'My Story Can Beat Up Your Story!' & 'TotallyWrite' © Jeffrey Alan Schechter, 2007-2013.

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 Some career HIGHLIGHTS
• Got into the WGA with action films such as BLOODSPORT II, THE TOWER, and
STREETKNIGHT.
• Optioned and rewrote LITTLE BIG FOOT for Working Title Films
• Rewrote THE AMAZING PANDA ADVENTURE for Warner Brothers
• Original writer for DENNIS THE MENACE STRIKES AGAIN.
• Script doctor on IT TAKES TWO.
• Sold spec screenplay STANLEY'S CUP to Walt Disney Pictures in a deal worth over a
million dollars.
• Rewrote I'LL BE HOME FOR CHRISTMAS for the Walt Disney Company
• Wrote the TV movie BRINK! for the Disney Channel. WGA nominee.
• Wrote BEETHOVEN'S 3RD for Universal Studios.
• Diversified into animation, live-action television, writing dozens of episodes for
series such as THE FAMOUS JETT JACKSON, ANIMORPHS, MARTIN MYSTERY,
TOTALLY SPIES, TEAM GALAXY, GET ED, FREEFONIX, DI-GATA DEFENDERS, HOT
WHEELS BATTLE FORCE 5, and JANE AND THE DRAGON.
• Wrote two Care Bears CG movies. WGC Nominee for THE BIG WISH MOVIE
• Two Emmy nominations for writing/story editing on STRANGE DAYS AT BLAKE
HOLSEY HIGH for NBC/Discovery Channel.
• BAFTA nomination for an episode of the series I wrote and directed.
• Diversified into drama with the Hallmark Channel TV movie OUT OF THE WOODS.
• Co-created several TV series including OVERRULED!, currently airing on the Disney
Channel and STARZ. Gemini Award for producing.
• Co-wrote the hockey film BREAKAWAY
• Wrote the 4-hour miniseries EXPLODING SUN for Muse/Sonar Entertainment
THe Big Lie -- You will sell your
spec Screenplay

THe Big Truth -- You don’t need

to in order to have a career
 Stuff I’ve Gotten Paid to Write
EPISODIC TELEVISION FEATURES & TV MOVIES
Written -- 81 1/2 hours 7 Family Features
Story Edited -- 160 1/2 hours 5 Animated Features
4 Action Features
4 Comedy Features
1 Sci-Fi Action Feature
3 Family TV Movies
2 Drama TV Movies
1 Action TV Movie
1 Comedy TV Movie
1 Action/Fantasy Miniseries
1 Western Miniseries
1 Sci-Fi Miniseries
1 Million Dollar Spec Screenplay
1 Zombie Western TV Movie
Fun Fact!

If the WGA were its

own country it
would have an
unemployment rate
second only to the
island nation of
Nauru (Pop 9322,
Unemployment
90%).
The Tough Writer’s Business PLan

Adapted and amplified from Chapter 10 of

“My Story Can Beat Up Your Story!”
#1 - If you’re over 40, don’t do anything
stupid
#2 - If you’re in your twenties with no
obligations, move to los angeles
#3 - Network, Network, Network

.com
#4 - Treat the business like a business
#5 - Diversify, leaning heavily towards
Television
#5 - Diversify, leaning heavily towards
Television
 #6 - Be The producer

Fan Fiction Graphic Novels Self-Published

Blog Self-PRODUCED

New Funding Models

#7 - Write something UnPRODUCEABLE
 #8 - Bring something to the PArty

Be Unique, Have a distinctive voice and/or outlook

#9 - Don’t go after Managers or Agents until
you have at Least Two Great writing samples.
Three is better.

And you STILL need a recommendation.

#10 - Don’t go TO PITCH FESTS EXPECTING TO
SELL ANYTHING.
#11 - there is only One script competition
worth anything...

...and Even that may not be much

(66 past winners, only 13 with contemporary credits.
2012 -- 9500 applicants, 5 winners)
http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/fellows/25thyearbook.html
#12 - tURN IN EVERYTHING YOU WRITE WITH
TREMBLING HANDS
 The MSCBUYS Challenge
In the next year you must write
AT LEAST one spec screenplay and...

One 1 hour insane dramatic teleplay

One 1/2 hour pilot script OR
One 1/2 hour (animated) family script

One 1 hour dramatic teleplay

One 1/2 hour insane pilot script OR
One 1/2 hour (animated) family script

One 1 hour dramatic teleplay

One 1/2 hour pilot script
One 1/2 hour insane (animated) family pilot
 The MSCBUYS Challenge

Spec screenplay 108 pages 5 months

1 hour drama writing sample 60 pages 3 months
1/2 hour pilot sample 30 pages 2 months
1/2 hour family writing sample 30 pages 2 months
-------- --------
228 pages 12 months

Equals 2/3 page per for 1 year, or

1 page a day, 5 days a week (with a 1 month vacation)
 The Tough Writer’s Business PLan
1. Do not wait for the phone to ring. Take action! Look for material.
Partner up.
2. Accept the MSCBUYS Challenge.
3. Network!
• Join the MSCBUYS group/page. Be active.
• Join Moviebytes.com. Be active.
• Join ScriptSales.com. Be...you know!
4. Commit to professional development.
• At the very least, buy a few books. At the very, very least, buy mine.
• Read blogs. JohnAugust.com is the best.
• Subscribe to Variety or The Hollywood Reporter
• Attend seminars, go to screenwriting events.
• The MSCBUYS webinar series is unapologetically recommended.
5. Be smart on where you spend your money. Screenplay
competitions...eh. Coverage or script notes...better. For low-priced
script notes, I like The Writers Store. If you like and respond to my
approach to structure and screenwriting, you can always check my
availability.
6. Write something awesome. And then do it again.
 Online at:

www.mscbuys.com

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