Dos, Don’ts, and "After Disney"
Insights on how to break through in publishing and entertainment
Lessons in Storytelling, Struggle, and Success
Story Summit’s FREE monthly Book and Film Club celebrates Summiteers and their professional success. April’s featured author was Neil O’Brien.
An award-winning journalist and producer, Neil has worked at NBC News for more than two decades. He has been honored with four Emmy Awards, a Peabody, and an Edward R. Murrow Award.
Neil spent seventeen years researching and conducting interviews for After Disney, the untold story of the succession struggle at Walt Disney Productions following the death of its founder.
In his Story Summit Book and Film Club Zoom event, Neil shared why he decided to take on a project of this magnitude about somebody so legendary.
“Walt Disney is such a mythical figure these days. But he's a human, and I think his family especially, with the Disney Family Museum, have made an effort over the years to try to make people realize that he's not just this public figure who had all these wonderful ideas. He was a person with a family.
“Typically if you look at other books and other movies and documentaries, they focus on Walt’s creativity, but they don't dig into a ton about him as a father or as a mentor. So I wanted to draw that in.”
David Kirkpatrick, founder of Story Summit and former chief of production at Disney, gave Neil the ultimate endorsement. “I worked in the studio for forty years,” he said, “and voraciously read many, many books on Disney Studios. I learned more about the man Walt Disney from this book than any other book I've ever read—who he was, not what he did. I wept like a baby reading this book, because it connected with me on so many levels.”
Neil admitted he didn’t know the publishing industry when he started writing this book, and he shared four things he’s learned:
When you’re writing nonfiction, you don’t need to have the book finished to shop it around to agents and editors.
August and December are not good months to try to get things done in the publishing industry.
Networking on LinkedIn can be a good way to find an agent.
Independent publishers sometimes work with a larger publisher to get your book out into the world.
Neil shared his gratitude for Story Summit providing the instruction and resources he needed to finish his book, and for being a supportive community during his journey. “Hearing about the challenges writers can face was very helpful during my own times of struggle. I thank you.”
To purchase After Disney and learn more about Neil O’Brien, visit:
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/After-Disney/Neil-OBrien/9798888451380
To read a review about the book:
https://www.mousebooks.com/blog/2025/02/28/review-after-disney/
Mastering the Do’s and Don’ts of Hollywood Etiquette
Last week, Story Summit + members spent an evening with Paulo De Oliveira, programming executive and producer, as he shared his extensive knowledge and insider view of navigating the entertainment industry. Here are a few of his takeaways.
DO Keep an Open Mind
“My first interview was with a guy who was the head of movies and miniseries at ABC. He said something to me that has stuck with me even until this day, ‘This is a crazy business. In five years, you could be my boss.’ I learned right out of the gate and straight from the perspective of an executive in the industry—anything can happen.”
DO Look for Connections
“Back when I was living on my friend's couch in LA…there was a story in a magazine about the new head of production at Columbia Pictures. It turned out that she had been a teacher. So I got her address, sent her my resume, and I wrote an actual letter—this is pre-email. I was sure to mention I had been working in education and had come to Hollywood to pursue my interest in having a career in major film.
“She didn't call me back, but her number two person did! I was invited for an interview. They did not have any reader jobs available at the studio, but a producer on the lot was looking for a reader, so they sent me to him, which led to my first job in Hollywood.”
DO Try to Work with Requested Formats and Schedules
“Whether it is an agent, an executive, a producer or even an assistant who shows interest in your work, try to work with whatever format they request.
“For instance, you might be asked to sign a shopping agreement. It's a short contract that ties you to a producer for six months or a year. Negotiated fairly, this gives the producer the exclusive right to try to sell the show for that period of time without having to compete with other producers.”
DO Be Persistent
“Persistence is the key to this business. My second job was working for a producer at Fox. I got a script created by two writers who were relatively hot at the time. My opinion was that it was not well written. Everything was too obvious, and I didn’t get it. So, I passed on it—nicely.
“Those two guys kept at it. They eventually got that movie produced and a couple of others. They also got a producing deal at a major TV studio. And they made several TV series. They didn’t give up. They just kept banging away and eventually had success.”
DO Be Prepared for Anything
“Someone may pass on what you’ve pitched, and as you’re walking out the door they ask, ‘What else you got?’ So, you throw out another idea you’ve been working on that may be totally unrelated, and the next thing you know they’re saying, ‘Tell me more.’”
DON’T Be Afraid to Ask
“An alternative to you throwing out ideas is to simply ask what they are looking for. They might have something in mind that aligns with something you’ve already written, or you are willing to create it. Just have a conversation and be ready to give them your spiel.”
DON’T Throw Around Disparaging Remarks
“I have heard somebody running down an individual who is at the next table at a studio commissary. It was not good.
“I am also surprised by the number of industry professionals—they’ve been around the block and know better—who will give a critique of an ongoing series or movie on Facebook. They have the right to do that, and they may even be right. But why would you expose yourself that way? If you ever end up doing business with somebody affiliated with that show or somebody at the network, it could come back to haunt you.”
DON’T Take Things Personally
“I have been in meetings where people are checking email or taking phone calls that did not seem to be important. But you just have to grin and bear it. Early in my career, I was even in a meeting with a woman who was falling asleep during a pitch! My partner and I looked at each other like, okay, what do we do now? It was the most surreal experience I have ever had in Hollywood. It was disappointing but hilarious too.”
Learn more about Paulo De Oliveira
What’s Coming Up at Story Summit?
Here are a couple of our upcoming classes and events. Check out the complete schedule at www.storysummit.us.
May 21, May 28 & June 4: The Second Draft Studio—A Screenplay Revision Lab with veteran screenwriter Tom Vaughan
Your step-by-step path to writing a sharper, stronger and more compelling screenplay. Explore how to find your story’s true spine, ask the right questions of every scene, and navigate notes like a development exec.
June 11, 18 & 25: Substack Success: Build, Grow and Monetize Your Column
Learn how to develop and grow a successful Substack column. Whether you’re a writer, expert, or storyteller, discover proven strategies for developing and growing a successful Substack column, as well as generating ongoing income.
August 24 - 28: Her Spirit at Chaminade Resort & Spa in Santa Cruz, California
Unlike any other writing retreat, Her Spirit is your time to restore your soul, honor your inner voice, and tap into your creative flow. This year’s focus is lofty goals: the big, brave intentions beyond your stories.
Because Her Spirit is designed to build community, you’ll not only learn from our faculty, you’ll lunch with them, too. Participants and mentors are all part of group sessions, meals, breakout sessions, and impromptu activities. You’ll have the chance to walk through the redwoods with a favorite author, talk over lunch with one of our incredible faculty members, and share stories that light a fire in your heart.
Bestselling author of The Many Lives of Mama Love and literary agent, Lara Love Hardin, will be one of our featured Her Spirit faculty members!
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Story Summit was founded by David Kirkpatrick, the former president of Paramount Studios and former chief of production for Disney. From the beginning of Story Summit, his dream has been to help make writers’ dreams come true. It’s happening in big ways, so from time to time we’ll feature Summiteers whose work is being published or produced and let you know how they did it.
We hope that one of those writers will someday be you. Please reach out, leave a comment, and check out our links. And most of all, please join us! We’d love to welcome you to our Story Summit community.