Literary Coaching | How to get your ideas in front of decision makers
Thanks for your interest in our coaching services. Are you interested in getting your creative material (book, screenplay, teleplay, stage play, script, story idea, etc.) in front of producers, directors, agencies, publishers, or celebrities? If so, you've come to the right place.
About your coach
My name is Brian Daniel, and I'm the founder of The Celebrity Personal Assistant Network -- the world's highest profile household staffing agency for A-listers, affluent families, billionaires, talent agencies, studio executives, and royalty. I have been featured in the news and media more than 100 times.
Brian Daniel at 20th Century Fox Studios
I moved to Hollywood in 1992 to pursue my dream of being in the entertainment industry. I've been involved in acting, producing, writing, and directing -- among other things. Here is a quick snapshot of my experience:
- I studied acting, writing, and directing at one of Hollywood's top schools.
- I've had small bit parts on major TV and movie productions in Hollywood, including Seinfeld and Melrose Place.
- I'm a former content producer for MySpace when they were owned by 20th Century Fox (I wrote, produced, directed, and starred in my own projects that were featured dozens of times on the home page of MySpace at the height of their fame).
- My videos were also distributed on Fox Atomic, a division of 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures.
- I have been on every TV and Movie Studio lot in Hollywood (multiple times): Warner Bros, Fox, NBC, CBS, ABC, Paramount, Universal, Disney, etc.
- I've pitched TV and movie ideas to A-list celebrities, producers, directors, and top talent agencies.
- I'm currently involved in the development of two TV shows (scripted and unscripted) with major Hollywood production companies (about my celebrity assistant staffing agency).
- I've self-published my own book, which is available on my website. Another one of my books is available on the Barnes & Noble website.
- For 10 years, I was a "Hollywood assistant" and worked with actors, writers, producers, and directors (working with them behind the scenes and learning the mechanics of the entertainment industry).
- For 18 years, I've had my own staffing agency that specializes in personal assistants to actors, producers, and directors (and I talk with those assistants "behind the scenes" about insider information).
- I'm friends with several members of "the academy," and have been to private screenings where members vote for who will win the Oscar (then met with voters afterwards to "talk shop" about the films up for nomination).
- I've been to multiple academy awards pre- and post-parties and listened to countless "on the fly" elevator pitches between A-list directors, producers, and actors.
- I've been pitched by top TV producers at least 8 times (meaning, they came to me and wanted me to star in a reality show, so I listened to them "pitch" me about why I should be a part of their project).
- At one point, I was represented by ICM: International Creative Management agency (which is now part of CAA: Creative Artists Agency, the world's most powerful talent firm for A-list actors, writers, producers, and directors).
- When I was represented by ICM, I worked with a Top-10 production company in Hollywood for a year developing a project with them (I had an "Executive Producer" credit).
- My former roommate was in post-production in Hollywood for 20 years, and he worked on dozens of big-budget films (some of which won Oscars), and I have been to dozens of "Hollywood Hills mansion parties" meeting players to talk about the mechanics of the entertainment industry.
- I've been in major Hollywood studio post-production editing bays dozens of times watching A-list producers and directors collaborate on final edits for big-budget studio films (picture editing and sound mixing).
- I hold a BA degree in Linguistics (English), a master's degree in education (English concentration), and hold a university-level certificate in English grammar.
Left to Right: Brian Daniel with Alec Baldwin, David Carradine (Kill Bill), and Vince Neil of Motley Crue
What we can cover in the coaching
The coaching is customized to your needs, but here are some of the talking points:
- The mechanics and process of putting your ideas on paper.
- What software to use when writing.
- How to write a query letter (what it is and when to use it).
- How to properly copyright your work (mailing a copy to yourself isn't legal and doesn't protect you).
- What to do when a producer steals your ideas (intellectual property).
- How to look like a polished professional (A-listers won't deal with wannabes).
- How to handle rejection letters.
- Learn which agencies have access to premier movie producers and directors, and which ones to stay away from.
- The pros and cons of selling your first screenplay for "peanuts" and taking a "created by" or "story by" credit.
- How to tell when a movie producer offers a seemingly good deal, but he is really about to "take you to the cleaners."
- Learn about script "coverage" and getting professional notes on your work from experienced industry insiders.
