The Big Six - Top 6 Major Film Studios in the Movie Business

When you watch a movie, whether it be at the cinema or in the comfort of your own home, it's seldom you actually think about where the movie was produced and how each film company secured the rights to the movie you're watching on the screen. The movie business is extremely competitive. The six major film companies discussed below comprise 90 percent of the US and Canadian box office revenue. If you're pondering a career in film, you may want to pay very close attention to the statistics below.

And while there are a few "mini-majors" still turning a profit in the industry (Lions Gate Entertainment and MGM for example), it's fairly difficult for film companies to stay afloat while competing with these highly successful empires.

Below you will find the six major film companies (also known as "The Big Six") and a brief description of each:

The Big Six - Top 6 Major Film Studios in the Movie Business

1. Warner Bros. Pictures. Comprising a whopping 19.7 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Warner Bros. Pictures is the biggest player in the film industry. Securing the rights to major films like Harry Potter, Superman, Batman, The Matrix and Star Wars have made Warner Bros. the No. 1 name in the business.

2. Paramount Pictures. With 15.5 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Paramount Pictures continues to be one of the most successful film production companies in the world. Star Trek, War of the Worlds, the Mission Impossible series, Transformers and Tropic Thunder are just a few of the popular films produced by Paramount Pictures.

3. Walt Disney. One of the most renowned film production companies in the history of the business, Walt Disney now holds 15.3 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures). With highly successful movies like Pirates of the Caribbean, National Treasure, Meet the Robinsons and Enchanted, there's no doubt that Disney will continue to play a key role in the industry for years to come.

4. Columbia Pictures. Comprising 12.9 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures), Columbia Pictures remains a big player in the business. Some of this company's recent successes include Casino Royale, The Da Vinci Code, the Spider-Man series and Step Brothers.

5. Universal Studios. 12.2 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures) belongs to Universal Studios, which continues to make millions for the film industry. With major hits like the Bourne series (Bourne Identity, Bourne Supremacy and Bourne Ultimatum), The American Pie series, Knocked Up, American Gangster and The Incredible Hulk, it's very clear that Universal Studios knows what it takes to make money in this industry.

6. 20th Century Fox. Also known as "Twentieth Century Fox," this highly successful movie production company makes up 11.9 percent of the US/Canadian market share (2007 figures). Some of the biggest and most successful movies from this empire include the X-Men series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Star Wars Episodes II and III, and the Fantastic Four.

Once again, if you're looking for a career in the film industry, the six companies listed above are the cream of the crop. If you have the opportunity to work for one of these companies, we wouldn't suggest passing it up.

The Big Six - Top 6 Major Film Studios in the Movie Business
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Selena Valoure is a huge fan of entertainment and is intrigued to learn more about film production. She knows how hard it is to make it in the entertainment business so, in her spare time, she shares what she's learned over the years with the readers of DiscoverFame.com.

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How to Get Your Screenplay Read by Hollywood Producers & Agents

You've completed your screenplay. You put hours in after work, before work, on your lunch break, weekends, and even snuck a few moments in AT work. You've had it reviewed by someone you think knows what they're doing, and they've given you the go ahead that it's ready for Hollywood. It's a miracle you got to this point. You can see it as a movie in your head and you want someone in Hollywood to consider making it. Now what do you do? You have to get producers and agents to read it. How do you do it? You're about to find out.

There are several ways that you can go about getting a Hollywood Producer or Literary Agent to read it. You can call them and pitch your script on the phone, you can hook up with connections you already have, or meet people at a pitchfest and convince them to read it. All of these ways are fine - IF you know who to call and are good at pitching... IF you have connections... IF there's a pitchfest going on that you can attend.

However, if you're like most aspiring writers, you have nothing but your script. No connections. No tickets to pitchfests. No pitch. If that's the case for you, or if you're doing those things and want a tried and true method, then here's what you do.

How to Get Your Screenplay Read by Hollywood Producers & Agents

1. First you have to draft a query letter that has your pitch in it.

Even though you may not have one prepared yet, there are lots of places to get tips on this. You can find articles in screenwriting magazines that will give you tips or you can work with a marketing company for screenwriters to help you draft a professional query letter. Sometimes a script consultant, whose primary job is to critique your screenplay, may also help you write your query letter.

