Join Final Draft, Inc. at the Take A Meeting Los Angeles
event for a chance to meet Tracey Becker face-to-face.

You've got a great screenplay, full of passion and talent … but the first major
plot point
does not occur on page 27. Tracey Becker—producer of Finding Neverland and the
forthcoming Hysteria—might be interested. For Becker, it's not
writing-by-the-numbers
that counts, but writing that has a unique, emotional appeal and reveals a facet
of
humanity. Becker, who will be attending Final Draft's upcoming Take A Meeting
event and
hearing pitches, recently sat down with Script to offer her advice and expertise
to young
screenwriters…

Writing against the numbers: a sit-down with Tracey Becker
Tracey Becker is scheduled to appear at the 2008 Los Angeles Take A Meeting
event. To
meet with Tracey Becker and other industry executives at this event, visit:
www.finaldraft.com/takeameeting

SCRIPT: What are some ways that a pitching writer can make a good first
impression?

TRACEY BECKER: Know your material. Be able to pitch it concisely and with
passion. Be
a good judge of when enough-is-enough.

SCRIPT: What makes for that pitch you can't say "no" to?

TRACEY BECKER: I tend to take on projects that are fairly uncommercial, very
difficult
to set up, but once they're done, everyone says, "Oh my gosh! Of course! Who
wouldn't
make that movie!" When my partner and I take something on, it's got to be a
story that I
can see myself living with for five, six, seven years. It's got to connect with
me on an
emotional level, and that is completely impossible to quantify. That's why there
are so
many different movies and different buyers because everything hits somebody in a
different place. I like something that hits me emotionally: very strong
characterization is
important, and a story that, at the end of the day, helps reveal a facet of
humanity for the
audience.

SCRIPT: Should a screenplay being pitched already be complete?

TRACEY BECKER: My process is that I love to work with writers, and develop
screenplays from an idea phase. But, it's also very difficult for me to do that
with writers
who are new to the business. It takes a long time to get to the point where you
have a
shorthand. So, with young writers, it's very helpful to have a script. For me, I
wouldn't
expect the script to be ready to shoot. What I'm looking for in a script is:
author's voice,
their grasp of the content, how they handle the tone, and how they develop their
characters. The rest can be enhanced, but I want to know that those elements are
in place.

SCRIPT: How important is proper screenplay format?

TRACEY BECKER: It's hugely important. For those of us on this side of the
table, you
have no idea how many screenplays we look at in a week. There is a format: it
aids the
process, it speeds up the process. We don't have to belabor over trying to
figure out, "Is
that a stage direction, or is that dialogue? Are they trying to cram an extra
thirty pages in
by squeezing the font?" It's really important to follow the format; the format
is there for a
reason. It aids the reader tremendously. You, as a writer, don't want to do
anything that
takes the reader outside of the moment on the page. In order for you to be the
most
successful writer possible, make your script in a perfect format so that it's
not a
distraction for the professional reader.

SCRIPT: Any pet peeves with regard to screenplays?

TRACEY BECKER: Format aside, spelling and punctuation mistakes drive me crazy.
I'm
also not a huge fan of "writing-by-the-numbers," meaning there are plenty of
places out
there that will tell you exactly how to write a screenplay, and by this page you
have to have
that, and by that page you have to be at this plot point. I feel that that can
be a crutch far
too often. There are too many times when writers are writing-by-the-numbers:
many
times the screenplay feels like it could have come out of a computer-generated
program.
"Cookie-cutter" scripts I don't like. I like to see creativity; I relish it when
a masterful
writer can play with the way a story is told.

SCRIPT: Do you have any advice for aspiring screenwriters?

TRACEY BECKER: The two T's, talent and tenacity, can't be emphasized enough. If
you're brought to writing because you have a passion for it, and then you're
brought to
writing screenplays (which is a very difficult job), I would hope that there's a
talent there. I
think that all of us have a way of telling a story that is unique to us: honing
your unique
talent is really important. Tenacity is also hugely important: don't let a day
go by without
writing.



Take A Meeting Los Angeles: Sept. 6-7, 2008
Take A Meeting New York: Nov. 7-9, 2008

Final Draft, Inc. offers unprecedented industry access for screenwriters. Our
Take A
Meeting event offers more time, more value and more professionalism so you can
build
relationships, present your project, and get your screenwriting career rolling.
Don't miss
your chance to meet with executives from top agencies and companies who will
offer
career advice, provide feedback on your ideas and will grant you a connection to
the
industry. Some companies represented at the LA event are: Benderspink, Circle
of
Confusion, High Concept Management, Industry Entertainment, Kaplan/Perrone
Entertainment, Practical Pictures, Silent R Management, Silver Pictures/Dark
Castle,
Tapestry Films, The Gersh Agency, Underground Films and Management, and many
more!

In addition to bringing top executives to the table, some Final Draft, Inc.
favorites will also
be onsite facilitating educational sessions about writing and marketing your
screenplay.
Seminar lecturers include Pilar Alessandra, Syd Field, William C. Martell, Ken
Rotcop, Blake
Snyder. Plus morning break-out sessions with CineStory industry mentors.

"The Take A Meeting program was a great opportunity. I was able to hear some
interesting movie ideas and meet some undiscovered talent ... This is a great
way for
those without access to entertainment professionals to be heard."
Michael Glassman - Outlaw Films

Early Bird Registration Special: BUY 2, GET 1 FREE still applies for the NY
event!*
*offer expires 8/31/08. Register today: www.finaldraft.com/takeameeting