Generals: Dating in the Industry

Well, the fantasy has become a reality. You’ve been offered a meeting with a real-life by insert-your-choice-of-religious-diety-or-belief-system-here Hollywood Executive.

First off, mazel! What wonderful news!

Secondly, how did this amazing moment come to pass? Well, it probably happened because:

You are repped, and your rep sent out one or more of your scripts to various production companies to read.
You won or were a finalist for a competition such as Script Pipeline, which sent out your loglines or materials to various production companies to read.
You were featured in some kind of press that has people talking, and they’ve reached out to read you.
Your logline and/or script caught someone’s attention on a platform such as Coverfly.
You networked with a development executive, and they agreed to read you.
You have an extremely well-connected friend.
You went to Harvard?
You’re … you’re one of those nepo babies, aren’t you …

Anyway, now you have to meet this person—and not just meet them, but impress them so much that they’ll want to give you work now or in the future. (Probably the future.)

NOW what?

Don’t panic. Please do not panic. It’s not a big deal. Meetings with executives, studios, and production companies—or “generals” as they are often referred to—are a lot like dating. They are essentially introductory meetings between you and other folks in the industry. You meet someone for the first time, and if all goes well, you’ll see them again.

But I’ve marked No Guest at the last eight of my friend’s weddings, you may be thinking glumly. I can barely date! How will I pull this off?!

Never fear, dear Writer! Here’s what to do—and NOT to do—during these generals:

DO:

Research the executive and company. A quick Google search or LinkedIn reconnaissance can tell you quite a lot about a person and who they work for. You might even glean that you have common friends, shared interests, or the same alma mater. If it’s a studio, find out what they’ve got upcoming on their slate and what’s recently been a huge hit for them.
Ask your rep if there are any mandates or specific things they’re looking for. Studios and production companies often have marching orders from “someone up above” on what to buy. Maybe it’s an overall deal they’ve just signed, a new agency client itching to direct, or one box-office hit that makes someone else say, “be on the lookout for rom-coms.” Just because one person wants a rom-com idea does not mean you need to develop one immediately. However, it does mean that maybe a script or idea you’ve had for a while could be talked about during your meeting, because you should …
Start with small talk. You wouldn't start a date by immediately trying to make a move. You’d probably ask them how their week has been, or whether they’d been on vacation lately, or what they’re doing for the holidays. The same rules apply for generals. Use the first few minutes to ease into the meeting instead of coming on too strong.
Have ideas ready to talk about. You have a great script. That’s why these people are meeting with you. But the chances that they are making your script are much lower than you’d like them to be. That’s why you want to come in with other loglines for ideas you’re currently working on. (Don’t worry, no one is stealing them.) Not only does it show you’re always creating, but it lets them hear about other aspects of your writing as well.
And yes, think of IP, too. Let’s say you’re meeting with Amazon’s animation team. They’re in the market for more adult animated comedies that resonate with Gen Z and Millennials. (People think the spoon from Beauty and the Beast is hot!) The point is, you may have an idea for that IP. Amazon owns MGM properties—which means they own James Bond. The point is NOT to go in with a deck fully ready to pitch “James Bond, but as a Gritty Teenager.” Instead, think of ways you can incorporate your own storytelling expertise and background to help sell that you, and you alone, would make a great fit for this studio’s needs.
Be punctual. Whether it’s on Zoom or in the office, show up early. Make sure to confirm with them, or their assistant, the day before. Check for anything regarding parking, know where you’re headed, and make sure you investigate the traffic situation. If it’s on Zoom, get the link in advance and make sure you have a working, stable Internet connection.
Have your “elevator pitch” down. Can you tell your life story in three minutes or less? If not, start practicing. Get good at talking about yourself for a while. Execs want to hear about you, your life, and what brought you into the industry. Are you a veteran? An ex-wrestler in high school? Were you a religious kid? Have you traveled the world? Did you go to (BLEEP) Harvard?! Talk about it! Pro Tip: a lot of people love to interrupt others while talking. Roll with it. Get back to you after you’ve answered their questions.
Talk about your wins with confidence. It’s not bragging if it’s true! I repeat: it’s not bragging if it is true. No exec is going to walk away from your convo rolling their eyes if you simply speak about your accomplishments, goals, and dreams with passion and honesty. Speak from the heart, and you’ll come off great.
Thank them for their time and offer your email. If they don’t offer up their email to you at the end of the conversation—the Generals equivalent of a second date—then offer yours and let them know you had a great time talking with them, and appreciate how they took the time to read your materials and speak with you today.
Follow up if they’ve asked for more materials. Perhaps during your general, you brought up another idea or script—and the exec was super interested. Great! Make sure you send it to them (or send via your reps) promptly. Then, follow up again after a while (say, a few weeks) in case it may lead anywhere.

DO NOT:

Go in blind. You don’t have to be the host of "Serial," but you do need to know a few things about this company and what they do. If you’re only interested in writing period dramas, you don’t want to be caught blindsided by the fact that this exec is only interested in producing horror films, the thing they have a long list of credits for.
Have zero ideas to talk about. Are you a writer or not? Then surely you have thought of your next screenplay, TV series, etc. They don’t need to be fully fleshed out or ready to go. Just have a sense of other ideas that perhaps they may be interested in reading later on.
Show up super late. Look, things happen. If something happens, be courteous and call or email to cancel. And for real, Los Angeles traffic is NO JOKE! (Trust: one time I had to haul ass to Beverly Hills midday right when a three-car pile up blocked all of Santa Monica Boulevard. Better to be prepared than be flustered!)
Let the convo run dry. Ever been on a date where you both ran out of things to say, like, five minutes in? It’s torturous. Don’t let that happen to you. If you’re not feeling a natural flow of conversation immediately, ask them to talk about themselves. Or, go for the old reliable: “Seen any good movies lately?”
Act desperate. Were you ever into someone on a date who reeked of desperation? No one wants to go on a second date with someone who’s visibly or vocally insecure, anxious, stressed, or negative. Don’t fight, don’t argue, and don’t get weird about your ideas if they’re not met with immediate praise. Remember, you’re trying to win them over, just like a date!
Have your reps act desperate. Okay, maybe you play it cool, but your reps decided to follow up just two days after you sent over more scripts. This is not the way. Execs typically have a huge pile of stuff to read, and they need time to get through that pile. Acting pushy will get you nowhere, or worse yet, pushed out of the pile.
Demand an email. Sometimes, you’ll click right away with people. Other times, you don’t. It’s fine! If they don’t offer a way to contact you, then don’t push it. Just go your separate ways, or let your rep handle it. It’s like the saying goes: there are plenty of development execs in the sea.

In short, the more optimistic, easygoing, and self-assured you can present yourself, the more likely you’ll have a relaxed, fun, and positive general that will hopefully lead to work down the line with this person. Doing the work of relationship building and networking this way can be nerve-wracking (just like a date!), but the rewards are much greater in the long run.

*Feature image by nuvolanevicata (Adobe)