Kelly Edwards
 

Kelly Edwards


Writer.
Producer.
Entertainment Executive.
Pipeline Program Consultant.

If you've always wanted an insider to tell you how to...

* break into Hollywood

* learn the industry ropes

and

* get your project in front
of people who matter

...this book is for you.

Written by a former HBO exec and TV producer, The Executive Chair is a quick and deep dive inside the entertainment industry that will help you better position yourself for success. 

Excerpt from The Executive Chair

Time and again, I’ve seen the same thing play out. A writer comes up with a cool concept with lots of bells and whistles. It’s clever and twisty, quirky, and funny. But by the time we’re done reading the first ten pages, we set it aside and click open the next script in the queue. 

Why? Because what we read is not connecting with us on an emotional level. 

Praise

“Kelly was in the room when I pitched my first TV series, Girlfriends. She immediately saw the value of the show, its impact on culture, and therefore was a key advocate for the greenlight that changed my life. Consider this book a gift, and soak up the insight and information she generously offers in these pages.”

— Mara Brock-Akil, Creator of Being Mary Jane and Girlfriends

"Everyone trying to break into writing for television is looking for the same thing: practical information and actionable advice. At last, the wait is over. Kelly Edwards has delivered an essential everything-you-need-to-know guide to the business of TV."

— Craig Mazin, Creator and Writer of Chernobyl

"Knowing how to pitch well, take notes, and understand the business is the key to success in Hollywood. This book has all of that and more."

— Malcolm Spellman, Executive Producer of Marvel's The Falcon and the Winter Soldier

Secrets from The Executive Chair

Secrets from The Executive Chair

#30: Final Secret. There are a million ways to break into Hollywood. Your journey will be unique to you. Meet all the people. Work all the angles. But most of all, enjoy the ride.

#29: Structure your cable or streaming pilot with act breaks in mind. Every act out should provide a twist, setback, or escalation that prevents your hero from achieving their goal until the story is resolved. Even though you will remove them later, writing towards an act break ensures you have enough big moments to keep things exciting.

#28: Don’t take any of this personally. When people don't get back to you remember, their plates are also full. What feels like a snub might be the fact that they are overwhelmed by their workload. The best thing you can do is demonstrate that you have momentum. As you move forward, they will begin to invest more in you.

#27: When pitching, start with the big picture. We need to know why this idea is relevant right now. Set the table. Give your listener context before you pitch them the content.

#26: Use dynamic verbs in your scriptwriting. Paint a colorful picture with your words. The more dynamic your verbs, the stronger and confident your writing will be. Instead of "hits," try "smashes." Changing "throws" to "pitches," "slings", "hurls", or "catapults" alters the intent. "Embraces" turns "hug" into something emotional. Get creative. It will transform your work.

#25: Your hero is the sun around whom every other character revolves. Each character in your TV ensemble must have a different POV than your hero. If they don't, ax them. They are unnecessary.

#24: Quick essay tip: Open with something personal, then circle back to it at the end of your essay. This will tie it together thematically.

#23: “Write every day.” Period. This isn't about inspiration. It's about the craft.

#22: Torture your character. Ask "what's the worst that can happen?" Then write that.

#21: Remember to write the story you’re afraid to tell. Writing from your head will only get you so far. Writing from your heart will get you much further.

#20: Moving past Imposter Syndrome: Remember that what you are doing isn't solely about you, it's about paving the way for those coming after you. If you don't achieve your goal that person behind you won't know that they can do it, too. You are critical to this chain.

#19: Plot is what happens. Character is our guide through the journey. Stakes tell us why we care. Theme is the message. Story is the sum of all of the above.

#18: Sometimes following your passion means also taking a side job. Read scripts for fests, proofread, edit, write for a podcast. Find something that sharpens your skills and puts money in your pocket.

#17: Focus on the work, the rest will follow. You will likely score your first writing gig on your own. Someone you know will intro you to someone they know. You'll land an agent later. So focus less on getting repped and more on the convo with the writer sitting next to you at Coffee Bean.

#16: A few tips on getting notes… 1) Consider the source. 2) Keep an open mind. 3) Listen for the note under the note. 4) Take your time before replying.

#15: When joining a writing group keep in mind… 1) A small to medium cohort means everyone participates. 2) Writers at your level or better make you better. 3) Instead of giving notes, ask questions. 4) Don’t be “that guy” in the room. And if you are that guy. Cut it out. Now.

#14: Five ways agents and managers find writers... 1) Referrals from current clients. 2) Recs from executives. 3) Programs, contests, and festivals. 4) Searching online. 5) Seeing your content live.

#13: Screenwriting is dreaming on paper so give yourself permission to dream big. You can always pull back in the rewrite. Keep asking what if? You might just stumble on something extraordinary.

#12: Loglines. Formula for a good logline: Hero + Goal + Obstacle. Formula for a great logline: Hero + Goal + Obstacle + Irony.

#11: Learn to write economically. Ask yourself, “Could I have written this with fewer words without losing anything?” If the answer is yes, start hitting delete.

#10: Everyone needs a team - a mentor to guide you, a coach to prompt you, an advocate to stand up for you, and a sponsor to introduce you to others when it’s time to level up. No one gets to the top alone. Build a support system that you can call on to help navigate the rough patches.

#9: Tips on decoding a diversity report. When a company breaks down its diversity numbers, look for what level and in which departments. Know who is in the room making the big decisions. Sometimes they will lump in the junior execs with the senior ones to boost their numbers. If a company is more interested in crafting a false narrative than in diversifying its workforce, it has a culture problem.

#8: Make yourself stand out. Programs are designed to fill specific pipeline needs. If they are looking for someone with a particular talent, mention that you possess it. If the program is for underserved communities, write about how that applies to you. Make it easy on them. Tell them you are what they are looking for.

#7: Find your track. Don't let other people push you off course. But do the work to find out what track you truly want to be on. It does no good to be the CEO of something you hate.

#6: Hook your reader. End your opening scene in a surprising way. Make your reader want to keep turning the pages.

#5: Invite your reader in. When writing a script, invite your reader in. Try not to overload them with blocks of densely written paragraphs right away unless it’s absolutely necessary to set the tone and create the world. The white space will help the reader's eye travel down the page quickly giving the illusion of a faster read.

#4: Listen to your words. Before you put something out there, listen to your words. Have an app like Speechify read your text back to you. Upload the full document or use your camera to snap a picture of the page you want read. You will catch grammatical errors and problems with syntax and phrasing. It will save you time and trouble in the long run.

#3: Tell them they are looking for you. When writing your program application essay, make sure you stand out. If you have a particularly interesting life story, slip in a concise mention of it. If the program is for underserved communities, write about how that applies to you. If you are submitting to a program focused on a particular genre, mention how you approach it differently than other writers. There is a reason they have created a program with that specific theme in mind. They want to know that you are what they are looking for. Don’t forget to tell them they are looking for you.

#2: Cycle through your contacts. Here's a quick networking tip. Periodically cycle through your contact list. You don't have to reach out to everyone on it, but ping someone you haven't spoken to in awhile. Call. Email "Hi, I was just thinking about you." Send an article. Connect over what you're watching. Recommend a book. It will keep you on their radar without you making an ask.

#1: Don't waste time on the "perfect" essay. Here's a tip for getting into a writing program: Don't waste your time crafting the "perfect" essay. It can be "good enough". If they love your script, you will get a meeting. If they like your script but don't love it, you have work to do anyway. If they don't like your script at all, they'll never get to the essay. Spend your time polishing your material. Spell check. Edit for clarity. Make sure it's reader friendly. That's what will get you noticed.