Most importantly, keep in mind that drafting your query letter or verbal pitch is very different from writing an entire screenplay. Writing a pitch is more like copywriting or an advertisement whereas writing a screenplay would be more like a novel. The intention of the pitch is to sell something - to get the reader interested in a VERY SHORT period of time. The long-form is taking someone on a loooongg journey as opposed to taking them out for coffee. Therefore you must pick and choose very specific things to leave in and to take out for it to work. The job of the query letter is to sell the producer on reading your script.

2. After you write your query letter, you have to figure out who to send it to.

If you know of a lot of movies, then you can think of ones that are similar to yours and find the people who produced them, since they are obviously interested in that type. Go to IMDB.com to find out who produced those movies you are thinking of.

You could also buy a book like the Hollywood Creative Directory, which costs about 60 dollars or so, and you can go through thousands of listings there to try to find companies you think would be interested in. The HCD book lists companies, addresses, and contacts, and what projects they've done. It's a very thick book that is an excellent resource for anyone who needs to know the addresses of who's who in Hollywood. The only drawback is that it can be very time-consuming, and if you don't recognize the titles of the projects, it may not help you much.

If you want help doing this part, look for a service that will help you with it.

3. Finally, once you have the query letter written and the names of the people to send it to - and make sure that you have individual names, not just the companies.

Print out letters and envelopes, and send the one page query letter to them. Don't send the entire script. You just want to get them interested enough to ask you to send them your script.

If you've done a good job of pitching it and your story is up their alley, then they will ask you to send them a copy of your screenplay.

Once you send it to them, then you will move into the next phase of the process, which is effectively following up with them.

The most important step in marketing is that first one that will get you in the game.

How to Get Your Screenplay Read by Hollywood Producers & Agents
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Melody Jackson, Ph.D., is the founder of Smart Girls Productions, a Hollywood Marketing Company supporting Actors & Screenwriters in moving their careers forward. If you are ready to jump-start your career, increase your confidence, and have more fun pursuing Hollywood success, get "Plugged In" at [http://www.QueryLetterMailings.com] Also get your FREE REPORT on "The Top 20 Literary Agents In Hollywood," along with Hot Tips on Marketing YourselfTo Hollywood. Melody has critiqued thousands of screenplays in depth and was rated a Top 5 Script Consultant in the country by Creative Screenwriting Magazine. Go to [http://www.TalentAgentMailings.com] for more information on marketing to Hollywood.

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Turn Your Book Into a Movie

Whether it's a true story or a novel, most authors dream of having their book become a Hollywood movie.

In fact, a high percentage of movies started out as books, comic books or graphic novels. According to Internet Movie Data Base, over 22,000 movies have been made from books. So far.

If this is your dream, read on. One way to increase your chances of having your book turned into a movie is to write the screenplay version of the book. Producers prefer reading script to reading books because they take less time to read. Most scripts are 90 - 120 pages, with a lot of white space.

Turn Your Book Into a Movie

If you're thinking about writing your own screenplay, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. You must write the proper length (see above). Scripts that are too long or too short are immediately thrown away.

2. You must learn screenplay format. There are books that teach this. If your script does not follow proper format, it will be tossed without further consideration.

3. You must get the Hollywood reader's attention in less than 10 pages. This may mean adapting the beginning of your story. If you don't get their attention and interest soon, they move on to the next script.

4. A screenplay can only contain what can be shown on the screen -- action and dialogue. Unlike a novel, you can't write about what the character is thinking. But you can reveal their emotions and thoughts through action and dialogue.

5. Every scene must move the story forward in some way.

6. Don't "direct" the script. Don't put in camera angles or suggest particular songs to play in the background. That is the director's prerogative.

7. Consider eliminating subplots and combining two or more characters into one, that is, create composite characters, if there a lot of people in your book.

8. Keep the dialogue short. Novels have more freedom in that regard.

9. Watch lots of movies with the intent of noticing what works and what doesn't. It will help you become a better screenwriter.

10. Realize that a book is not a movie and a movie is not a book. They have different needs and different rules. Keep this in mind and you will be more successful at adapting your book into a movie.

Turn Your Book Into a Movie
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Danek S. Kaus is a produced screenwriter of an award-winning film called "The Ante," which will be out later this year. He was recently hired by a movie company to adapt a book for the big screen. Learn how you can turn your book into a movie at http://yourbookintoamovie.com/ Read his blog http://yourbookintoamovie.blogspot.com/

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