Haha, Liz, you're gonna make me blush! Maybe in a year or two when some of my projects come out and I'm a little more qualified on paper. For now, I'm just some dude regurgitating musing I've learned from my pals while ducking the boss at my day job. :)

I know some of these panelists and what they are saying is very true---particularly the networking part. If people like being around you then they will feel more confident in engaging in working along side you. There's tons of great scripts floating around Hollywood, there's no lack of brilliant stories/concepts out there, and there's no lack of talent either--there's tons of talented people walking around just Hollywood alone. So, from my perspective, as filmmakers we can't rely solely on the material we create. What is most important in terms of getting a project off the ground is knowing the right people who can open doors for you and help make it happen for real. But be careful, it's not just about knowing them, it's about them connecting with you, understanding you, feeling you, and liking you. We're humans after all and we're social creatures, we're always going to want to help our friends out before people that we don't know--it's human nature....I think Chris Rock said it best with his bit in Bigger & Blacker. "Shit, 80% of the people in this room got their job because a friend recommended them." And in a high risk industry like ours, we're typically going to want to mitigate our risks by green lighting a film for someone we know and feel can be trusted based on their relationship. You could have the most groundbreaking script in the world but if no one with the ability to get a film off the ground is willing to take the time to read it then it might as well not exist...So the solution is quite simple, more than just networking--make friends. Spend time with people, help them out when they need help, be real. These guys are smart and they can sense when you're a serial networker versus someone who they genuinely connect with and 'feel'...and that just comes with time and being a decent person, I think....or at least, I hope. :)