There's no business, like show business, like no business I know....

Ken and Gordon,

Great topic!

While I've never written, directed, starred in, or produced any films.... I know a few people in the "movie business" (all are small timers)....

I used to be involved in radio, specifically in public radio -- 3PBS-FM, broadcast across Melbourne. If you tuned your radio dial just right -- and had very strange waking hours -- you could sometimes hear me from 2 am to 6 am! :)

However, being involved in radio (even in the wee morning hours) meant I met other people involved in other media.... Such as independent film makers.

I also have a friend, Marco, who's written a couple movie scripts, though he hasn't sold them.... However, Marco recently sent some short sketches of his to a new comedy show which will be starting on TV next year here in Australia. He got some very encouraging feedback.... They said they'd be interested in having him continue to write some sketches for their comedy show -- and even pay him. So, this could possibly become Marco's "foot in the door" to show business!

I've written some short comedy sketches myself back when I was doing radio, which I then pre-recorded to play on my own show. But as my university grades plummeted from spending too much time involved with radio, I decided to leave it and get back to my studies! :)

> OK, I know what a digital product is (I've
> got one called Remote Hypnosis)...and I know
> what a screenplay is...a short I'm not sure
> about...

> is that a short story or a short script?

Here's my guess.... perhaps by "a short" Ken means a short film screenplay (as opposed to a full length one) ? That's my guess anyhow....

I think Ken is targeting the product at would-be screenwriters (people like my friend Marco).... There's no shortage of people wanting to get into all areas of show business!

If I were looking to sell a script, though, I would look for proof of success of the one who was going to teach me "how to do it"....

For example, I might look to see if the author was listed in the credits of any of the movies at www.imdb.com . Always the first thing I look for in any "how to" product is some kind of evidence that the author knows what they are talking about from experience....

> But I'd be inclined to learn from someone
> who has sold a script for six figures or
> better yet, someone with a screen credit for
> a successful movie (one that made some
> money)...

Yup, me too....

This isn't a criticism of Ken, but just a statement of the importance of CREDIBILITY in any marketing effort.... You have to have some credibility regarding what you are providing....

Of course, it's possible you could be the greatest TEACHER in the world, even though you don't have credits in lots of movies.

For example, lots of actors use the "method acting" approach taught by Lee Strasberg, though as far as I know he didn't star in any Hollywood blockbusters. But all the Hollywood stars that testify to his system more than makes up for that.... His credibility comes in from the HUGE successes of many of his students, like Marlon Brando, Dustin Hoffman, and Robert de Niro.

Back to pricing.... Gordon said,

> The standard refrain most anyone with any
> marketing experience is going to tell you is
> to test different price points.

> I'm inclined to say to DEFINE your market
> first, so you know what to compare this
> product to, what else is out there, how does
> this compete with other similar products...

I think this is good advice.... If there are competing products, you may be able to use their prices as a guide when deciding what prices to test for your product....

Once you have some idea of what prices you want to test, you can use a technique like split-testing....

Well, that's a start for this important topic.... :)

Dien Rice