Neo-Realism About Networking for Screenwriters and Others

Here are some networking tips from screenwriter and story development guy, Neo Edmund:
He began with no Hollywood connections, but attended a pitch fest in 2001, then interned at the pitch fest the following year.
Networking is not about "read my screenplay," it's about "friending." People who hang out and make friends usually do better. Attend a networking event a couple of times and people will usually ask you where you come from.
He spends time networking through Xbox, which involves chatting online and playing video games.
Nobody exchanges business cards anymore, it's all about Facebook.
He holds a once-a-month by-invitation-only networking event. A guy came with a knapsack full of scripts---he took him aside and told him that's not really the way it works.
How do you contact someone you connected with at an event but with whom you didn't exchange contact information? One word, "Facebook."
Follow up the next day after the initial meeting with a note saying, "Nice to meet you, this is what we chatted about, and hope to see you again."
If you do finally want to ask a contact to read a script, after a friendship connection has been made, Edmund suggests having a coffee date. Be easygoing and ask if the other would be willing to give you feedback. Oftentimes your contact will be glad to help.

Marie Osmond and Nutrisystem

Does anyone else find it eerie and slightly sad, not to mention in questionable taste, that Marie Osmond's TV commercial for Nutrisystem is on the air a scant two months since her son's suicide. The corker is her closing line in the advertisement. She looks at the camera, smiles, and says, "I never thought I could be this happy."

Although she likely taped the spot before the suicide, can't Nutrisystem give it a rest?

Las Vegas photos at the Pacific Design Center are cool retro 1965 stuff.

Supreme Court strikes a blow against the free Internet

3D the end for the movie star? Who needs them now?

The line to get into The Runaways screening was a tad too long, and yours truly was left out in the cold.

In any case, Jason Reitman's growth, from Thank You For Smoking to Up In The Air is impressive.