Last week’s issue of the Hollywood Reporter featured an article about the nearly universal way Hollywood executives reject pitches (or you, for that matter). Versus saying “no” or the old school standby, “Wow. This is great! We really really love it. Unfortunately, we’re not doing, uh, anything that involves writing this year”, instead, they just POOF!, vanish into thin air. That’s right. You never hear from them. Possibly ever again. You know, kinda like, “He said (sob), he was going out for a pack of cigarettes and I NEVER HEARD FROM HIM AGAIN.” Only worse, cause it’s your career. Or,…
Author: Leesa Dean
Leesa Dean
Born and raised in the Bronx, Leesa Dean attended Wesleyan University and has a BFA. Her underground comic book, Chilltown (Xeric Award winner for Best Indy Book), has been featured in The Source, Spin & Vibe Magazines as well as numerous national newspapers and radio. Primarily a writer, she has sold a number of television scripts—including ones to HBO producers Two Oceans Entertainment and BET—but was always "in development." Frustrated, she taught herself how to animate five years ago and, solo guerilla-style, completed three full series: Chilltown, The Danger Squad (debuting 2014) and Lele's Ratchet Advice Show. Since launching, Chilltown has been named one of “Five Web Series That Should Be on Your Radar” by ABCNews/Univision and a “Show to Watch” by Tubefilter. The Lele character (whom she writes and voices) does the weekly 60 Second Wrap Up, a comedic entertainment report, on urban radio station Rhythm 105.9fm.
About five years ago I was at a crossroads. I’m a writer, lucky enough to have sold a few shows. One to a cable network, a few others to production companies. Unluckily, I’ve never had a show actually go into production. It paid the bills, more or less, but was incredibly creatively frustrating. Chilltown, the show I sold to a network, was always special. I’m from the Bronx, grew up in and around hip-hop culture and felt it was frequently misrepresented. I wanted to do a show that my friends and I could relate to. Initially, I self-published Chilltown as…