Recently I checked out the entertainment section in my local Barnes and Noble. I saw lots of books about how to write screenplays, several on how to break into the business as an actor, and a bunch about how to write songs. There were very few on how to produce your own film, and none on how to break into television programming.
One of the reasons I'm writing this blog is because there are no books on how to get into television programming. But the question before us today is: can the information in these books help you?
Certainly, if you've never written a screenplay before, a book that gives you the proper format and some basic information can help you. If all you've ever done is act in your school play, you should read a book about how the professional acting business works before getting on that bus to Hollywood.
However, there's no substitute for talking to people actually in the business. (See my previous post, 'Fish Where the Fish Are'). If your town or city is of any size, you probably have a production company (or several) located there. Go talk to them. Find out what they know, and what they think. They might even connect you to people they know in Los Angeles or New York.
Books can help you, but they have their limits. Your particular path to success may not follow the one laid out in the book. Make the information work for you.
I know it can be intimidating to call people cold. But you have to get over that, if you're going to make your program idea a property. The more you can learn from people currently working in the business, the better chance you will have for success.
Of course, continue to read this blog for regular information updates. Recommend it to your friends.
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