Screenwriting : Screen writers looking for an agent. by Adam Gentry

I don't have any leads for you. Coming from experience though just make sure that you guys are continuously writing and have a good portfolio of work built. They will want to see everything you have and more. Just network, send out queries, write etc.

Thank you both. We are definitely sticking to it and writing every day. We actually have a nice library of film ideas that we are picking off one at a time. Thank you again.

I'm trying Frank Aiello in NYC, he has managed talent in music industry for years. Now he is getting into film and tv. You can give him a shout. Email me if you want his info.

A writing team with one screenplay and a nice library of ideas is not as impressive to an agent as a writing team with four or five excellent, finished scripts. The reality is an agent is not likely to accept a client with one script because that one script in not likely to sell right away. A script is a calling card. Most likely an agent will not be able to put a script from an unproduced team into production, but an agent will be able to use the teams scripts as a writing sample to get them some rewrite work or maybe a TV assignment. A writing team who approaches an agent with the understand of how the agents business works has a leg up on all the other writers sending the queries. That said: Kazarian, Spencer & Associates TGMD Talent Agency Cinetic Media Intellectual Property Group Stone Manners Talent and Literary Agency Relativity Management

Adam, Henry Ford is a great example to follow. Don't worry about those who will try to block your rise to where you want to be. Believe in your writing and put it out there. No one owns the patent on script writing and too many are looking to take advantage of creatives these days. Be smart, don't tell everything. Join WGA or at least register your scripts as you write. Be careful of the wolves in the biz or they will take your idea and run with it. Not everyone needs to rise from the position of a rewriter. There are lots of firsts out there. If the guys with 100 scripts were good, 80 of them would have made it to the screen. Don't want to see a fellow writer led to the slaughter. Keep writing!

Film writing is our goal. We write every day and continually work to develop our craft. We registered our script with the WGA as soon as it was finished. We understand that it does take time, commitment and talent to do what the greats are already doing. We also know that "it only takes one". One person to read it, one person to love it, one person to make it. Rik, you speak a lot of truth about having to build a library to give an agent something to see in your work. But it also takes an agent that shares your dream and your goals to make it work. If you have great stories to tell and can do so in the most entertaining, compelling and visual way, then your agent should have no problem getting it sold and made for the big screen. Honestly, I would enjoy a job as a re-writer.

Adam, you have two, different scenarios working here. You asked about agents - an agent will need to see several finished scripts from your and your partner. Then you mention it takes only one - a producer can be that one and you only need the one script to show a producer. So if your goal is to get this script made, then sending queries to producers and prodCo's is the way to go. If you are looking for an agent (your original post) then you really should have more scripts finished. Submit to the agencies I mentioned and let them tell you what they are looking for. Then submit to 50 more. You may find the agent who shares your dream.

Thank you, Rik. You're right, I do have two scenarios going,. but even if I submit to a Producer or Prodco, I would still need an agent or the WGA will have a fit. (at least that is my understanding). But thank you, and yes, we plan on submitting to as many agents/agencies and producers/prodcos that we can get a hold of.

Not true, Adam. The WGA has noting at all to do with screenplay submissions. Nothing. The guild sets minimum pay, working conditions and residuals. And only for producers who have signed the WGA agreement. Big studios and prodCo's will rarely accept an unsolicited script due to legal reasons and the sheer number of writers wanting to submit. However, smaller producers and prodCo's are more open to material. And many small companies do not have any agreement with the WGA. It takes more research time to find them but it may be worth it. As you submit to the agents and producer who do not accept unsolicited material you can research the smaller producers and try them, too. You will not make the big bucks, but a produced script will open doors to agents. Sometimes writers must take the little steps to get to the big show.

Yes, manager first. Agents don't want writers that don't have a lot going on. You don't need an agent. Get a producer interested and then when he wants to buy something, he'll hook you up with an agent.

Is it much easier to land a good, well connected manager than an agent? Why is that?

There are a lot more good, well connected managers than agents? I have heard that since managers are not regulated that anyone can call themselves a manager and charge anything they want. Is that not your experience with managers?

Writers: Remember those days? "I gotta screenplay." "I'm ready." Years (yes years!) later you read that 1st screenplay and think wtf was I thinking? lol

Jeff, you bring up a good point. I graduated from Full Sail with a masters of fine arts in creative writing for film. What you mentioned is something that our instructors talked about a lot. My first script, which I wrote in school, has potential but I wouldn't think about trying to pitch that. My co-writer and I have gained a mentor that is active in the industry and we have, through various reads and critiques, developed a solid "ready" draft of the script. We have been told that, through our mentor, it will be recommended to the studio he works for. We just need an agent. He is helping us with referrals of agents he has worked with, but it doesn't hurt to try and find our own too. We are positioning ourselves for a quick sale, once we do get representation. But I agree with all of the responses here. You are all great and we thank you deeply for your advice and insights into a process that we do not know much about.

It seems to me getting a manager who will charge more and may not be well connected is easier but not a good thing for a writer. Sometimes heading down the easier path is not the recommended one. Easier to get a manager, sure, but just as difficult to get a good one as to get an agent.