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
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If you call up the different agencies and tell them you just finished your whatever number of script you just finished and ask if any of their agents are accepting new clients and you would like to send them a synopsis or the screenplay itself you might have better luck. If you do get a name and permission to send material you are not sending them unsolicited material so write, "REQUESTED MATERIAL" in the subject line or on the envelope. Make sure you are prepared to give a pitch over the phone in case they connect you to an agent. Also FWIW you are better off calling the smaller boutique agencies until you have a lot of scripts under your belt or a track record. Anyway whatever you decide to do I wish you luck.
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!
Question, Kay....why do you not go on there, especially with the submission calls coming in?
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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!!
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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!!!!
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Kay, schmoozing worked well for me away back in the '60s & '70s and I'm confident that it still works today.
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Whatever you do, don't hire a billboard to advertise your spec script ;-) https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/rambling-reporter/how-wannabe-screenwr...
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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!