Scripts & Scribes Ep 151 – Jeff Portnoy
Apr 20, 2020
Jeff Portnoy, a literary manager and producer at Bellevue Productions who started as a CAA story analyst, shares his journey from film school to running management. He breaks down manager vs agent roles. He explains how writers get noticed through fellowships, competitions and The Black List. He outlines signing steps, timelines to break in, and what makes a compelling submission.
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Contacts Help But Writing And Personality Matter Most
- Having an existing industry network helps but is not required; writing and personality matter most.
- Bellevue specializes in breaking writers without contacts, though TV writers with networks are more attractive for staffing.
One Year From Signing To Paid Assignment
- Jeff described client Nicholas Curcio who wrote a Barron Trump spec: signed in Jan 2019, script written Feb, taken out Oct, Blacklist Dec, and quit his day job Jan 2020.
- That rapid timeline led to UTA signing and about 40–50 general meetings and a paid feature assignment within ~12 months.
Use Top Fellowships And Competitions To Get Vetted
- Enter reputable competitions and fellowships (e.g., Sundance labs, Nickel, Final Draft Big Break, Austin) to get vetted and noticed by managers.
- Managers scout finalists/winners; fellowships are especially effective for TV staffing opportunities.