Hip Pocketed
I am trying to learn the lingo of the Hollywood screenwriting community. Quickly. Before I embarrass myself again. My first red-faced moment was a year ago, when I told my apartment manager I was writing a screenplay. She said I should talk to my downstairs neighbor, who already had an agent.
I summoned my nerve and asked my neighbor if he had any advice for me. Instantly he asked, “Is your script in final draft?”
Yes, it was. So? Ah, my first blunder. Final Draft is formatting software. Later, listening to him chuckle to his writing partner on the phone, “She thought Final Draft meant…” I vowed to learn more.
Since then I’ve picked up a few terms. “Pitch” is when you try to dazzle someone with a 30 second rendition of your story. Specifically, trying to dazzle someone who might be induced to give you money.
Now comes “hip-pocketed.” My first script has found itself an independent producer, and for a year he and I have milled about, trying to dazzle a studio who might be induced to give us money. However, most of them want “attachments”. That is, a director or well-known actor who has promised to participate… once we have the money.
I finally found a director at the L.A. Film Festival. My neighbor is now advising me that since I don’t have an agent, the director’s agent will represent me if it actually gets as far as money being involved (rather than the current flurry of emails and occasional meetings over coffee.) Should we get to this point, my temporary representation by the director’s agent is known as “hip-pocketing.”
“Oh, don’t worry, he’ll hip-pocket you for this project.” Who ever would have thought this is a good thing? I’m glad I learned that in advance, so I don’t huff “I beg your pardon?!” when he offers to put me in his pocket.
