10 Guaranteed SPEAKERS IN 2 DAYS; 16 speakers are invited
Imagine sitting at a round table directly across from a Hollywood Producer and later giving him/her your material without representation.
It happens at Sherwood Oaks and has for over 40 years. No longer a dream. Now a reality.
Meet at least 10 Hollywood professionals in a close encounter setting.
Every class at least 1 student out of 10 gets a call back to get their screenplay optioned.
Less than 18 seats left
BREAKING INTO HOLLYWOOD
Who should attend? Entry-level and intermediate to advanced writers and filmmakers
What do you learn? Insight into Hollywood
Who will you meet? Meet producers, agents, writers, managers and more
How many students? Up to 25 maximum
Who is the founder? Gary Shusett
How long in the biz? Over 40 years (almost all programs are copied from Sherwood Oaks)
How many speakers? You meet a new guest every hour giving you a vast amount of different avenues and paths into Hollywood
What is the goal? For each student to learn and speakers to find new talent in a safe, informal environment
What material is given? A one-sheet which Gary Shusett created about 20 years ago and now an industry standard … Sherwood Oaks One Sheet Method
What type of school? We are a NON-PROFIT (501(c)(3), we love donations and 100% of all funding goes to the school. Currently, we are funded by tuition and the director does not take a salary to give back to the Hollywood community.
SPEAKERS – To Be Announced – check back before April 30
Gersh Literary Partner. Bob Hohman. Bob has been with Gersh Literary Department for over 6 years. The 14 years prior, Bob lead his own boutique book-agency firm, Hohman, Maybank and Lieb. His clients in his firm were Robert Rodat (“Saving Private Ryan”), Dave Reynolds (“Finding Nemo”), Katherine Fugate (“Valentine’s Day”), Allison Burnett (“Adaline”), Ken Hixon (“Welcome to the Riley’s”), Sam Harper (“Cheaper by the Dozen”) and Marlene King (“Pretty Little Liars”). We are honored to have him speak.
Eric Weissmann, Entertainment Lawyer. Eric represented some of the top talent in the industry of writers, directors and actors including former SWO speakers, Martin Scorsese and the late Gene Wilder. Eric also represented Rita Hayworth and Elizabeth Taylor. Eric was close friends to Gene Wilder. Eric is a Hollywood legend and has spoken numerous times and a personal favorite of Gary Shusett’s speakers. Christine Owens has utilized Eric’s talent in reviewing a producer contract. Check out a recent video of him.
Colin Garland, writer, who is represented by Sheree Guitar. Colin started in the Warner Bros writing program then got a writing job at Two and Half Men and then Instant Mom. He is currently working on an animation comedy. Colin spoke last year at Sherwood Oaks and was a seminar favorite. Colin says it is because he has no filter. We are excited to have him back.
Agent David Warden – Former William Morris Agent and founder of The Warden Group, a full-service boutique literary agency and management firm representing both film and TV screenwriters. Warden’s clients’ credits include Batman, X-Files, Fringe, Little Nemo, Outbreak, Armageddon, The Lion King, and Revenge of the Nerds. Warden is also credited with the sale of Sleepless in Seattle, Witness, Enemy of the State and Deja Vu which sold to Jerry Bruckheimer and The Walt Disney Company for a record $5 million Dollars. David has optioned material from several Sherwood Oaks alumni
Darryl Marshak – Producer, Writer, Literary Agent and SWO alumni David Marshak began his career working for agent Robert Littman and is now partner and owner of several agencies including November 9th, Marshak Wyckoff Associates, Gold Marshak Liedtke Associates and The Marshak/Zachary Company. Marshak discovered and launched actors including Leonardo DiCaprio, Lisa Kudrow, James Franco, Ray Liotta, Robert Patrick, Hilary Swank, Ron Livingston amongst others.
James Ganiere is a writer, film producer and president of Rio Vista Universal best known for producing Pretty Hattie’s Baby, starring Charles Dutton and Alfre Woodard, The Shift and Redemption. Ganiereis currently producing the upcoming Blood Kiss with Amber Benson as well as several television series including Back from the Dead, Attacheand Gear Heads among others.
Scott Richter is a Writer, Executive Producer and President of Richter Scale Media. The Austin Film Festival Winner is best known for writing on the TV Series The Christopher Lowell Show and writing and producing the TV movie Whoa! WGA writer
Hilliard Guess – Writer-Producer-Director
bio soon
David Bartlett – Writer-Producer-Editor
Laurie Lamson – Writer
At least ONE more surprise guest that will blow you away!!!
Guest subject to availability. (Not instructors but working successful agents and managers)
Former Schedule
9:45 AM – WGA writer
10 AM – Pitching Pro, Writing a great Story (Story Editor)
11 AM – Agent – Describing what it takes to succeed
12 PM – Manager – TV writing and how it has become the powerhouse of the industry and how you can get
2 PM – Insight into Guests
2:45 PM – UTA Agent – getting chosen
3:45 PM – Gersh Partner – Head of Literary Department 2 APA Agents
5:15 PM – Literary Consultant – Prepping you to literary success with 3 decades of experience
9:45 AM – Writer-Editor-Producer
10 AM – Manager – How to succeed in the film business
11 AM – Manager – 30 years of experience, choosing talent
12 PM – Agent – Sold $5M spec script within the last 8 years and how you can be next
2 PM – Writer, behind the scene in TV writing
2:45 PM – Legendary Entertainment Attorney
4 PM – Manager – What Execs Need from you to sell your script
5 PM – Producer – Moving to the Next Level in the Industry
- Date: TBA (Monday to Tuesday)
- Time:9:30 to 5:30 pm (time may vary)
- Location: Beverly Hills (including a day on Rodeo Drive)
- Registration:
$450Only $395 limited extension
Invite your writing partner!
