Okay, the Stage32 site is pretty much back (some graphics are still down like, headshots and some previously posted photos). http://www.kftv.com This website has a lot of useful informations about movie production companies around the world and other services like; Equipment Rental, Location & Location Services, Stages, Studios & Sets...etc. Can I get your opinion on something. You all know how hard it is to get in touch with Managers or Agents. Some would say; it’s much easier to contact or find anyone from the FBI’s top ten most wanted list. Maybe, maybe not but here’s what I had in mind. Let’s say you have a completed screenplay. 1. You need to find a manager. 2. The manager will “maybe” read your screenplay. 3. He/She will “maybe” contact the production company or whoever they work with. 4. The producer may or may not read your script. 5. The production company will never even hear your name mentioned by anyone. Would it be a good idea to work backwards. Let’s say you have a Horror script. 1. You contact the production company and tell them you have a horror script and you ask them to put you in touch with the manager/agent they work with. (Don’t offer them your screenplay, just ask for the contact information. This way you won’t be marked as “Unsolicited Material”) 2. You get in touch with manager/agent. Steps 3,4 and 5 could go from MAYBE to PROBABLY. This could turn up to be a little bit easier, maybe harder, maybe it’s even a stupid idea but, any idea is better than no idea. I’m not a 100% sure about anything in general but I know things are not getting any easier. What do you think? Any opinion is better than no opinion.
Screenwriting : International Production Companies by Niksa Maric
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It might be a risk to directly contact the production company without going through the proper channels, but bigger risks have paid off in the past.
Niksa- Thank you for the link. Also GOOD IDEA about 'reverse engineering" your script. I will try that tact here in New York City. Also It was a pleasure reading all your shares during the "NOVEMBER WRITE CLUB"
@Kyle - Never offer or ask them to read your script. You would simply ask for a manager/agent contact information. You know that not every production company makes Horror, Drama, Thriller movies. Find the one you think is good or could be good, check their credits, see what they are looking for, currently producing.... you will need to do some research, it won't be easy but keep in mind not every manager represents Horror, Sci-Fi, Drama writers. Most of them concentrates on a specific Genre and they hardly ever look for a change. If you write them a letter and ask them nicely, they won't be able to turn you down. Then again, what's the point of of being a manager/agent, to play hide and seek with everybody? @Steven - Thank you and how's life in Giant Apple nowadays. It used to be a Big Apple but based on current population someone should suggest a Nickname change. (Just kidding)
there is no conspiracy and you're gonna annoy Industry people "reverse engineer" script soliciting. Do something successful outside (write a hit book, play, award winning short movie, win Nicholls, Pulitzer Journalist, Soldier, Inventor, epic Life story like Mark Zuckerberg) and Industry Pros will contact you. 99% the script is no good because there is no $$$ pushing, no talent attached, no Director, no backers but your mom.
So, to become successful you need to be a successful in the first place. Don't get this the wrong way Dan but how exactly would I be annoying Industry people by sending them exactly what they are looking or asking for. Then again, if I do win all the awards you've mentioned, I don't need them - they need me. The "Hide and Seek" comment was a metaphor, not a conspiracy theory because there's no place left to hide any more.
Im guessing you have 0 friends in the biz, 0 referrals to ask favors. Do it the quicker way-- Spend$$$, click "Happy Writers" section on this site and pay someone to read. Be on someone's rolodex. Good luck.
Friends, referrals, asking for favors, money. Why am I not surprised. Friends - I do have. Am I ever going to ask anyone to do the job for me - NO. You really think money solves anything? How about, I pay someone to write for me, that's even faster.
Niksa. A production company isn’t going to put you in touch with a manager or agent they work with unless they know you and have read at least one of your screenplays and like your writing. Even if you get lucky and they give you the contact information you’d still be asking the agent or manager to read “unsolicited material” until they actually request the material. I got my agent by calling agents every time I finished a screenplay. I have sold screenplays after attaching directors who had a lot of credits to my screenplays before trying to sell them. I don't have a clue what will work for you or anyone else but that seemed to work for me.
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I kind of don't understand the OP... because the goal isn't to get an Agent or Manager or win a contest or have people love you, the goal is to get a sale or assignment. So you equery production companies that fit your screenplay... and get reads... and those reads either lead to a sale or an assignment. At that point in time you will need a lawyer for the contract. Now, if that company grows to love you, you might ask them for a referral to an Agent or Manager and they'll help you out (or not). But you can also get your next deal set up and then contact Managers to close it for you - they get their 10% for just signing you. But even if every Agent and Manager turns you down - you still have a deal with the production company, right?
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William. That is because he is trying to get an agent first or at the same time which is okay. That is what I did and I happen to get lucky and get an agent first. The poster is trying to get a referral in order to get his script read by an agent. Obviously that isn't going to happen because nobody is going to give him contact information to a manager or agent without even reading his screenplay. I like that he is willing to think outside the box because there are too many screenwriters doing the same thing that usually don't get any results.