Immediately after registering, you will receive an Order Confirmation that serves as the receipt for your registration. In the Order Summary section of this email, there will be a link reading "CLICK HERE FOR INSTRUCTIONS" that will take you to the page containing the Webinar recording. Click the link and enjoy!
Here at Roadmap, we’ve gone to great lengths to give our writers the best industry knowledge and training possible. We want everyone to be equipped to succeed in their career, and that’s why we carefully crafted our tiered Career Writer Program. In this 4 step program, writers work with numerous execs to hone their marketing, networking and meeting skills.
But who are the execs who participate in the Career Writer Program? What are their backgrounds, areas of expertise, and approach to pitching?
Join us for this special webinar event with three of our best executives and get to know who you will be working with if you join. We want our writers to take actual steps to become a Career Writer.
This Free 90-Minute Webinar will Cover:
- How these execs got their start
- What they look for in scripts
- Marketing dos and don'ts
- Audience Q&A!
Prior to co-founding the management/production company Fictional Entity in early 2017, Chris Deckard spent over seven years working with and representing talent at the major agencies ICM Partners and WME. While at WME, Chris worked in the media rights department, selling books for series and film adaptations before moving into the talent department, where he worked closely with high level actors in film, television, and the then-emerging digital space. While at ICM Partners, he again worked with high level actors and worked closely with the packaging and sales department and the digital media group. For over a decade, Chris has worked closely with traditional and new media buyers to find and develop content for domestic and international audiences. In addition to helping cast and package numerous features and series, he has evaluated thousands of scripts for actors and directors. Chris graduated from Cornell University and earned his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School.
Chris helps his clients navigate the evolving entertainment landscape in the United States and abroad. He has negotiated deals for features, series, and podcasts in several international territories. His clients have been named to The Black List, The Hit List, The Young & Hungry List, The Blood List and been lauded by the PAGE Awards, the International Emmys, and The GLAAD Awards. Clients have also earned nominations and placements from The Heath Ledger Scholarship, The Academy Nicholl Screenwriting Awards, the AWG, ADG, SPA, and AACTA. Clients have written, directed, starred, and produced in numerous formats, including features, TV, virtual reality, and podcasts, independently and for companies like Netflix, Lucasfilm, NBCUniversal, Legendary, Marvel, Fremantle, SyFy, the CW, Warner Bros., Amazon, Blumhouse, Hulu, XYZ, The BBC, Comedy Central, the ABC Australia, Foxtel, TruTV, Super Deluxe, Hallmark, Lifetime, CBS, Facebook, E!, and MSNBC.
Several of Chris’ clients had films shoot in 2021, including one for Netflix, and another which sold to XYZ Films, both of which are slated for 2022 release. Within the past year, clients have sold series to Amazon, Netflix, eOne, and Hulu. Chris, along with his business partner, is also an Executive Producer on a scripted series project alongside two writing EPs from New Amsterdam which sold to Universal Television in 2021.
Justin Ross began his film career as a screenwriter. Mr. Ross’ script, THE ANSWER, was made into a short by Nebula Films in 2007.
In 2008, he joined Intrinsic Value Films as a Creative Executive. During his tenure at Intrinsic, he secured relationships with top talent, including Scott Free Productions and the estates of two of his favorite authors Ray Bradbury and Philip K. Dick. Mr. Ross joined Bohemia Group Originals as Director of Production in 2015 and was promoted to Executive Vice President of Development and Production in 2016 where he championed the company’s first feature, A DARK PLACE (distributed by Gravitas Ventures); winner of “Best Thriller” at the Manhattan Film Festival. Further credits include Associate Producer on the Spike Lee Executive Produced SON OF THE SOUTH. Upcoming projects include PREY with Oscar winner Sir Ben Kingsley and GLASS MOUNTAIN with Oscar winner Helen Hunt.
Janet Jeffries is a Development and Production executive working in both features and television for Lawrence Bender Productions / Bender Brown TV Productions.
LBP is an independent feature film company in Los Angeles, working with several independent financiers and sales companies. Recent films include the animated short film COPS AND ROBBERS, live action short film TWO DISTANT STRANGERS, both streaming on Netflix the Netflix original feature THE HARDER THEY FALL directed by Jeymes Samuel. Lawrence Bender’s credits also include the films GRETA, HACKSAW RIDGE, GOOD WILL HUNTING, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, PULP FICTION and INGLORIOUS BASTERDS. We are currently developing and packaging films written by an academy award winning writer, and action movie with Jason Statham and a ROMANCING THE STONE type of movie written by the author of the book, CRAZY RICH ASIANS.
