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Surveillance: What is It, How to Write It

April 15, 2026
You’re writing a mystery or maybe a thriller, and your protagonist needs to surveil a suspected villain to confirm if they really are as bad as alleged. Or, perhaps your character is the one being hunted, his or her every move watched, tracked, and listened to. This is surveillance. If you want to learn about the reality of surveillance so you can write more compelling fiction, tune in to this event to hear from Adam Sikes, a former CIA Officer and expert in physical and technical surveillance.

Book Pipeline

Book Pipeline connects writers to publishers, agents, and the film industry through competitions and workshops, providing hands-on support to bridge the gap between emerging authors and the industry since 2014.

Script Pipeline

Script Pipeline connects writers with producers, agents, and managers, facilitating over $8 million in sales through competitions and ongoing industry support, helping launch major films and secure high-profile representation since 1999.

Film Pipeline

Film Pipeline connects filmmakers and writers with agencies and executives, focusing on diverse storytelling and playing an active role in developing and promoting projects, reviewing thousands of submissions annually since its launch in 2018.

Better Your Chances of Getting an Agent, Manager or Mentor

Recorded

March 18, 2026

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Screenwriting

Topic

Business

We all know the struggle. It feels harder than ever before to find an agent, or even a mentor to help with a little advice or guidance. On top of that, we send out a million polite emails hoping for a nibble. Ghosting's getting worse. And 9 out of 10 of our emails aren't even read or responded to. 

It's frustrating and exhausting. But something can be done about it. You just need the right insight and tools to find someone who is a great fit for you. 

This session will give you that insight and those tools. It'll be equal parts irreverent, fun, and really useful. Packed with practical things you can do to differentiate yourself from the masses, and make yourself more of an undeniable catch.

We'll be covering things like: 

  • Biggest mistakes people make during the quest - the biggest problem with their early decisions about reaching out, why not doing a little secret research on them works against you, the things writers and artists do that makes them an instant "no"
  • Why the expectations between agents/managers/mentors and us have changed - how the industry works now versus a few years ago, why the opportunity squeeze is not all it seems and how you can get around it, what their day-to-day lives are like now, and the things they think make an attractive client/mentee
  • Figuring out exactly what you need to do - Understanding where you are in your career, what you have to offer, your past attempts to get an agent/mentor, and your challenges. 
  • The biggest question - What's in it for them? - How to flip the "I need you to help me get what I want" to "I am here to help you meet your goals and here's why." How to learn what motivates an agent/mentor and give yourself a huge advantage. 
  •  How to write that first email that will get their attention and get an actual flippin' response - Learning how to structure an email from the subject line to the sign-off so that your email will get read and responded to. And how to follow-up once that happens. 

You'll leave the session with the tools you need and stronger confidence in finding an agent or mentor. You'll also leave with multi-level insight that most people don't have. 

What attendees have said ...

Amanda’s session was really informative, actionable and funny, too. There was plenty of practical advice I can put into practice straight away.

I'm a playwright, trying to go to the next level and this symposium gave me some steps toward getting an agent.

Ms. Graham did a fantastic job and offered a LOT of very helpful insights.

Host

Amanda Graham
Amanda Graham has written 23 eps of BBC tv and edited scripts and ghostwritten pitch decks for 92 film and tv development projects including for the BBC and Channel 4 and the Zero Gravity Group. She has two of her own projects with Olivia Colman and Ed Sinclair's indie South of the River, one with Colman and Tristram Shapeero […]

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Upcoming Events

Surveillance: What is It, How to Write It

April 15, 2026
You’re writing a mystery or maybe a thriller, and your protagonist needs to surveil a suspected villain to confirm if they really are as bad as alleged. Or, perhaps your character is the one being hunted, his or her every move watched, tracked, and listened to. This is surveillance. If you want to learn about the reality of surveillance so you can write more compelling fiction, tune in to this event to hear from Adam Sikes, a former CIA Officer and expert in physical and technical surveillance.

Deconstructing Books for Craft and Marketability: Read Like a Writer

April 22, 2026
Learn how to turn every book you read into a craft lesson. We’ll analyze openings, character construction, themes, and endings to uncover the mechanics beneath the magic. Instead of guessing what works, you’ll learn directly from stories that have already earned their place on the shelf: how authors hook readers, build momentum, and deliver satisfying endings that helped them secure publication in the first place.

Building a Powerful Query Letter

April 29, 2026
In this practical session, author Angela Douglas will show you how to take the key elements of a strong pitch: your logline, comparable titles and bio and turn them into a clear, engaging query letter that stands out in a crowded inbox.

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Better Your Chances of Getting an Agent, Manager or Mentor

March 18, 2026
We all know the struggle. It feels harder than ever before to find an agent, or even a mentor to help with a little advice or guidance. This session will give you that insight and those tools. It'll be equal parts irreverent, fun, and really useful. Packed with practical things you can do to differentiate yourself from the masses, and make yourself more of an undeniable catch.

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Symposium, presented by Pipeline Artists, is a year-round virtual conference empowering creatives with honest, no-nonsense guidance across the arts. Through seminars, industry panels, and Town Hall discussions on screenwriting, filmmaking, publishing, and career-building, Symposium offers grounded advice from working professionals to help you forge your own unique path.

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