Keep your dream alive and bring your career to a higher level.
What you can learn:
- What material sells
- What material Hollywood is looking for right now
- What are the short cuts to get your script seen?
- How writers are chosen
- The traits that good writers possess (heard directly by Hollywood Professionals)
- What causes executives to buy scripts
- Avenues on how a writer transitions to a director
- How writers are hired for assignments (many are hired through Sherwood Oaks)
- How to get your script to producers without an agent (no representation required) – check out Sherwood Oaks One Sheet Method
- What is happening in the current market (find out what is hot)
- Inside secrets and strategies to help you succeed in your Hollywood career
- and much more …
Just like in every Sherwood Oaks’ class, you will be able to give a one-sheet to nearly every guest.
You will meet producers, agents, managers, directors, and numerous executives.
Often there are heads of production and studio companies, increase your knowledge, and network.
The list of executives includes vice-presidents, presidents, CEOs, and major executives.
MeetHollywoodExecs is the only place to get the inside scoop from the actual Top Hollywood Execs. Live in person is where you create lasting relationships and real learning takes place. Invest in you. As customary, we guarantee at least 4 speakers per day and we invite 6 Hollywood speakers plus a moderator per day for a minimum of 10 speakers per seminar. We utilize our 800 past Hollywood speakers to provide guests rotate providing you the optimal avenue to expand your contacts while strengthening previous ones. This class will be limited to 18 students with a studio. The ratio of student to speaker creates a greater opportunity to maintain meaningful relationships that last.
LAST YEAR’s AGENT & MANAGER SEMINAR GUESTS
David Kanter, Anonymous Content, Manager, represents the writer for The Notebook, Philadelphia, If These Walls Could Talk, The Lincoln Layer, Nutty Professor II. David knows the good material.
Viviano Entertainment will be taking Bettina Viviano’s place. Bettina Viviano is a producer and literary manager for twenty-five years. She began her career at the prestigious William Morris as an agent trainee, before moving on to Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment, where she attained the position of Vice President of Production where she worked on Back to the Future 2 and 3, Cape Fear, Land Before Time, Schindler’s List, Always, Roger Rabbit, Indiana Jones 3. In 1990 she began her own production and management company, Viviano Entertainment, Inc. and since has sold pitches, scripts and books for millions of dollars on behalf of her clients. Bettina has represented several Sherwood Oaks alumni and currently still does.
Jeffrey Thal is a Literary Manager and Partner/Owner of Ensemble Management, a boutique personal management firm, for over ten years where he manages directors and writers primarily in film and television, but also ventures into the theater, internet and publishing areas. Thal has been an executive in the entertainment industry over twenty five years, primarily as a literary manager. He is a partner in Ensemble Entertainment, a boutique personal management firm, for over ten years where he manages directors and writers primarily in film and television, but also ventures into the theater, internet and publishing areas. Thal produced the Disney Channel movie “Starstruck” which premiered on Valentine’s Day 2010, and he and the company have a producing deal with Fox Television Studios for series TV. Earlier producing credits include the Sundance hit “Slaves To The Underground”, and the Family Channel series “The Mr. Bill Show”.
Gordon Firemark is an entertainment attorney whose practice is devoted to the representation of screenwriters, artists, writers, producers and directors in the fields of theater, film, television,and music. He has served as production attorney, production counsel, legal advisor and legal representative for many films and has represented screenwriters such as Jill Thrussel (Intervescent, Cyberhunter) and Phillip Pucci (Wrong Turn 2: Dead End, American Pie Presents the Naked Mile).
Branden Cobb is a Literary Manager and the Founder of Starring Entertainment, currently talent managing 12 diverse clients and is very instrumental in his clients careers. For example, amongst his many accomplishments and contributions to the film industry, he has obtained exclusive rights to 90-minute film scripts by Hollywood writer, Michael O’Hare Wallace, pitched his writings to studios, and negotiated contracts and promoted actress Sandy JeanPhilippe, winner of Ryan Seacrest and E! Networks’ Bank of Hollywood by escorting her to the Beverly Hills Film Festival Red Carpet Event, obtained event acceptances, and conducted personal branding consultations. Cobb is also credited for discovering the movie script for “Permanent Markers,” secured financing, locations and required equipment and hired cast and crew of 30 people from 7 locations. He has recently signed up Sherwood Oaks alumni, Marla Hayes for representation.
Micky Levy is a screenwriter whose credits include Page’s Great and Grand Escape, 2 on U, and Rails and Ties, produced by Alison Eastwood.
Robert Amico is an Actor and Producer and CEO of RFA Productions best known for acting in many TV shows such as General Hospital, and The Bold and The Beautiful and over 75 movies including Blades of Glory, The Last Godfather, Dreamgirls and Amityville Horror. He has also produced many films and TV movies including The Kindness of a Stranger, Tragedy of a Mother and Son, and most recently just finished producing the TV movie, Meat. He is currently in pre-production with his script, Carpe Diem.
Steve Rabineau, United Talent Agency Agent, represents writers, directors including Jodie Foster, Alfonso Cuaron, Dan Roos (writer, Marley and Me) and many more Oscar Winners.