The Manager Series: It's All About The Pitch

Roadmap Writers is a talent training and discovery platform for screenwriters ready for a guided path to success. Our programs are hosted by working industry executives and are designed to empower writers with actionable tools and insights to elevate your craft and cultivate relationships with industry professionals. Since 2016, we have helped hundreds of writers from all over the world sign to representation, staff on series, and option and produce their projects. Our writers have been staffed on BRIDGERTON, THE FLASH, CHICAGO PD, THE FIRST LADY, NIGHT COURT, THE GOOD DOCTOR, THE RESIDENT, REACHER, SUBJECT TO CHANGE, MAYANS and POKERFACE. Writers have sold, set up and been produced by Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, MGM, American High, New Republic Pictures, Maven Screen Media, Lifetime, Will Packer Studios and Roku. 

A graduate of UC Santa Barbara with a degree in Film Studies, Mark Saffian is the owner of literary management company Content House which represents dozens of New York Times Best Selling Authors, screenwriters, directors, and production companies, as well as top names in comic books, video games, and new media. Projects include THE CROOK FACTORY based on the best-selling novel by Dan Simmons (THE TERROR, HYPERION) and the television series ONE SECOND AFTER with Constantin Films based on the best-selling trilogy of books by William Forstchen. Recently, Content House sold or set up series on behalf of its clients to eOne, Warner Bros. Studios, Warner Animation, CW, Comedy Central, Showtime, and HBO. Mark began his career working in the mailroom at Agency for the Performing Arts (APA) before being promoted to an Assistant in the Packaging Department and eventually becoming the Literary Department Development Coordinator where he helped develop pilots and films including the television series 24. After APA, Mark worked as a Development Executive and Story Editor for Sony Pictures (GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE; AN AMERICAN PICKLE) and Sid Ganis/Out of the Blue Entertainment where he was a story editor on BIG DADDY and DEUCE BIGELOW: MALE GIGOLO.

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.

Gio Bakunawa is a seasoned talent manager with a rich background in the industry. Beginning at The Green Room Talent Management, he quickly demonstrated a keen eye for identifying and nurturing talent. Simultaneously, he expanded his expertise into the commercial realm, working with Naturally Fit Agency until 2022.

Currently serving as a literary and talent manager at Established Artist, he has curated a select group of clients, showcasing his commitment to fostering both artistic and professional growth. Over the years, Gio has cultivated extensive connections within the industry, establishing meaningful relationships with writers, directors, producers, and representatives. His dedication to elevating talent and building lasting partnerships underscores his reputation as a dynamic and influential figure in the realm of talent management.

An aspiring producer, recovering casting professional, and current Lit Manager with Citizen Skull, Jacob Hayman is the host of the ‘First and Third Wednesdays’ networking event at The Red Lion Tavern, and was a former participant in the 2020 CSA BIPOC Mentorship Program and 2021 HRTS Mentorship Program, under Artios Award-winner Stephanie Holbrook and Additive Management’s Adden Laughlin, respectively. Prior to then, he served as a feature Casting Assistant to Jan Glaser (The Munsters), commercial Casting Coordinator for Clio-winner Terry Berland (‘Invader Zim’), unscripted Casting Associate Producer to Artios Award-nominee Katy Wallin (‘Wipeout’), and Executive Assistant to Michael Greenwald at Endorse Management Group, after spending a fair amount of time as a bartender, projectionist, and server while freelancing on set, and interning at Eclectic Pictures and Partos Co.

Features for which he served as Casting Director have won ‘Best Drama’ and ‘New Visions’ at Cinequest (Trust), as well as Best Actress at the DTLA Film Festival (This Is Your Song), while Wine Club was nominated for Best Comedy and 2x Best Actor at Kevin Smith’s Smodcastle Film Festival. He was also the Production Coordinator on Katie’s Mom, which won Best Comedy at Dances With Films, while his short film producing debut, Fudgie Freddie, screened at Beyond Fest and was nominated for Best Midnight Short and Best Actor at FilmQuest. In his spare time he reads scripts and does research assignments for Oscar-winner Fred Roos (Godfather Part II) and prioritizes tiki bars, fire pits, and movie nights with dear friends.

Alexander is a Chicano born and raised in southern California with Yaqui ancestry. He was a film production graduate at Los Angeles Film School and worked with American Film Institute fellows as an associate producer on cycle and thesis film productions. He is currently a Junior Manager of actors & writers, and development associate at Marilyn Atlas Management in Beverly Hills, California. As a writer and producer himself, he is committed to telling stories with diverse and underrepresented characters inspired by Native American folklore, classic literature, and authentic perspectives.

As a producer and manager of actors, writers and directors, Nicholas Bogner has vast experience in all areas of television and features. He has been an executive for major feature companies (such as Cruise-Wagner and for actor/producer Michael Dougas) as well as a television network (TNT) and also has two produced credits as a screenwriter, The Little Death and No Strings Attached. He also produced Soccer Mom starring Emily Osment (The Kominsky Method, Hannah Montana) and Missi Pyle (Jumanji, The Artist, Gone Girl) for Starz and Anchor Bay. Most recently, he produced A Nice Girl Like You (based on a non-fiction book by Ayn Carrillo- Gailey) which stars Lucy Hale (Katy Keene, Fantasy Island, Pretty Little Liars) and Jackie Cruz (Orange Is The New Black).

Bogner runs the literary branch of the management/production company Affirmative Entertainment. Bogner has sold features and pilots and pitches to the major studies and networks. Most recently, several clients have had their films produced: Wedding Season on Netflix; the theatrical film Infinite Storm starring Naomi Watts and Billy Howle; and Refuge, which is currently in post and is directed by Renny Harlin. Additionally, Bogner is attached to several other projects, including James Ellroy’s book Clandestine.

Prior to producing and managing, Bogner served as vice president of original programming for Turner Network Television (TNT) for seven years. In this capacity, he was responsible for the development of all long form – including two-hour movies, backdoor pilots, and mini-series. Bogner worked on several high-profile projects including Steven Spielberg’s twelve-hour mini Into The West as well as Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. Beyond these projects, Bogner shepherded over 15 movies into production.

Prior to assuming his position at TNT, Bogner spent four years at Cruise-Wagner Productions (Tom Cruise and Paul Wagner), where he spearheaded the acquisition of material, supervised writers and collaborated with directors and talent on such films as Mission Impossible: 2, Without Limits, Vanilla Sky, and The Others, which he’s credited with finding and supervising. Bogner began his career at the Agency for Performing Arts (APA).

Bogner was born in London, England and left to attend UCLA, where he graduated with a BA in English Literature. His mother is a television producer and manager credited with discovering the British model Jean Shrimpton while his father is the author of some fifteen novels, including the best seller and highly regarded mini-series Seventh Avenue. His stepmother was the late Bettye McCartt, who Juno Temple depicted in The Offer.