Update:

It's been a couple months since I last wrote an update. And a busy couple months at that! But as we wind down 2017 and move into Christmas, I thought I would recap a few of the year's successes:

- "Comfort" came out in February and hit the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" section for romance films

- "The Basement" was completed, premiered and Shriekfest, and was picked up by sales agent Taylor & Dodge

- "Pray for Rain" had a successful premiere at Geena Davis's Bentonville Film Festival followed by a worldwide home entertainment release in July

- New media series "The Offer" completed post and was delivered successfully to an extraordinarily happy client in China

So then, many people have been asking me what's next. Great question. I'm proud to say I have a number of great projects on the horizon. Here's a few worth mentioning:

- I'm looking forward to starting production on modern-day techno-thriller "LITU" as part of my ongoing collaboration with TDP Films (starring Ivana Milicevic)

- I expect to be producing a commercial for web-building service Ucraft with director Von Kochar at the helm

- Royal Rehearsal will have me creating a series of video ads for their Facebook/web campaign

- I continue to work on packaging "Walking on Palmettos," the $30M feature I'm producing with Ed Asner (Jake Gyllenhaal passed on the lead role, but we're out to Charlie Hunnam now!)

- My latest client Rocco Palmieri has just hired me to help develop and package New York-based boxing drama "Worth the Fight," which I rewrote and am very excited about

I have a very positive feeling about what 2018 holds and believe it could be a pivotal year for my career. Can't wait to see what the future holds...... Stay tuned........

Update:

As we move into fall, I already find myself thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas -- turkeys and sweaters and football and all those things that make Hallmark holidays so special. Oh, and being grateful for all that we have! Can't forget that one.

So what do I have? Other than a wonderful wife, great family, friends, my health, and my own little slice of the American dream, I also have a pretty awesome career doing what I love to do. Here's a few of the things I've got going on between now and year's end:

- My horror feature "The Basement" (starring Mischa Barton) will be premiering at Shriekfest On Saturday, October 7th. Here's the trailer for those who are curious: https://vimeo.com/208764491

- I am attached to produce a super cool techno-thriller called "LITU" for TDP Films, which will either start production later this fall or shortly after the new year when the financing has been finalized.

- Lambda Tree Productions was so ecstatic about how Chinese new media series "The Offer" came out, that they now have asked me to oversee the creation of all marketing materials, including the ad spots and key art, which will be done sometime later this month.

- "Walking on Palmettos" writer Jim Christell and I recently made an offer to Jake Gyllenhaal for the starring role, and we're simultaneously approaching investors for the remaining third of the budget we need. Check out this sizzle reel that tells a little of the story: https://vimeo.com/164845290

- My feature "Comfort," which was released back in February, was just made available on Amazon Prime. So if you have an account, check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5Q4XBS

- I continue to work with clients on script development, budgets and business plans. A few of these projects I feel have real potential in the marketplace, including a comedic version of "The Sopranos" and a boxing drama called "Worth the Fight."

Despite all this, let me be clear -- I'm still available for producing gigs, so feel free to reach out to me through my website if you feel I can be of service: www.markheidelberger.com

In the meantime, just remember, those holidays will be here before we know it!

Update: 2017 has been a pretty darn good year so far. Lots of work opportunities came my way, which means lots of opportunities for me to hire others!

My feature drama "Pray for Rain" starring Jane Seymour had a fantastic premiere at Arclight Hollywood and hit the shelves in July.

I have horror movie "The Basement" coming out later this year as well as China-produced new media series "The Offer," which I just completed post on.

I'm actively working on packaging big budget biopic "Walking on Palmettos" with producing partners Jim Christell and Ed Asner to shoot next year in LA and the Caribbean. I'm very excited about that one! (Music legend Dave Mason just joined our team as well!)

I'm simultaneously working with writer John Trasacco on the mini-bible for his comedic mob show "Bad Apples."

I'll also have some potentially new feature work coming up very soon, including a thriller from TDP Films and a billiards movie from longtime collaborator Nathan Ives.

Stay tuned!

Check out this two-part article I wrote for Funds for Writers about creative ways to break into entertainment writing:

Entertainment Writing Jobs You May Not Have Considered – Part 1 of 2

Mark Heidelberger / 2017-04-15

As a former literary manager, I represented film and television writers for the better part of eight years. Many of the talented but less experienced writers who hadn’t yet made a living at the craft were solely interested in creating original screenplays that would be shopped to production companies, studios and packaging agents. They never wished to consider the myriad other ways they could make money in the industry with far less competition, even if such work might lead to their ultimate goals. Here are a few such ideas for those writers seeking to take the road less traveled:



Become a Writer’s Assistant

Feature film and television writers have assistants that do everything from menial work like rolling calls and faxing to more creative pursuits like researching, writing synopses, doing coverage, and even giving development notes. The hours might be long and the grunt work tiresome, but it’s one of the best ways to see how scripts get produced. It also allows you to make connections with other professionals like agents and producers.

