1. Cultivate a strong, distinctive voice. "It's really all about voice," said Lucy Stille, a literary agent at the Agency for the Performing Arts during the panel, which was moderated by Melissa Silverstein, founder/editor of Women and Hollywood. "The more distinctive your voice is, the better off. If your passion for your project is real and you can articulate it, you're going to find someone who will respond to that." Mary Harron, director of "American Psycho," also emphasized the need for a clear vision.