potential agents. Some agencies will accept unsolicited scripts. Ask the
Guild for a list of agencies and guidelines.
"You just have to write; get the writing out and be prepared for rejec-
tion, because that's a big part of the deal."
Professional Profile: Peter Dunne, Writer, Producer, Line Producer
Filmmaking is the second successful career for Peter Dunne, who was
an advertising executive in Manhattan before relocating to the West
Coast. Through friends made in the film industry, he met Aaron Spelling
socially. Spelling told Dunne that if he ever wanted to get out of advertis-
ing and work in the business, to give him a call. One day he did.
Dunne's film career began as a trainee on Mod Squad. "As a trainee, I
was an observer. I ran errands and was elevated a little bit above a produc-
tion assistant." Working for Spelling was better than going to film school.
"Aaron was very generous and said, `Why don't you work with this direc-
tor for a couple of months, then work with this editor for a couple of
months, and these writers for a couple of months.' He just groomed me."
At the end of each season, Spelling sat down with each employee for
fifteen to twenty private minutes and asked them how they felt about
the past year, how they liked
their job, and what they
wanted to do next. "Many
people wanted to move up
and he accommodated that.
If an editor wanted to direct,
he would promise them a
directing assignment, but he
would also arrange for the
editor to observe Aaron's
favorite directors on different
sets. By the end of the season,
that editor would have an
opportunity to direct. I wanted
to write, so he put me into
development. He gave me a
choice between grooming me
as a producer or a development
exec. I wanted to be a develop-
ment exec first because I
thought in order to be a pro-
ducer, I really had to know a
lot more about scripts."
What do you like
least about your job?
"I do so many different
jobs from season to
season (some years I take
a job as a line producer
and other years as a
writing/producer) that I don't dislike any of
it. I don't think I would be happy if I had to
stick with one thing forever."--Peter Dunne
What do you love most
about your job?
"I love writing more than anything else. I
also teach at UCLA, and I'm working on a
novel and a screenplay. I think writing came
first to me in terms of artistic expression
because it's a lonely art."--Peter Dunne
VOICES OF
EXPERIENCE
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