Andrew Zinnes is a screenwriter, author, and consultant with experience in film and TV, including roles as a development executive for Norman Lear (the one and only). Zinnes has been involved in script reading and development for companies such as Paramount Pictures, Artisan, and USA Network. He is also known for co-authoring industry textbooks like The Documentary Film Makers Handbook, The Guerilla Film Makers Pocketbook, and Screenwriters Advice. He teaches documentary filmmaking in the U.S. and London. Film Courage chatted with Zinnes about his experience and learned what writers should focus on to make it in this industry. Let's dive in. - YouTube www.youtube.com Be a Persistent NetworkerZinnes' path from unpaid intern to working with Lear is one many of us take, starting from the bottom and building relationships. He spent years as a temp worker, bouncing between desks at Sony, Disney, Warner Bros., and other major studios. "Get yourself out there, mix, mingle, and in any way that you can, because you never know when that next opportunity or that next person that you might meet might open a door for you,” he said. While being a temp or a floater has its drawbacks, you can still learn from everyone around you. Working as a temp gave him access to studios while maintaining the flexibility to be a script reader at the same time. He learned about communication in these positions and also learned who was who in the industry."I knew that if I was going to be working...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Yesterday