Writing Portfolio and Query Letter

Agency Address

Big Building Street

New York, NY

Dear Mr./Ms. Agent,

Hello. I would like to present to you the pilot spec script for my new show, Fairy U.

Previously, I have written screenplays for, and ultimately produced, two short films, “Out of the Box” and “A Crying Shame.” Both examine the psyche of young women trapped within a world they are not comfortable in. Additionally, I am a member of the writing staff for the ICTV program Entertainment 16, covering the latest events in the entertainment industry, and wrote television reviews for The Blazer.

Though the subject matter of Fairy U is neither serious nor nonfiction, it is nonetheless a genre I am comfortable writing in. The college-set comedy follows the muddled life of a young undergraduate; a good guy, though a bit of a slacker. In danger of flunking out, he is suddenly woken on the morning of his important midterm by the sudden appearance of a woman claiming to be his Fairy Godmother. Despite his initial disbelief, the protagonist comes to realize his Fairy Godmother is in fact real, and only visible to him. While the student accepts the presence of his new guardian, he does so begrudgingly. Subsequent episodes are concerned with their initially tempestuous relationship, the Godmother’s bungled attempts to help her ward, and his complete contempt for her attempts at aide. Eventually the pair comes to an understanding, even a friendship, while still having to contend with the problems of college life.

An obvious comparison could be made between Fairy U and The Fairly Oddparents. And while both are characterized by fast-paced dialogue and are witty on different levels, Fairy U has the advantage of being targeted for an older audience, and thus capable of more subtle humor and complex topics to tackle. Additionally, the quirky tone of Fairy U recalls the humor of shows such as Scrubs, with its fantasy sequences. However, Fairy U will automatically appeal to the wider audience of anyone who plans on going, is currently attending, or has gone to college, and can thus relate to the life problems being faced by the protagonist, while having a Fairy Godmother sets this show apart. Fairy U would be perfectly suited for a basic cable channel such as TBS, which has recently been nurturing comedy shows with irreverent, unique premises.

As I work in a variety of media and genres, with a slant towards comedic tones, I am searching for an agent that understands the breadth of my talents. Your experience working with similarly diverse clients would be perfectly suited to me.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my proposal, I understand the demanding schedule an agent of your stature must have. If this letter has peaked your interest, I have copies of the pilot spec script for Fairy U, as well as an outline for the series I could send to you.

Sincerely,

Anne Northgraves

“Giving and Receiving: A Short Love Story”

She was so different from, well, everyone.  I had to start responding, to defend myself. We’d argue the whole ride—well, I’d argue and she would just talk around everything I said with that little smile on her face. Eventually it wasn’t even about the arguing, I just needed to talk to her.

A dreary February day, I got in the car and she wasn’t talking, didn’t have that smile. She finally broke down, told me her aunt had died.  The person she’d always been able to confide in was gone. It should have been weird to be the sounding board, the confidant, but with her it was suddenly so natural. Though I suppose we’d had a relationship for a while, that contact was the start of THAT kind of relationship.

Just having each other’s company was the best thing. It certainly was the healthiest relationship I’d ever been in. But the fact that someone I cared about, whose opinion I valued and who I didn’t really want to see hurt, still couldn’t get me to stop all my shit wasn’t good. It wasn’t good for her.

But I was so stupid I couldn’t see it. And she cared too much about me to care what was happening to her. She still picked and prodded at me, only now it really affected her. She started looking drawn, didn’t have her special look. Except by then I didn’t notice.

Fairy U Synopsis

MAX is a smart and all around decent college co-ed but has the tendency of being a slacker – a tendency that might cause him to flunk out of his University. One morning in the midst of sleeping through a major midterm, he is awakened by the presence of a strange winged figure - his young, peppy Fairy Godmother, BELINDA sent to help Max get his life back on track and catch the eye of SARAH, his warm-hearted, yet overachieving crush.

Understandably freaked out by her existence, as she is only visible to him, Max’s harsh feelings towards Belinda are not helped by the Fairy’s inability to, at first, do anything but cause more problems for him. Max finds himself in the center of a slew of embarrassing, trouble-making situations most of which aren’t the least bit appreciated by Max’s stuffy, uptight Resident Assistant, JESSICA. His only comfort during these wacky events comes from his stoner roommate, CARL who for obvious reasons completely believes Max.

In order to get what he wants, Max must finally accept the fact that Belinda is not going anywhere anytime soon. While Max learns to trust Belinda, he must prove to Sarah and himself that he’s worth taking a chance on.

“Back To You” Spec Script

INT. NEWS ROOM - AFTERNOON

(Ryan is in the doorway to Chuck's office)

Ryan: Chuck, I'm not criticizing anything, I just think you should have checked this with me...

