In particular they want your connections. They want to know how to get their script to Steven Spielberg’s assistant. The problem is that there is a reason SS’s assistant won’t read just anybody off the street. She not only wants to read a good script — those who count on her judgement wants to work with a seasoned professional, someone who knows the ropes, who understands the realities of production and the development process. (So much so, that I once read an interview by Spielberg’s development person who considered a ten year veteran who had a big time agent to be a “beginner” who she had helped break in.) And that kind of seasoning actually shows up in the script — so that even if she didn’t know you weren’t a seasoned professional, she’d see it in the script, no matter how talented you are.

Further if I happened to know the big guy’s assistant (which I don’t) I would also know that I only have a very limited amount of credibility with this person. I’m not going to spend that credibility on any newbie who comes along. I wouldn’t spend it on any newbie period. If the person were talented, I would probably recommend them to an agent, who’s job it would be to groom them for the big time.

It doesn’t necessarily help anybody to give them “trade secrets” because The Secret is to learn the trade first, and the secrets will come naturally. What helps is to guide them in how to get there from here. What’s the next step?

I will give anybody private help with the next step, and everybody public help with the first step. For one thing, that’s good for me. In screenwriting, anyway, you need a strong network of connections, and even if somebody is a lousy writer, they may become a development person or someone else who has access. (BTW, that IS the first step — helping other people so you have your own connections.)

The self-preservation kicks in in that I won’t give anybody a short cut. In some ways I curse the number of “how to” books out there, because it has allowed enough people to look good enough to get into reading piles before they are ready, and the market is flooded with mediocre scripts. And that makes the producers shut down access to everyone.

In a business environment, it makes a lot of sense to hold back, especially in a competitive arena. (although I know blogging is a competitive business, find most personal finance bloggers willing to help each other out. It’s a great community).

Poker on the other hand… I leave it at hints, allegations and things left unsaid.

Then I’ve had folks bid $12.50 for a whole box of books, then want to sell me the one book in the lot that I wanted for $20. I’m not making that up. His response, “That’s what it’s worth to me.” Which I can’t argue with — he could have been a dealer.

We have a LOT of dealers and a LOT of antique shops around here.

Maybe because I live out in the country where folks are just nicer? Who knows.