In the case of television, you see how a writer’s room runs while taking notes for the staff writers. Moreover, TV shows often promote from within, giving promising assistants an episode to write after a season or two. To get such a job requires tenacity and fortitude, but high turnover rate among industry assistants means jobs are opening up all the time. Join online writers’ groups and attend events to network with other assistants, scour entertainment job aggregators like the UTA Joblist, and post your assistant profile on job sites like Media Match to try and get in the door.

Voice-Over Copywriting

You hear voice-over in movie trailers all the time. You know the guy who begins by saying, “In a world where XYZ happens?” Well, someone is paid to write those lines – usually a copywriter who works for or has a relationship with the trailer house that produces the content. Since many writers don’t consider this type of work, there are far fewer of them querying trailer houses for work than studios or production companies. Search online for contact info on trailer houses and send queries to their in-house producers along with any relevant writing samples you may have. Offer to do a test run on one film for free to see if they like your work, and tell them you’ll only charge if they want to use it. If they agree, they’ll usually give you a movie to watch and some creative direction. Make sure you are clear on format, length and style requirements. In addition, since voice-over work is prevalent in other areas like radio and television commercials, you may do well to reach out to ad agency executives who are also in the market for someone who can capture the voice of a campaign.



Write Educational Materials

Those with a more extensive track record and knowledge of the entertainment world could use their talents to help others. Educational materials such as how-to books, film history guides, and resource manuals have become a more viable option with the rise of downloadable ebooks and self-publishing. Having some specific know-how in a given area, whether it’s fundraising, non-linear editing or Italian New Wave directors, makes you more appealing.

Reach out directly to university film departments to gauge their interest in your material, even before you create it. If they’re not interested, they may be willing to offer suggestions on materials that would better fit their curriculum. Smaller colleges and certificate schools may be more accessible for those writers who don’t have a master’s degree and a lengthy resume. You can also contact organizations like US-based TES, Journeys in Film or British-based Film Education to see if they’re willing to let you create paid lesson plans or other original teaching materials for their programs.

Entertainment Writing Jobs You May Not Have Considered – Part 2 of 2

Mark Heidelberger / 2017-04-21

In this follow-up article, I put more of an emphasis on the feature film world. Thanks to the proliferation of “prosumer” technology like HD cameras and editing software, more films are being made now than ever before, offering increased accessibility for writers who are willing to attempt a more non-traditional approach to their careers.

Write Film Treatments

Feature film scripts usually begin with a treatment – essentially an extended synopsis between two and ten pages that outlines the entire narrative beat by beat in prose form. The treatment serves as the framework for the script and is a crucial part of the film development process. Since a treatment simply reads like a short story, less experienced writers who may not be totally familiar with the nuances of script formatting, dialogue, and the like can still manage to create something valuable for filmmakers.

First, you should read books like “Story” by Robert McKee to make sure you’re clear on the basic elements of film narrative like structure and character arc. Next, generate a list of one-sentence ideas (called loglines) that you think might make for catchy movies. Select your top three or four and crank out a treatment for each. You can then query production companies who are open to story pitches, place the treatments for sale on sites like Inktip, or use them as samples on freelance writing sites. While screenplay treatments may not pay nearly as much as scripts, they take much less time to create, so a prolific writer might be able to crank out several treatments per week.

Ghostwriting for Indie Filmmakers

Many independent producers, writers, actors, and directors have ideas for films they would like to make, but not the will or skill to write the material on their own. If you have experience writing screenplays and would rather pocket the green than see your name in lights, consider offering your services as a ghostwriter. This involves you working hand-in-hand with the person who hires you to craft the script he or she wants or to rewrite a script he or she already has without taking any credit. While you have less creative control this way, you get to ply your craft as a paid writer.

Books like Screenplay by Syd Field or Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder are must-reads for writers who are looking to hone their script-writing mechanics before offering up their services to others. Having writing samples ready to show is also crucial. Websites like Mandy and Screenwriting Staffing routinely have posts seeking ghostwriters. You can also create your own website to sell your services for hire and reach out to potential partner sites for cross-promotion to help get the word out.

