Interview with Manager Val McLeroy

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Interview with Manager Val McLeroy

What drew you to the entertainment industry?
Much to my parents’ dismay I was an overly imaginative child.  At age three I’d run outside in the middle of the night looking for Peter Pan.  By age seven I was directing the neighborhood kids in plays.  When I was fourteen I wrote a hundred page novel.  It was pretty clear I needed to work in a creative industry and I found my home in entertainment.
 
What’s your favorite part about working with writers?
Without a script you have no movie, TV show, play or podcast.  Writers are usually the smartest people in the room and the most ignored.  Everyone has a story to tell and I love finding writers with a unique and universal story or blazing raw talent that just needs a little direction in order to soar.
 
What gets you most excited about a writer’s pitch?
Without a doubt it’s the writer’s passion for their project.  It’s nice if they are organized in their pitch and the pitch is something fresh and new or a modern spin on a classic tale,  but I will read a script I’m on the fence about if the writer conveys passion in their pitch.
 
What’s one bit of advice that helps you the most in this industry?
This industry can be cruel and demanding, but also very rewarding.  I can’t limit my advice for me or anyone else to just one thing.  However, the best advice I can give anyone, including myself, is to work hard, try not to take criticism too personally and most importantly pick your battles.  
 
What’s your favorite non-industry-related hobby or activity?
I love to cook and entertain friends.  I also love to travel, especially to places of historical significance.

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