Come What May

Hello,

Your Signature Story is all about how to access and leverage the power of Hollywood, publishing and publicity. You are invited to join me for a teleseminar chat on Tuesday, May 13th on "Optioning Rights: A View From Both Sides of the Table" at 6PM Pacific. Register for the call at www.creativecvg.com/ysscall.php.

Thanks again to everyone who just joined me for the Your Signature Story: From Content Creator to Media Brand 8-Session Intensive(www.creativecvg.com/yoursignaturestory.php). It was a fantastic group and I'm really inspired by what everyone is up to as writers, authors, experts and content creators. It was obvious from all my conversations with participants that everyone got tools and insights that will certainly take them to the next level.

Our next YSS Intensive is coming up in June and I hope you'll consider joining us. As we go, I'm also looking to expand the resources the I offer - including blog postings, an expanded newsletter and more live teleseminar chats.

So what's happening here in Hollywood? I'm very happy to see that the mood around town has brightened post-Strike and things seem to be picking up again in terms of deals - both options and sales. Production is still a bit touch and go since no one knows how the SAG negotiations are going to play out and their contract comes up at the end of June. We've had some casting director friends say they've seen several projects halted because its uncertain where negotiations may go. In any case, the development side of the buinsess seems to be clipping along with lots of renewed energy on all fronts. It's a great time to be getting yourself out there.

I've been out at several events over the past couple of weeks and just wanted to share some of the highlights.

-- Patti Felker of Felker Tzocek Gellman Suddleson LLP was honored as Entertainment Lawyer of the Year for 2008 by the Beverly Hills Bar Association at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

It was fun to see a room full of entertainment industry professionals, many wearing track suits, in such a formal setting as the Crystal Ballroom.

Jeremy Piven ("Entourage"), the master of ceremonies at the event said, "Thank Patti for the dress code." She's known not only for being one of the best lawyers in entertainment, but also the best dressed, (i.e. most comfortable, ever...). She wears sweats to work because -- well, she can!!! Nike custom made her attire for the event -- an incredible faux diamond trimmed black track suit. Brendan Fraiser, Orlando Bloom, Chad Michael Murray, among others all gave homage to her sense of style, her class, and above-all her top notch ability to passionately represent her clients.

Phil Rosenthal ("Everybody Loves Raymond") gave a keynote along with his wife Monica who attested, "We have the best lawyer with the best deal that anyone has gotten anywhere." Phil Rosenthal reportedly had gotten over $50 million +++ deal as the show went into its eighth season (hello, T. Harv Eker looking for "passive income" from Hollywood). Phil told the story of how he met Patti in high school in Rockland County, NY, recounting, "I was captain of the football team and she was head cheerleader." He mused about how he went on to play for the Dallas Cowboys, then they lost touch, and at some point childhood dreams die hard and she had gone on to law school. A career ending injury brought him to LA to be an actor-writer-whatever. They met again walking on the street (a very rare thing indeed for two people to be walking on the street in LA), and now she was a powerful entertainment attorney. She invited him to stay with her and he lived on her couch for a year with the understanding that he give her 5% of everything he makes until he dies (this last part of the story seemed accurate).

The event provided a great opportunity for everyone to express their gratitude and respect for the work Patti Felker does in this industry. She's known for being fierce and fiercely loyal. Director Dean Parisot ("Galaxy Quest") said, "She has a passion and commitment to her clients and likes finding them before the spotlight does." She also has a great sense of humor (best appreciated by those who are not on the other side of the table in any negotiation). As Greg Berlanti ("Everwood") put it, "She brings a shotgun to kill a fly." When Orlando Bloom wants something, he too, knows he's got his secret weapon in saying, "Bring out the Felker!" It was an incredible event to honor one of the most outstanding entertainment attorneys in our field.

And thanks Patti, for all your support and guidance from your friends at Creative Convergence.


Other events that I'll share more about soon include...

-- Mark Burnett of Mark Burnett Productions speaking at an iHollywood event sponsored by NXTcomm at the Luxe Hotel in Bel Air.

-- Diversity Press Editors and Producers speaking at the Entertainment Professional Publicists Society (EPPS) monthly breakfast panel at the ICG in Hollywood.

-- Senior-level Studio PR Professionals at the Meet the Mentor at EPPS sponsored by Scoop Seminars.

-- An evening at Darren Star's house (Creator of "Sex and the City") in the Hollywood Hills sponsored by The Hollywood Hill. This was the kick-off for an all day Conference on "The New Hi-Tech Robin Hoods." The event featured speakers from DonorsChoose.org, Kiva.org, Microplace.org and Grameen Foundation.

-- Wrap party for "The Office" at the Santa Monica Pier.

-- Speaking at Sherwood Oaks Experimental College on a panel with Literary Agent, David Warden of The Warden Group in Beverly Hills.

-- Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein performed "Freakin' Sweet" as an evening of music and comedy that featured The Family Guy orchestra. The event held at the Ahmanson Theater was a fundraiser for The Center Theater Group.