Screenwriting : Emailed Manager with pitch by Carlv Coleman

By reputable, did you check his profile on IMDB? That sounds a bit strange that they want to charge a fee. It is true that there are literary agents that go by referrals, but most of them would not even bother contacting you if they received unsolicited materials. That's the usual policy. Are you SURE it was this reputable manager who responded?

Do you want him to market it? Or shop it around to producers and agents? Or manage your career as a writer? Is this the type of script he likes and is he the kind of manager you want to represent you? Is his analysis reputable? Is he doing it himself, or submitting it to an agency that reps him (where he can get it done for free, but charge you)?

Sounds questionable to me...

Dude Marty don't message me because all your messages is negative. And won't even show your face. Get off me.

Guys name is Scott Carr of Management SGC. He started his own management company and appears to have worked a few films. It just seems odd that he wanted to work for a fee to read my script and give feedback.

I decided to check out Scott Carr's website for SGC. It is just one page with an email link. We don't know if he is currently repping anyone Generally, when someone starts their own company, they have enough clientele to back then up. Most agencies,/managers will indicate who they are repping as clients on their company websites. There is no evidence . He might be between gigs right now so he started his own "company" .

Scott Carr has been in this game for over twenty years. He’s known for discovering “Miss Sloan” writer and you can google him on several screenwriting podcasts explaining why he charges reading fees. From my memory, he simply says he doesn’t want to work with broke writers. No different than folks here charging pay to pitch fees. I think Carr produced Chris Pratt’s new movie.

It's pretty common. Also producers offering consulting or paid (by writer) development.

Well if Scott was a producer in "The Tomorrow War" he is not credited as such. Did he possibly rep the screenwriter?

Hanna, try google. wasn't hard to find Carr. I was wrong about Tomorrow War but one of his writer-clients has multiple studio funded movie deals.

https://deadline.com/2021/07/code-entertainment-picks-up-jonathan-stokes...

I see a few things in this story.

1) Any response is better than being ignored. So I give him credit for having manners. If you listen to this weeks Scriptnotes podcast (episode 508) Jen Statsky is the guest and she is saying that getting no response if the standard response.

2) It may feel bad being asked for money. But doing something for free tells people that what you are doing has no value. Therefore worthless. I think he values his time, which is a legitimate thing to do. I wouldn’t work for free.

3) I think he is honest by NOT offering to rep your work. Imagine how it would feel if he charged you money on the promise of “potentially taking it to market”. It would feel like he is making a false promise for a fee.

I believe that we all need to work on our persona as much as our work.

I received the same response from Scott Carr and it seemed like a cut-and-paste ready to go. It's probably how he picks up consulting clients. I know nothing about him - he may be good.

This is what I suspected. Making the querying screenwriter feel inadequate to coerce them to use his services... Business is business.

Judith: was your reply from Carr pretty lengthy like mine? If so, I guess it was a cut and paste job.

Best thing is, trash no one publicly, if you can help it that is. We are all human after all and being a writer, well, it's not the easiest path to say the very very least.

Hannah I checked his website. I found his interview on youtube. I just think that he could've said these magical words: "If I like your script after paying the fee, I might help."

Craig... I would have been happy to pay a fee if, after reading script, he said if it was good he'd market it, manage me or other progress forward with it. But he remained silent on that.

Amazing you received a response. Doesn't surprise me they are seeking a paid reading. Just keep pushing.

I think he doesn’t want to appear to be that sort of person. Regardless of how you or I would feel, and he can’t know how you would feel, does want to be the guy that makes a promise for a fee. He sounds honest. It is good that you have had a dialogue with an honest person. This may be an advantage to you later in your career.

I wouldn't pay this guy any money.

Barry. It is bullshit. If the guy really is a successful manager he is not going to be wasting his time doing script analysis for an aspiring screenwriter for a fee. The manager would probably just pass the script on to someone he knows and get a finder's fee. When the analysis comes back they will want more money to help make the script marketable. This is not something new.

@Dan G, I wouldn’t pay him either. But I am giving him the benefit of the doubt, simply because there is a lack of empty promise. Perhaps Carlv’s email was compelling and he is doing a favour.

paying for coverage is dumb. Especially by private analysts. Coverage is a business expense by prod co, agencies, producers- people with skin in the game of making movies for a living, and everyone does their own coverage.

What writers should get/pay are notes to improve screenplays, finish a draft where you can send it out for coverage.

Barry. If you are referring to what I said I wasn't trying to suggest that you said to pay that manager. If you think I did you possibly misunderstood what I said or was trying to say.