- What to do if you get an intimidating letter from a publisher, producer, director, or studio who is threatening to sue you for mailing them "unsolicited" literary work.
- Learn about the "mechanics of the entertainment industry" because understanding the minutia of how agencies, lawyers, producers, directors, and actors work together in pre-production, production, and post-production is important. Industry pros want to invest in people who are "in the know" and you must be able to "talk the talk and walk the walk."
- How to create a "back door" to a producer, agent, publisher, or director (and win them over) -- even after someone on their team has already rejected you.
- Learn about the "hero's journey" and how to break your story up into something with a beginning, middle, and an end (i.e. Act I, Act II, and Act III).
- What to do when a producer or director wants you to sign a "non-disclosure agreement" and/or a "held harmless" (release of liability) contract. Sometimes it's a sign of nefarious activity or predatory behavior, but not always.
- Learn about "unconventional" methods for getting your screenplay sold instead of "getting in line" with the other 10,000 people who have similar ideas to yours.
- We brainstorm and have a Q & A session, so I can hear about what you have been doing (and the challenges you are facing) with ideas on how to "pivot" and overcome adversity.
- Learn how to "bypass gatekeepers" and get your literary ideas to decision-makers (this is a technique that I have refined over 20 years, and it has landed me in-person meetings with A-list producers and directors).
- How to create a targeted list, instead of just "randomly spraying" your ideas all over Hollywood and looking like a novice that nobody wants to deal with.
- What constitutes "diva behavior" and how you can get "shut out" of your own literary creation by producers or publishers for being "uncooperative."
Brian Daniel on set in Los Angeles
- The pros and cons of entering your screenplay in contests to "create heat" around your project.
- The pros and cons of doing a "table read" of your script to "create buzz" around your material.
- Learn the difference between a literary "agent" and a "business manager."
- How to get the unpublished business addresses to producers, directors, writers, celebrities, and studio executives, so you can send them your work without going through an agent or lawyer.
- Learn how to avoid getting on an informal "blacklist" for being too aggressive and not following submission procedures with publishers, agencies, producers, and directors.
- Learn the differences and methodologies between approaching an agency, producer, director, or celebrity.
- The pros and cons of attaching an actor or director to your literary work BEFORE selling it.
- Learn about the pros and cons of having a "hip pocket" deal with a literary agent.
- What it's like to have your screenplay in a "bidding war" (it happened to my best friend).
- What happens when your literary work goes into "development hell" or "turnaround" (this also happened to one of my friends).
- Learn the tricks and "secret tests" that many entertainment industry professionals will put you through to see if you "have what it takes" (it takes more than a good idea because they need to see if you have "think skin" and perseverance to "take the heat" of being in the entertainment industry, and you sometimes need to be able to do dozens of rewrites without complaining or "losing steam").
ABOVE: Brian Daniel filming in Los Angeles in the early 2000s with the first 24-frame fully digital camera that gave filmmakers a "cinema-like" look without the expensive cost of shooting with film. Brian wrote, produced, starred, and directed in the project.
- The pros and cons of hiring an entertainment or literary attorney to represent you when an agency won't.
- Learn how long it actually takes to get your movie made once your script is sold (law of averages).
- How to avoid getting dropped from an agency after they take a chance on you (avoid novice mistakes).
- Learn the insider's secret to using script "brads" (fasteners) and what NOT to do to look like a novice when sending a physical script to someone interested in your writing. Doing it the right way is a sort of "secret handshake" like the Freemasons (but in a modern Hollywood context).
- How to dramatically reduce the cost of mailing a physical script when the agent or producer doesn't want a PDF.
- Learn the pros and cons of doing an "option" on your screenplay or literary material (when a producer wants to use your script or story idea to "shop it" around Hollywood to raise money or check interest).
- How to posture and position yourself to have "selling points" when dealing with publishers, agencies, and producers. Without the right selling points, you're just another "dreamer with an idea." The decision makers get thousands (or tens of thousands) of ideas every year. You need to stand out.
- Learn some cheap and easy tricks about professional development ideas to polish your writing (and credibility) if you don't have a prestigious writing degree from UCLA, USC, or NYU.
- And much more...
