John Zaozirny

YouTube video by Lee Jessup The Manager Files: Interview with Lit Rep John Zaozirny

Had the privilege of kicking off my new video series, The Manager Files, with my good friend @johnzaozirny.bsky.social who graciously and thoughtfully weighed in on everything from the shuttering of Coverfly to The Nicholl to the validity of query letters. Check it out!

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#screenwriting

I do think that people confuse things they pay for - contests, consultants, etc. - with how the industry actually functions.

I've seen similar things with film school students, who are used to professors catering to them and are then shocked when reps & execs do not.

I've tried to explain that when a script goes out, you have no control over who reads it, when they read it, what mood they're in, how closely they read it, etc. As you noted above, the only thing you can do is try to make it as great as possible so it's hard to say No to.

Love this response and approach. Great insight.

You are 100% correct and it’s taken me too long to realize this same exact thing.

Often feels like there is search for anyone or anything to blame for their lack of forward momentum, beyond the most obvious reason.

This tracks with my understanding as well.

And having replied to some of it on Twitter to say that, you were smarter than me by avoiding getting into it.

This tracks with my experience as well.

Congrats! What an incredible team to be working with!

My 2024 as a Working Screenwriter Or; The Year I Burned Myself Out

Want to know what 2024 was like? A constant grind to try to get the next thing, despite already having plenty of things. This is my year in review as a working screenwriter! A life in the arts is not for the faint of heart. hollyweird.colbyday.com/p/my-2024-as...

The 12 Writers of Bluesky

1. Read my spec!
2. I'm so busy if only I had time to post
3. How do I get an agent?
4. I hate my agent
5. Here is my cat
6. I charge for notes
7. I know all and have a half credit
8. Funny quips
9. I miss the 90s
10. Hopeful post
11. Hopeless post
12. Write your spec

The dream is to be so successful that your children are accused of being nepo babies.

Congrats Carter! Super cool news... What a great way to end the year!

Congrats to Bellevue client Alix Lerner for making the 2024 Black List!!!!!

BOY, GIRL, FIG was a 2022 Nicholl winner. Read my exclusive Go Into The Story interview with Kayla Sun. gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-...

Congrats to Bellevue client Matisse Haddad for making the 2024 Black List!!!!!

Congrats to Bellevue client Mark Townend for making the 2024 Black List!!!!!

Congrats to Bellevue client Elyse Hollander for making the 2024 Black List!!!!!

Congrats to Bellevue client Jeremy Leder for making the 2024 Black List!!!!!

Congrats to Bellevue client Kayla Sun for making the 2024 Black List!!!!!

Elad's script COURT 17 was named to the 2022 Black List. Read my exclusive 2023 Go Into The Story interview with Elad here. gointothestory.blcklst.com/go-into-the-...

Congrats to Bellevue client Elad Ziv for making the 2024 Black List!!!!!

Happy Black List Day to all who celebrate.

Most execs & agents don’t want to read anything they don’t have to.

So the trick is to figure out how to make them feel they have to.

Donate to Support Matthew Sweet's Stroke Recovery, organized by Catherine Lyons for Matthew Sweet Matthew Sweet, our longtime inspiration and dear friend, suff… Catherine Lyons for Matthew Sweet needs your support for Support Matthew Sweet's Stroke Recovery

matthew sweet has written some things that have moved me a great deal, but none quite like today’s update, in this specific week of this particular year. certainly if you know his music, but even if you only know his name, even a little, it is worth your time to read. i promise. gofund.me/4e2cf86a

YouTube video by The Black List The Black List 2024

#BlackList2024 arrives Tuesday, December 10th at 9AM PT. Follow us on Threads and Bluesky.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WXd...

Yeah. Figured I’d post this up and see how it went. Worth a try I guess.

End of the day, you have to trust your instincts, but it's always helpful to try to game this stuff from the POV of someone else reading your script and thinking "why make this movie now? 6/

You can't always plan for that resonance -- typically, it's just a massive coincidence -- but it is something to simply be aware of. 5/

2) The "why now" question is a very real one. It can be infuriating (it certainly has to me), but you really can't underestimate it. So if your script feels like it comments on the moment, then you have a massive advantage. 4/

Two more things I'd point out:

1) If you write incredible roles for actors, then producers & buyers will flock to the script, knowing that A-list talent wanting to play the role is how movies get made. 3/