QUESTION! To search for an agent in the past, I have always used services like Hollywoodscriptexpress.com, where you pay for the service and agents contact you directly. Problem with that is that half of those guys were dishonest and did not work with integrity, which compelled me not to use those services anymore, NOW looking for agents individually, most of them do not even accept query letters, so how do they know that you even exist if you do not introduce yourself? Any advice?
Screenwriting : Screenplay Agencies by Karlton Ruffin
Other topics in Screenwriting:
Check out Trending Discussions
Register / Log In
1 person likes this
Go west, young man. But if you can't--
That service and services like it are BS. Use a listing service like Ink Tip instead.
When the Hollywood Directory first comes out, some of the agents list themselves as accepting unsolicited material. That doesn't last long before they stop, but if you're ready you can squeeze in that window. You can get it from the Writer's Store, but wait until you can preorder it. It starts expensive and the price drops as it quickly gets dated.
Thank you, Kay and Dan for the great advice! lt is greatly appreciated, and l will somehow implement the suggestions in both.
Lesson learned! I had an agent that called me every single day to ask for 350 dollars to put my script in a "database." He asked for so long that I finally gave in thinking that he was going to do something. Once I sent it to him, I have not heard from him not once since! Different phone number, web site is down, (or either I am blocked from it). I had Will Smith's company ready to buy my script, but they said to have my agent to call for negotiations...That joker disappeared from the radar.!! I looked at his reviews on Google, and he has done the very same thing to a lot of people, and they all had the exact same story...Bogus insdeed!
1 person likes this
There are several people here who swear by Ink Tip, and it has a solid reputation for a long time now. I stuck one thing on there a few years back for a month, and I've been getting submission calls from them ever since at no charge. I don't even go there-- but they put me on the list.
Question, Kay....why do you not go on there, especially with the submission calls coming in?
4 people like this
It's a long story, but I don't generally need to go that route anymore. My interest lies in the Studio System.
Me and my kids walked backward into the higher echelons of Hollywood. I quickly saw how it worked and became a working writer as opposed to a selling writer. I sold myself easy enough, that big script is tougher.
So I worked indie re-writes for cash for a few years, got certified as a TV Writer via age discrimination lawsuit, worked Snap Shots a couple times for the celebrities, even ran lights on Theater Row in LA. Drank a million beers on the Blvd.
As a result, I'm on many a list, and this WGA-ATA BS shot down my very good chance to get staffed on a TV network until next year.
Meanwhile, I've been given an assignment to dig a true story out of a certain woman and write a script about a chapter in her life. I laughed at the money (choked and cried) and demanded 40% of the rights to the finished screenplay instead 'cause this is Hollywood, baby! It's a 50 million dollar story! I got it, too.
My point is, if you don't want to screw around, GO TO HOLLYWOOD and start schmoozing!
1 person likes this
that is simply awesome!!!!! so glad that it worked out for you! I may have to visit Hollywood for a week or so. My 3 year old is always saying that she is going to Hollywood, and so l owe her trip there anyhow. While she is trying to become famous, l can pitch my scripts!!
2 people like this
Karlton -- my 19 year old daughter dragged me. Two boys she went to school with came along. I was an old man in a wheelchair. All three of them fit right in. One went to LA recording School, the other two to work. No problem. Everybody wants to be a STAR so entry level jobs in the biz aren't really that hard to get if you tell them you're not an actor who's going to quit on them.
2 people like this
Great! It seems that you all went with a plan and did it! That is the way that it's supposed to be. That is so admirable. My daughter is three and loves to be the center of attention, how does she know what Hollywood is and know that is wherer to become famous? I don't know! LOL! But yes...even if only for a week. I will make plans to market there. I may need you as a tour guide, because I don't want to get lost and end up in Compton!!!!
7 people like this
Kay, schmoozing worked well for me away back in the '60s & '70s and I'm confident that it still works today.
3 people like this
Whatever you do, don't hire a billboard to advertise your spec script ;-) https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/how-wannabe-screenwr...
6 people like this
Do the opposite and introduce yourself to peers - writers, filmmakers, actors, crew. Find your champions, your own circle. This dispute going on in Hollywoodland, between union writers and agencies is showing that writers police themselves - they're getting jobs by networking.
Lookup LaToya Morgan on Twitter. She started a campaign, hashtag #WGAStaffingBoost. There are thousands of unemployed Writers w/ legit credits doing what we want to do.
Thank you Phil and Dan! That billboard idea must've "seemed like a good idea at the time"....okay, so I've been watching old John Candy movies again!
And Dan...I will look at the link now. Hopefully that will help me to move just a little faster. Agent searching is really frustrating when I have a hard time trusting them from past experiences and I have to fine the perfect one. Thanks again!
Karlton Ruffin never heard the term "Screenplay agencies".
I actually meant to type "screenwiters." LOL Thanks!