If you score a meeting and a publisher, producer, director, or agency wants to meet with you, I also do pre-meeting coaching to get you ready.
Questions & Answers
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions to get you started:
Am I guaranteed results if I coach with you?
Brian and Jay Leno
Absolutely, positively not. With the exception of becoming a jet fighter pilot or an astronaut, there is no business on earth more difficult than selling your literary work. It is VERY DIFFICULT.
What I do is share my insights, experiences, and mistakes to give you a "head start," so you don't make years of VERY EXPENSIVE MISTAKES like I did.
What I do is share my insights, experiences, and mistakes to give you a "head start," so you don't make years of VERY EXPENSIVE MISTAKES like I did.
Do I need to be in New York or Los Angeles to be a writer?
No, certainly not. Because most agencies, directors, and producers have moved toward asking for PDFs of scripts, it's as easy as sending an email. In the "old days," we had to print costly scripts on paper, and then pay the exorbitant fees to mail the heavy material.
Will I be able to get an agent?
It's impossible to say. Again, it's difficult.
Brian Daniel's publicity shots
I don't have a full book, screenplay, or TV script written, is that OK?
Yes, it's ok. You can sell an "idea" to movie producers, and they will have a trained professional write the full script. In situations like that, you could get a "created by" or "story by" credit, but that has to be negotiated. In some cases, producers or directors will continue to collaborate with the original person who had the idea, and you get paid as a "consultant," but it's taken on a case-by-case basis.
How much does it cost to get coaching?
The first step is to let me know (in a very short summary) what your goals are and your experience level. Once I have an understanding of how much work it will take, I can give you an estimate of how many hours it will take to coach you.
Brian at the official Oscars party. Starting from the lower right corner and moving clockwise: on the red carpet, Tom Arnold, Brian and Donny Osmond, Helen Hunt, Kevin Costner, David Arquette, Geoffrey Rush & Minnie Driver, Ben Stiller & Demi Moore, Winona Ryder, Matt Damon, Robin Williams, and Billy Crystal.
I don't even know where to start. I just want to pick your brain. Can we jump on a quick call?
Please be advised that my website and other platforms get a total of one million views a year. I have thousands of people contact me who want advice about selling books, screenplays, or becoming a celebrity assistant. I simply don't have time. I need to "clock in" to get on the phone with people.
Also, there is no such thing as a "quick call." I used to do that, and those "quick calls" turned out to be 45-minute marathons with a barrage of questions. Thanks for your understanding.
Also, there is no such thing as a "quick call." I used to do that, and those "quick calls" turned out to be 45-minute marathons with a barrage of questions. Thanks for your understanding.
Will you listen to my story ideas and help me develop them?
Brian recording in studio
No, I can't. For legal and insurance purposes, I don't want to hear anyone's specific story ideas. I just coach you on "steps" to take and procedures to follow. I talk about my experience and guide you.
I don't get involved in the creative process about what characters in a story should do, for example. Please re-read all of the talking points above about what we cover in our coaching sessions.
I don't get involved in the creative process about what characters in a story should do, for example. Please re-read all of the talking points above about what we cover in our coaching sessions.
Can you have one of the celebrity assistants that you represent through your agency deliver my book or screenplay to an actor or agency?
No, absolutely not; but we will show you how to get your ideas to VIPs in the entertainment industry.
Can you help me with personal branding and refining my image?
Yes, absolutely. I'm ranked in the top 1% of LinkedIn profiles (out of over 500 million users). I'm an expert on branding and image consulting. I can help you refine your style, image, and LinkedIn profile because that is also part of your "package" when agencies, publishers, or producers are considering you.
On location of the "NYPD Blue" TV show at 20th Century Fox Studios
How are the coaching sessions conducted?
I usually conduct the sessions on Zoom because it's much clearer than doing cell-to-cell calls. Also, using Zoom allows me to share my screen and show you resources. Don't worry, you don't need a Zoom account to use the link I send you.
How do I pay for my coaching session?
Payments are handled through PayPal, the world's oldest and most trusted online payment service (co-founded by Elon Musk). PayPal takes all forms of credit card payments (and Venmo), and you don't need a PayPal account to use the service.
Do not send us any intellectual property or story ideas. We are not a literary agency, and we delete all submissions of this type for legal reasons.