Chuck (within): I don't see what the big deal is. It's hardly noticeable.

Ryan: But there's no reason you needed to do it in the first place.

Greg (Coming up): What's the problem?

Ryan: There's no problem (louder, to Chuck) NO PROBLEM (back to Greg) Chuck got a fan letter -

Greg: I thought we didn't accept fan mail - I've never gotten any.

Chuck (within): Of course we do, I get buckets.

Ryan: Anyway, one letter said that his hair -

Greg: Or lack thereof -

Ryan: Was a bit thin and graying. I took it to mean he looked refined, wise, like Sean Connery. But Chuck -

(Chuck enters with a very noticeable, blonde toupee, Greg starts cracking up)

Chuck: Thought it was time to improve my look. What do you think?

Greg: I...it's... (breaking up, he turns away, and Ryan lightly punches him)

Chuck: What's wrong?

Marsh (walking by): He's probably frightened of that ferret you killed and placed on top of your head to keep it warm. I mean your scalp, not the ferret. It's clearly dead.

Chuck: Greg, what story are you on tonight?

Greg: The sewage leak on Washington Ave.

Chuck: You should probably head out now. It'll take a while to wade through all that stinking refuse.

(Greg leaves, now subdued)

Comments on the Writers Strike

The AMPTP argues that new media has yet to prove itself as a verifiable source of revenue and was vehemently opposed to reality and animation writers’ inclusion. However, the “fledgling” Internet marketplace has already begun raking in the cash for the media conglomerates leading company heads to make statements like Sumner Redstone pronouncing “Viacom will double its revenue this year from digital.” And since the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) successfully gained residuals and payment for Internet material in their renegotiations with the AMPTP, the producers can hardly refuse the same to the WGA. With the reality/animation demands off the table, the AMPTP has virtually no reason to refuse the reasonable, fair, and justifiably adamant demands of the writers. While it is true the strike has caused many other employees of the film/TV industry to lose work, the overwhelming support the WGA has received from members of other unions cannot be ignored either.  

Hope is on the horizon, however. Since talks resumed January 23^rd and are still in session, no news is good news. Ideally, the AMPTP will follow their own example during the successful negotiations with the DGA and grant the WGA it’s new media compensation demands. Then we the viewing masses can stop having to think about complicated things like residuals and get back to what is important – oggling attractive famous people.

Walt Disney Company SWOT Analysis

The Walt Disney Company has grown from the children’s cartoon dream-factory of brothers Roy and Walt Disney into the world’s second largest media conglomerate, behind Time-Warner (Hoover’s). Anyone with at least a peripheral knowledge of current popular culture knows there is not much Disney does not do.

While television and film are what the corporation originated as and constitute the majority of Disney’s profits and public identity, virtually every asset and product the conglomerate has exists in multiple forms through the many types of groups owned by Disney. The numerous companies under the Disney umbrella are divided into four segments: media networks (43% of fiscal year 2006 covering broadcasters like ABC and ESPN, radio, TV production and syndicate companies, and channel-related Internet sites); parks and resorts (29% fy 2006, including parks in all nations, the Disney Cruise Line, and ESPN dining); studio entertainment (21% fy 2006, in which movie studios Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar, and Miramax, and TV/DVD distributors belong); and consumer products (7% fy 2006, including merchandising licensing, retail stores, and children’s book publishing) (Amobi).

Ithaca College alum Bob Iger, President, CEO, and Director since 2005 has encouraged the use of synergy between the four segments, leading the Burbank, California based Walt Disney Company to its best shape ever, with 137,000 employees and a 2007 total revenue of approximately $35.51 billion (Hoover’s). With each year, new technologies emerge allowing for more cross-promotion and increased revenue. The Walt Disney Company will certainly not be filing for bankruptcy any time soon.

“The Extraordinary Appeal of Screen Media” Review

However, I would tend to say that much of the information presented in the article is logical, common knowledge. The first topic presented in the article, the purposes and motives behind TV viewing, are indeed common to all information and entertainment media. Humans have always needed a release and escape from stresses, a means of gaining a wider understanding of themselves in the context of their environment, and keeping informed of the ebb and flow of society as a whole.

For these reasons, high television viewing, or any high media consumption, should not be seen in a negative connotation, especially given the additional statistics brought to light in the article. While it may seem alarming most viewers of media consume it ritualistically, the fact that many media are low involvement due to the ability to merely monitor entertainment and still comprehend and appreciate the story being told allows multiple activities to be participated in at one time. This directly plays into the findings of Robinson and Godbey the author highlights, stating, “ ‘more is more’…those who engage in one activity are more likely to engage in other activities.” Overall, those that watch the most television are also the most physically and socially active.