Bender/Brown is the company’s television arm. Credits include the Netflix limited series SEVEN SECONDS, Starz limited series FLESH AND BONE, and the current CW series ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO. We currently have projects in development with FX, EPIX, Peacock, Telemundo and Starz.
For the past nine years, Janet has also had the pleasure of being an adjunct professor for the MFA in Screenwriting program at National University. She also is an executive mentor working with Roadmap Writers.
I registered for a four-week rewrite clinic with several friends hoping to find a solution to a problem we all shared in finding the right learning environment to workshop our material. When you teach creative writing to others, it’s challenging to find a group that allows you as a more experienced yet still evolving writer to get the same substantive feedback you provide your students. Furthermore, when you’re a creative from marginalized identities, you often get discouraging notes that imply you can either write commercial stories or stories that center your communities’ interests as if those two objectives are mutually exclusive. Justin Ross proved to be the perfect mentor for our group. He respected the stories each of us was trying to tell and provided specific notes and actionable exercises that gave us new ways into our revisions. There are few critique spaces where we feel we get the support we need, and having found Roadmap Writers and Justin Ross has gotten our creative year off to a wonderful start.
~ Sofia Quintero, Screenwriter
While Roadmap connects writers with many fine execs, Janet is far and away my favorite. Her feedback is always the right mix of supportive yet revision-oriented; I always come away with incredibly valuable insights and new ways of seeing my writing. Her professional yet friendly personality is also top-notch.
~ Anonymous Screenwriter
Chris is one of my FAVE execs! He was professional, kind, truthful, helpful, and encouraging. He offered suggestions for elements that did not work so well and kudos for those that did. He provided detailed feedback that helped me have options going forward and encouraged me to submit an improved script for a longer feedback session. He was interested in my project from a perspective of helping me be a better writer vs. just trying to get through the meeting and move on. I appreciated his manner and excellent tips and I will definitely be seeking his feedback in the future. I HIGHLY recommend him!
~ Anonymous Screenwriter
Chris is truly terrific: organized, concise, knowledgeable, and full of good advice always. His guidance really helped me get my portfolio ready for prime time!
~ Michael Conniff, Screenwriter
I've never met someone who knows story as well as Chris. His insights into the state of my writing and useful suggestions are backed up by his expansive knowledge of film. I couldn't have asked for a better mentor.
~ David Karner, Screenwriter
Janet can always get right to the essence of what is needed to enhance a story. She has a gift with character and makes comments specific enough that the writer has a clear path for revisions. She has great energy and enthusiasm. Always a pleasure to work with Janet!
~ Cheryl Mott Smith, Screenwriter
I got so much out of my work with Janet. In short, I came into the class with a completed first draft, and I came out of it with so much more! She clearly understood the story I wanted to tell, and more importantly, she helped me understand how to tell it better. As a working parent, I deeply appreciated how Janet knew how to help me set appropriate goals for each week; she helped me make significant progress without burning me out. She is a very skillful mentor. If this workshop started tomorrow, I would literally register for it again right now.
~ Brendon Bates, Screenwriter
This is such a special group. Four months ago, I would not have imagined being anywhere close to where I am now. The Career Writer Program is an incredibly well-thought-out, transparent program that really does think of everything. I can't wait to get repped and get my work into the studios so I can return to Roadmap and give back to the writers. Thank you for seeing something in me and giving me this chance.
~ James Murphy, Screenwriter
Roadmap Writers was everything I needed at this stage in my screenwriting journey. Within the first five minutes of Pitch Prep, I knew I was in the right place and it only gets better from there. I got more value and traction out of one month with Roadmap than I did through years of pouring money I didn't have into so many other script services and platforms. If you feel like you just can't break into the film industry, Roadmap instantly plugs you into the network and gives you all the tools to brand and present yourself. For the first time ever, meaningful industry executives are actually looking at my work.
~ Shaun Crawford, Screenwriter
Justin is awesome. His notes are specific and valuable. He listens to the writer and wants to make sure that he understands what is trying to be accomplished with the script. I would highly recommend him for feedback.
~ Brenda Lynn Bynum, Screenwriter
Questions?
If you have any questions or any trouble accessing the recording, email our Director of Education Alexandra Davies at alex@roadmapwriters.com!