You already have the power and the ability to succeed in the film and television industries, though you might be missing some tools. Knowing that you are your own company, and you are your company's CEO, let's explore some concepts and tricks you might not yet be aware of.

The thing that I think most people aspiring to work in this industry struggle with is a misconception of how careers are normally started, and how they're maintained. The most newsworthy stories of success in film and television are of course about those people who were just discovered; they had one success and the rest fell into place. This is not the normal way of things, in fact, it's the rarest form. The fact that it's such a rare and unique circumstance is why these stories are proliferated to such a degree, and unfortunately for those outside the industry, they misguide the expectations for people trying to break in.

I'm sure you've heard it before, but imagine your screenwriting career like any other goal. Let's say you lived in San Francisco, and your goal is to drive to New York. You don't just get in your car and drive to New York because there is no straight road covering the distance—there are numerous ways to get to your final destination, and you need to map out exactly how you're going to get there.

For those who have bought into "I just need to get my first movie produced, and the rest will work out,” a drive to New York is not realistic, because those attempting this are going on their trip unprepared. They might finally stop after a few miles and ask for directions, but if they're stubborn, they might end up in Wymoning or some other place not anywhere near New York. Knowing your goal and planning all the stops and turns is the fastest and best way to control your outcome, and speed up success.

Treating yourself as The Company of You is not just a frame of mind; it also suggests some of the practices you should exercise. Just like every great company you need to know what your goals are: your mission statement.

CONTENTS:
1) Your Mission Statement
2) Mapping the Course
3) Conclusion

1) Your Mission Statement

I want you to grab a piece of paper right now, and make a list of twenty or more things you want to accomplish in your career. Items could include things like "get four of my movies produced in the next five years,” "earn six figures through my writing,” "win an Academy Award,” "make a movie with Doug Liman,” etc. Do not read further until you've done this.

OK, now that you've written at least twenty of these career desires, I want you to read through them a few times, and for each item, ask yourself what, at its core, is so important about this desire to you. Now I want you to circle the ten most important items. Do not read further until you've done this.

Every item that you did not circle is likely to either be accomplishable through one of the more inclusive items you did circle, or they are simply not that important in the large scheme of things. These ten items are the basis of The Company of You, and will inform the decisions you make in your immediate future.

Next, I want you to draw a star to the left of the three most important items out of the ten you circled. Do not read further until you've done this.

The three items you starred are your Company's cornerstone goals. Now, I want you to get a new piece of paper and write three columns with one of your top three cornerstone goals at the top of each column. Take a look at the remaining seven circled items, and write them under one of these columns. For instance, if earning a six figure income through writing is one of your top three items, and one of the remaining seven was getting four movies produced in the next five years, you could likely put the latter under the "Six Figure Income” column. Hang onto this 3-column sheet because you will need it again later.

Finally, you're ready to draft your Mission Statement. This statement should start with "My Company's mission is…” I want you to write a single sentence (since this isn't grade school, they can be run-on if you like) that succinctly encapsulates your three cornerstone goals. Print your Mission Statement out, or write it on an index card, and put in your monitor, your desk, or anywhere you will see it regularly, because that Mission Statement is your destination, and it's your job to map the course.

2) Mapping the Course

Like any company, you need to know the industry you're getting into. So, let's take another look at the 3-column sheet you drafted before. You are going to dissect each of your three cornerstone goals into their root components. It's going to take research and time, but this is one task that needs to be done right. You should plan on leisurely spending at least one week for each of these.

I can't write every step out for each of your cornerstone goals, because I can't predict what they are, but I can do some work on picking apart one of the more obvious goals to give you an example of how this should be done.

For each of your maps, you're going to work backward, from goal completion to the present day. Obviously at least one of your goals is going to include movies getting made, so let's take a look at this. You need to first research all of the final things attached or associated with a film by the time it gets made. Do not just trust what you've already read; you need to really do the research. I can promise you that there are things associated with getting a movie made that you haven't even heard of yet. Read Wikipedia, buy books from other perspectives such as books on producing, acting, and directing. Read business books that are not specific to the film industry.

Getting your first movie made is likely to just be one step in your ultimate map, but some of the things that will ultimately need to be attached to a script before it gets produced should be identified. You do not need to turn yourself into a producer, but by knowing what's required, you can pick and choose what tasks you are willing to do yourself, and what tasks need to be "outsourced.” You probably already know that if you had an A-list actor attached to your script, it would help your chances of getting it produced, but there are other things you can also do to increase your chances for success as well.

Here's a short list of things that every movie ultimately needs in order to be produced: a screenplay, budget, actors, director, cinematographer, production manager, camera package, insurance, and money… of course.

For your map, maybe you have some money connections! Maybe you're able to get some investor to agree to match funds with a producer to get the movie made. That could be one way to make your project more attractive. Or maybe you don't have any money connections, but since you've been doing research on Wikipedia, you learned that production managers often draft budgets for movies, and have special relationships with equipment rental houses. So, you could track down successful production managers (who all know producers because that's who they work for directly!!!), and try to get a production manager on board with your project. If you got a good production manager on board [they are also credited as Unit Production Managers (UPMs) and Line Producers] they might draft up budgets, introduce the project to producers, directors, or actors they personally know. An accomplished UPM can get your movie made, and most of writers don't give them the time of day. The point I'm trying to make is two-fold. (1) you need to educate yourself: as one example, I can guarantee that the majority of writers never really heard of a production manager before, nor do they know how vital they are to every movie, or the kind of tremendous industry access they can have, and (2) you need to map out as many possible routes to success as you can find, because you never know what route will lead to success faster. List out every route to success you can possibly think of. Do this now. In the next 7 days, (before my next article comes to you) map out 10 more. Review some of my past articles to help you find a few of these routes.

3) Conclusion

Everything that happens in your life is comprised of steps and obstacles, whether they're planned or not. The people who tend to get to their goals the fastest and with the most success are those who understand this, and are not swayed by anything standing in the way of their goals. It's like Henry Ford said: "Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” When I see writers carrying a positive attitude in their meetings, and a real game plan, I see writers who are ahead of the curve. When I see writers who are focused and unwavering, I don't need to be psychic to see success in their future.

All of the successful writers who I know personally, have a strong working knowledge of how the industry works, and all of the things required to get a movie produced. Sure, the more they've worked in the industry, the more they've learned, but this knowledge can and does help them get even more work in the future. By figuring out your true mission statement, and educating yourself by creating the maps to your success, you are not just working to launch your own career, but you're preparing yourself to stand out once you get there.

"Chance favors the prepared mind.” ― Louis Pasteur

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About the Author:
Gato Scatena is a producer with Scatena & Rosner Films, and vice president at InkTip.  His most recent productions include the upcoming theatrical film, "Filth," starring James McAvoy, upcoming comedy, "Mantevention," starring Mario Van Peebles, and Lifetime's "Imaginary Friend," starring Paul Sorvino.
Questions for Gato can be tweeted to @GatoScatena on Twitter.