Three years ago, Jill Soloway was ready to leave Hollywood. Despite her success on “Six Feet Under,” HBO passed on her pilot. She tried to get a TV writing job, but it didn’t work out. Then after some struggle, she made a short that landed at the Sundance Film Festival. Soon after there was “Afternoon Delight,” her critically acclaimed indie film that led to “Transparent,” the much talked about Amazon series starring Jeffrey Tambor as a trans person. In many ways, Soloway’s was a classic Hollywood reversal of fortune.
Many actors-creators struggle with a common entertainment challenge: You may make great art, but are you really that good at selling it? This is where filmmakers like Soloway, who was the keynote speaker at the recent Film Independent Forum, and business-minded professionals like Alamo Drafthouse CEO Tim League, who also addressed attendees, can help.
1. Know when you need outside help.Soloway was an accomplished writer and producer—even while toying with the idea of leaving entertainment. In addition to HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” her credits include “The Oblongs,” “United States of Tara” and “How
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