming about becoming a screenwriter but getting nowhere. I had no agent, no manager, and no prospects for any. I worked odd jobs to pay the rent on a tiny apartment, off the end of Hollywood Boulevard, where hookers would pace up and down looking for customers. At the time, I was making money teaching more successful screenwriters how to use Macintosh computers for word processing. One recommended me to Gary to help him with his own computers.

I knew that Gary ran a management company for writers, but I was too nervous to ask him to help me. I needed the cash from his computer consulting gig and didnt want to bother him. But after I had finished my work on his new computer system, having heard I was a writer, he generously offered to read one of my scripts.

By that time, I had written a pile of different scripts and occasionally industry people would agree to read them. But they rarely did. Because, frankly, reading a 120 page script is a pain in the ass for anyone whos busy. But I sent a script over to Gary in hopes that, this time, it would be different.

It was. Gary actually read it. He told me it was pretty good, but he wasnt looking for any more clients. But he thought maybe he could help me find someone else to represent me. Did I have any more scripts? I sent him another.

Gary read that one too, and thought it was interesting. But again, he wasnt looking for new clients. Did I have any more scripts? I did, but I wasnt sure what the point of him reading them was if he wasnt going to represent me. Still, I sent him a third script, thinking this was all a waste of our time.

The next time we met, not only had he read that third script, he said he wanted to represent me. He quickly explained how he worked. He took a commission off of any script that he sold, except for the ones that he produced himself. I was thrilled. Here was a person who could not only sell my scripts, but produce them. And he was smart enough not to sign me off of one script, but had read several to see if I was truly a good writer who could deliver. He signed me off of my writing alone, despite the fact that I had no credits and no prospects. I left thinking that with this powerful manager/producers help, I would finally get a chance to make it in the industry.

And I was right. Within a few years, thanks to Gary, I had several movies produced, most by him, including a couple of box office smashes. One of them was about those hookers near my apartment. He became not only my manager, but my best friend.

However, when I look back on the day when Gary signed me as a client, I realize I forgot to ask a very important question.

What the hell have you done ?

The answer, I would not fully realize until many successful years later, was: little.

Because at the time I met Gary, he hadnt produced any movies. He had just started his management company, and didnt have a clue about the business of Hollywood. He was just an ex-hippie lawyer who got bored with his old job and decided it might be fun to get into movies. This should have been obvious to me, because who the hell would waste their time reading three full scripts from some unknown writer?

I am, to this day, grateful that he did. In retrospect, its probably better I didnt know that he knew nothing about the business. He certainly didnt let the fact that he knew nothing get in his way. And, as William Goldman famously said, this is a business where nobody knows anything.

After all these years, its finally been my turn to read something that Gary has written. Its been a pleasure. Here is a book of practical advice for those seeking a career in Hollywood, written by someone who, at least now, really knows what the hell hes talking about. Maybe it isnt so true that nobody knows anything. Because I think Gary certainly does.

Conquering Hollywood

The Screenwriters Blueprint for Career Success

INTRODUCTION: START YOUR ENGINES

I dare you to prove that you are more than you ever believed yourself to be. Dare to prove that there is more in you, more to you, that there is a dimension of you that the world has not seen. Dare to spread your wings, and soar, and sail.