• Verbs
• To schmooze ... befriend scum
• To pitch ... grovel shamelessly
• To brainstorm ... feign preparedness
• To research ... procrastinate indefinitely
• To network ... spread misinformation
• To collaborate ... argue incessantly
• To freelance ... collect unemployment
• Nouns
• Agent ... frustrated lawyer
• Lawyer ... frustrated producer
• Producer ... frustrated writer
• Writer ... frustrated director
• Director ... frustrated actor
• Actor ... frustrated human
• Compound Words
• High concept ... low brow
• Production values1 ... gore
• Production values2 ... explosions
• Entry level ... pays nothing
• Network approved ... has made them money before
• Highly qualified ... blew the producer
• Financial Terms
• Net ... something that apparently doesn't exist
• Gross ... Michael Eisner's salary
• Back End ... you, if you think you'll ever see any
• Residuals ... braces for the kids
• Deferral ... don't hold your breath
• Points ... see "-Net" or "-Back End"
• Common Phrases
• You can trust me ... You must be new
• It needs some polishing ... Change everything
• It shows promise ... It sucks
• It needs some fine tuning ... Change everything
• She got great press ... She'll never live down the embarrassment
• I'd like some input ... I want total control
• It needs some honing ... Change everything
• Call me back next week ... Stay out of my life
• It needs some tightening ... Change everything
• Try and punch it up ... I have no idea what I want
• It needs some streamlining ... Change everything
• It's all up on the screen ... You'll never find the money I embezzled
• You'll never work in this town again ... I have no power whatsoever