Write Marketing Materials

Film and television marketing alone is a multi-billion-dollar business, and much of that money goes toward creating promotional writing for pre-existing content. If you have the ability to capture the essence of a project in a concise way with a bit of wit and flare, marketing-based materials might be your niche. This includes everything from actor biographies in press kits to poster taglines to the synopses on the back of DVD packaging.

Just like ghostwriting scripts or treatments, you can market yourself as a promotional writer to independent filmmakers by building your own website or by creating a profile on freelance sites like Upwork and Guru. You can also reach out directly to movie marketing agencies and PR firms to see if they’re hiring new in-house or freelance writers. LA 411 has an extensive list featuring company names, contacts, phone numbers and addresses. Just make sure you have some relevant sample work to show before you reach out (even if it’s just a spec sample).

Hey all, check out my recent interview with Meagan Meehan on Blasting News regarding the release of one of my new films, Comfort:

Published on:

14 March 2017

MEAGAN MEEHAN

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Interview with Mark Heidelberger, producer of forthcoming film ‘Comfort'

Mark Heidelberger is a producer who is anticipating the release of his newest movie titled 'Comfort'

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'Comfort' is a romantic film produced by Mark Heidelberger. / Photo via Clint Morris, October Coast PR. Used with permission.

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Mark Heidelberger is a freelance movieproducer who is currently anticipating the release of a film called “Comfort” that chronicles a Chinese-American romance. Mark has previously worked on docu-dramas and independent films in a variety of genres. He recently discussed his career and his plans for his future showbusiness endeavors:

Career

Blasting News (BN): What mainly inspired you to become a #Producer?

Mark Heidelberger (MH): I knew I wanted to work in #Movies since I was about seven years old. I was influenced by the big studio films of the 80’s like “Ghostbusters,” “Back to the Future,” “Karate Kid” and “Beverly Hills Cop.” As a teenager, ran around my neighborhood with a giant VHS camcorder making movies with friends. After college, I moved to Los Angeles and an old UCSB buddy approached me to help make low budget music videos. I found that I was good at making the key decisions that shaped a project and enjoyed being part of a project from beginning to end. I ran Treasure Entertainment until I went freelance in 2011.

BN: Which genres are your favorites to work with and why?

MH: Telling a good story transcends the boundaries of genre. I have produced features in nearly every genre – drama, comedy, romance, action, horror, thriller, family. As long as it’s got interesting characters and real conflict then it’s got potential.

BN: How did you get involved in “Comfort”? How can you describe it?

MH: I was introduced to writer-director William Lu by a mutual friend, Erik Martinez. A financier had already committed to backing “Comfort” up to a certain cost, but no one had run any numbers. I met with Will and showed him how we could do it. He asked me to produce and the rest is history. The story is about two very different people with struggles who find comfort in one another over two nights when their lives briefly intersect. Cameron is stuck in a safe but monotonous late night courier job and is afraid to break out of that. Jasmine is an independent spirit who just can’t seem to communicate with her father about what she wants. Cameron and Jasmine (played amazingly by our stars Chris Dinh and Julie Zhan) have a natural chemistry and help change each other for the better in the story while romance blossoms and late night comfort-food is devoured.

Process

BN: What were your main responsibilities on the flick?

MH: I managed all business-related aspects of the production and ensured the financier was happy. I gave story notes, assisted with casting, dealt with legal or contractual matters, guided the production process, handled marketing, publicity, film festivals, and found distribution for the film. I was also responsible for keeping the film on schedule and on budget, hiring the key crew members, selecting vendors and managing the set day to day. I oversaw editing, sound, visual effects, music and color correction. And as the “business man,” I was the guy toward the beginning of the film signing for the passport!

BN: Do you have any upcoming projects that you’re super excited about?

MH: A psychological horror flick called “The Basement,” a Chinese new media series called “The Offer,” a movie titled “Pray for Rain,” a darkly comic sci-fi film titled “Strand” and a now-untitled found footage horror-thriller to shoot in Tennessee. I’m also in development on several projects, including one called “Walking on Palmetto” about real life smuggler Myles Richards, which I’ll be producing with Ed Asner.

BN: What advice would you give to someone who is aspiring to enter the film industry, especially as a producer?

MH: This business is tough. Walls have been constructed to keep people out. That’s why so many people move out here to give Hollywood a shot and then move home within two years. You must love being a storyteller. If you don’t know what you love about what you’re doing, then it’s probably not the right job for you. Like my grandpa told me when I was a little kid, “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” #Interview