Skip Press

Articles by Skip Press

Do You Have to Live in Hollywood?

I wrote 'The Writer's Guide to Producers, Directors and Screenwriters' Agents' somewhat by accident. I quit Hollywood in disgust after two feature screenplays were purchased, but not filmed, this after years of options and some TV work, but no feature credit. I went back to writing articles and books for a living. One day, I noticed I was about to be out of a job, so I started prom... (read more)

Is Film School Really Necessary?

Question: How valuable/important is film school? I am graduating college in one year, and I want to go into film.

Skip Press responds: It's one thing to aspire to write films or act in them, and quite another to know how they are made. Smart writers and actors learn the process and profit greatly -- just ask David Mamet and Clint Eastwood.

These days, there are more op... (read more)

Deal Terminology: What's 'Against' Mean?

Dollars and Sense

~~ Monica P. asks: What does it mean to be offered $XX 'against' $YYY, for your screenplay? For example, does one price 'against' another mean that the writer is paid $XX now, with an additional $YYY later if the film is actually produced? Or does it mean that you'll either be paid one or the other amount? What does it mean 'an initial 12-month option ag... (read more)