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Hilary at the Austin Film Festival Pt. 2


Hi Everyone.

I was in the middle of reading the
winning script, there in the readers room, at the Austin Film Festival at probably the precise time it was being judged for first place. I had wandered around with my volunteer on-call gopher duties and
then posted myself in the reader's room.

But, I actually only learned of the award later, when I was hanging out in the main office. One of the other volunteers came in, announcing he had just come from
playing a part in the staged reading of the script, and all the people in the office perked up; they'd wanted to be at the staged reading too, because they
all LOVED that story!

So I guess this proves that more than one or two people read scripts that are entered into contests. At least: there at the Austin Film Festival.

I like these people. To all of you out there: save up your money for next year, and go! And if you like to drink and stay up very late, you'll have a really really good time.

However, for a festival that gathers industry professionals who actually like to meet new talent, I ended up being quite stumped by the very apparent
inability to think outside the box (to use a very over-used phrase).

Maybe there's some unspoken
agreement that I haven't stumbled across yet. But, everyone I approached couldn't help me advance my script. Simply because it was outside their area of expertise and influence.

I thought I had the very reasonable expectation to meet at least one person who had the willingness and ability to advance the script. Result: still
undetermined.

 
 

There were people who I specifically wanted to meet, and others that I met more by chance. The first one of these was an agent. I was assigned to her first
presentation...so this was a matter of divine intervention or serendipity. Except for the fact that she is on sabbatical and isn't accepting any new clients and is also not reading any scripts whatsoever.

But I liked her. She sympathised with my
plight, but couldn't help move my script via her own network. She opened up the guidebook, pointed out two men, wished me luck, and offered that I come tell her
if these leads didn't materialise.

One of the men didn't materialise all weekend, in fact. According to the guidebook, the other man wasn't
due to spend more than a day. So I waited. After his presentation, I joined the throng at the podium and waited my turn. Until he suddenly announced he was due at another presentation! And he took off...

"Walk with me!", he says, "Walk with me!"

Three of us tag along. We dash down elevators and city blocks to another hotel. By arrival the other two have
been noticed or spurned and have peeled off in the wake. It's obvious he wants to get rid of me in the lobby. I tell him he can't, two minutes, give me two
minutes, this is not a pitch, I need his help with a problem. He tells me to wait by the elevator, he's got to get something in his room, he'll be right back. He
indicates a chair.

 
"I will sit right here.", I say. "I will wait. You'll be back, because I'm waiting right here, and because you promised."

 
 

The minutes tick by. He flies off the elevator eventually and it's another sprint back up the hill to the conference rooms. I somehow manage to pass the minute markers of whether I have an interesting story or not. He hands down the verdict as we reach the other presentation currently in progress; his company
doesn't do stories like mine, but good luck.
I retorted, "That's not what is being asked of you. I want to know how you can help me get this to Universal
Pictures."

He says something about how there isn't anyone he works with who would read a story that their company doesn't make anyway.

Again, "That's not what I'm asking. I want to know: who do you know that has an executive-level working relationship with Universal? This is a valid request. This is the task THEY have assigned me. I was told by your colleague to find you specifically. You must know
someone. Who do you know?"

"Sorry. Good luck."

"Who. do. you. know."

"Sorry. Really. Tell you what, try getting a copy of the Hollywood Creative Directory, and just go through it, and find every producer, who has ever done
anything for Universal, and approach every one of them, okay, how's that?"

How is that. Sure. Approach every single producer. Cold calls. I don't think so.

But: you never now, I just may be going through that book and making those calls, so maybe it'll prove good advice in yet another twist of this long drama, who
knows?

Next: Lawrence Kasdan. Who also says no. But it's a good story! (Hopefully my life won't entirely be a continuous series of these inconclusive vignettes..."but it's material, baby!" and "but it's a good story!" and " but it's experience to draw from!" and a whole host of other reasonings from people trying to help you feel better about your mission in
life...)

cheers--Hilary