#jthatpays

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our session "Commercializing Your Work" at UNITY Convention 2012 in Las Vegas! I had a fun time moderating it. Thank you for all your great questions.

Here are the resources from the session on how to sell a book, film, TV treatment (and all of the above) featuring Lisa Sharkey, senior vice president at HarperCollins Publishing; Theresa Loong, digital media director and producer; and Deborah Calla, a writer a producer.

Twitter:

@lisasharkey

@theresaloong

@debcalla

@sharonpianchan

Tips:

Read "Be Your Own Best Publicist" -Lisa Sharkey

A news story will translate to a TV or movie treatment only if it has inherent conflict in the story. -Deb Calla

Two effective social media campaign tools (beyond Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) are reddit.com and fark.com. Be aware that the community can quickly turn on you. -Theresa Loong

If you want to protect your intellectual property, send your script to U.S. Copyright. -Deb Calla

Consider securing life rights if you are concerned about your subject selling his/her story elsewhere. Also, you can consider a creative way to split the book advance with your subject. -Theresa Loong, Deb Calla, Lisa Sharkey

Use your AAJA, NABJ, NAHJ, NLGJA and NAJA networks to help you. Example: Cheryl Tan, author of food memoir "A Tiger in the Kitchen," used her AAJA network to facilitate an intro to her agent. After the book was published, AAJA chapters around the country hosted readings and receptions.  

If you want to blog your way to a book deal, keep the topic narrow. -Lisa Sharkey

Consider using a combination of Kickstarter and grant funding to finance an independent film. -Theresa Loong

Don't take no for an answer. -Lisa Sharkey

Links:

Tips for crowdfunding projects with Kickstarter

Publisher's Weekly

Publisher's Lunch

Galley Cat

Theresa Loong's documentary: Every Day is a Holiday

Deb Calla's blog: The Love Project Inc

About our panelists:

Theresa Loong

Lisa Sharkey

Deb Calla

Sharon Chan

PowerPoint presentation: