Big Fat Paycheck. By Colton Lawrence. New York: Bantam Books, 2004. 1 vol. 269 p. ISBN 0-553-37600-4.
Big Fat Paycheck. By Colton Lawrence. New York: Bantam Books, 2004. 1 vol. 269 p. ISBN 0-553-37600-4.
Students who want to make big bucks writing movies will enjoy this easy-to-read how-to book. Rather than chapters, the volume offers sections on "Developing Germs into a Full-Blown Treatment," "How Cute — Your First Script," "The Violent Art of the Rewrite" and "Getting Your Script to Market." The introduction beings with a few warnings: "Some screenwriters never make a dime." "Becoming a successful screenwriter depends on many things. It helps to know someone in Hollywood; it's even better to have a family member who can get your foot in the door. Becoming a successful screenwriter also depends on luck." Cutting to the chase, the author is careful to warn the reader at the end of the book that they can't just walk up to an agent, manager or producer, but must first send a letter to see if this person is even interested in receiving a script. A sample pitch letter is given. Because of the probable audience of aspiring writers in any school, this is a welcome addition. It may be one of those that should be chained in the library lest it disappear. Recommended.