Hi-
I was just wondering if anyone can give me a lead on a good agent. I've written a script adaptation of an old sci-fi book by a well-known author (that I obtained the film rights for), and I also have a small production company willing to help with development. At this stage I need the right agent to help with sending the script around to bigger production companies and studios. Any suggestions?

I'm in the same delema.
Well it's my own idea on the script, not based on a book.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: B&B Studios,

Hey guys,

Wish I could help. Outside of having a movie greenlit by a major studio, getting an agent is probably the single hardest thing to do in your career as a Hollywood screenwriter.

Take me for instance. I'm a WGA member. I've written for a TV show (that didn't air). I have numerous feature screenplays under my belt (too many to admit here), I've written for independent producers (who always fail to get anywhere), I've done paid dialogue polishes, I've written and directed my own short film and I have many friends in the industry who have representation themselves.

And yet, I still can't get an agent. I've come close. I've had several recommendations. But, for one reason or another I can't get anybody to pull the trigger. So my only recourse has been to sell myself. I'm making slow progress. It'd be a lot faster if I were repped, but I keep moving forward. Writing. Making phone calls. Sending emails. Networking. Eventually I'm going to get a project pushed through. And then, finally, someone will rep me.

It didn't used to be this hard to get an agent. But this is the way things are now.

Anyway, good luck finding reps, guys. It's not a worthless pursuit. But any time you get frustrated with the search, concentrate on your writing. You'll feel better and you'll put yourself much closer to one day landing an agent than you were before.

Use that small production company - they should either know someone, or wil have an easier chance of finding someone.

- Bill (19 scripts on screen - no agent)

quote:

(19 scripts on screen - no agent)

Wow! Bill, does that mean you've never had an agent?

I don't really know anything about Bill so I may be speaking out of turn, but I imagine to get that many films produced without an agent you would have to have a couple very good connections with some production companies that can get a film made.

I've had lots of interest in my scripts from prodcos that always seem to fall apart when it comes to financing. I think Bill is probably an exception. But I'd really like to hear more from Bill on the subject. Maybe he knows a secret for getting your foot in the door at some bigger prodcos.

I have had the worst agent in the world *and* the worst manager - both lost me deals!

Though many of the scripts were made by the same two producers, both were found without an agent (so they became connections *after* they bought a script, made it into a movie, and that movie made money for them). The movies that were not made by those two were made by other places that had no idea who I was - they just wanted the screenplay.

I just landed one and a half assignments (yesterday).

1) One was an interesting type of connection - a crew person from a movie of mine made about 12 years ago was talking to a producer about writers - and mentioned my name. They had read a bunch of scripts in their career, and remembered mine. That movie was kind of a hell shoot, but they liked the script. So I'm writing a movie for a producer I've never worked with, who knows someone I know.

2) The "half" - because it's all talk now... but is looking like it might happen. In this case, a director who was up to direct something I wrote about a dozen years ago who didn't get hired, liked my writing from back then and is trying to set up a deal for himself, using me as bait. He tracked me down, and set up a meeting with this producer he wants to work with... and for him to direct, they'd need a script, so I'd have to write one for them. It's weird.

But the thing is - you get your scripts out there and someone reads them and that someone becomes your "agent" trying to set up a deal with your script so that they can land a job from it.

The problem is *always* closing the deal. I am not a salesman, and have probably had hundreds of deals die because I had no idea how to make the guy write the check. I have a lawyer, but he's just for contracts. I think that's why the ones where there's someone other than me pushing the deal are the ones that usually happen.

So I've had meetings with Jodie Foster's company and Tom Cruise's company and the guys who made FUGITIVE and Joel Silver and... well, lots of people who loved my scripts... just not enough to buy them. That sucks.

- Bill

PS: But the answer to this question is to have that producer take it around. They have connections and can get places you can't.

- Bill

Thanks Bill. What I think we can really take 2 things as being the key (secret) to getting a script produced.

1. Have a great script
2. Show it to as many prodcos as possible

It seems like if you have good material your odds increase by just being extremely visable. Now I just need to get past step 1.

Troy

That's it - and #1 is not easy at all. I have a bunch of scripts that nobody seems to want...

- Bill

Charles,
How did you obtain the rights to the book? Did you have to pay for them? Did you adapt the script before contacting the author? I'm looking to do what you have done. Any insight to this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Getting an agent has always been impossible, yet somehow writers and agents do get together.

One step to prevent heartache: Make sure you are only working among WGA signatory agents:

Go to:

http://www.wga.org/agency/agencylist.asp

for a list of Guild-approved agents.

The next step has nothing to do with writing -- it's all social engineering from this point...

Start calling them -- work your charms on assistants, sub-agents, and anybody you can.

Ignore people who say this approach doesn't work...

Good luck and don't give up!

I got my agent through my literary agent. My literary agent died a couple years ago, now I'm having a hell of a time getting a new one of them.

As for my script career: We're trying to raise money to produce our own film.

Good Luck.