who I never met or talked to in my life. The answer is No.
I cannot. I can’t give you any shortcuts either, because there are none. This is something you’re going to have to do yourself. But thanks for asking. Oh… do you know ANYTHING about me? Except the fact that you think I’m a working screenwriter? Did you think in our First Contact ever I was just going to say, “Sure. I’ll do everything in my power to get you a manager and agent.”?
Ok. I know that sounds obnoxious, but C’MON.
By the end of this year, I’ll have 8 produced and distributed films with my name credited as a writer. Eight. Most of them for Cable Networks for sure, but the ones released so far have great ratings. I have an original theatrical film that has a start date in June with a cast brewing I can only dream about. (Soon to be announced so I can talk more specifically) I have another original theatrical script optioned to a very good Production Company in New York who say they want to make it next year.
Now… you’re thinking this guy sure likes to talk about himself. There’s a point. I do not have an agent. Again… with all that… I do not have an agent. Can’t even get one interested. Why? Beats the hell out of me. One friend told me the other day he thinks I’m the “hardest working unknown screenwriter in LA”. I understand your frustration at being agentless, but when you have to ask a relatively unknown like me to help get you something I don’t even have myself? Just... wow…
Yes, I do have a manager. He’s been pretty good. Gotten me in a few rooms and I’ve turned those meetings into money for him.
How did I get him? By networking. After knowing a director for YEARS and him liking my work enough to option a script, he recommended me to my Manager. Then the manager read my work and liked it enough to take me on. I’ve had my manager for two and half years and in that time I’ve had multiple writing jobs for production companies, multiple rewrite jobs, and 4 produced films with 4 more on the horizon this year. Yes, a manager makes a difference.
He took me on because he read my work and thought he could make money from it. Not because I was a nice guy… or any kind of guy. He also liked the fact that I have a two foot tall stack of original scripts that he thought were very good.
YES. There are the exceptions you hear and read about, but I guarantee you the real story behind them is not unlike mine. Someone worked and worked on their craft and wrote and wrote and wrote and then networked or queried the right way. Most all overnight successes took years to get there.
You want an agent? A manager? Write GREAT scripts. More than one. Then query. And wait. And wait some more. Then query again. You can also spend money on something like the Black List, which for the right person with the right script can work, but again you need to write something GREAT. Not good. Great.
And don’t approach other people to do your work for you. People you don’t even know. Do the work yourself. Learn to network properly (see my blog on networking) and query intelligently. Learn about the people you’re querying. It’s all out there.
I wish you nothing but good fortune and success. There’s room for everyone to do well, but do it with a plan. And know it takes frigging time.
Thanks for letting me vent at your expense.
KLow
It wasn’t through Linkedin was it? I had the same thing happen to me today…
Patrick S. Poplin
I’m a little surprised that you did it without an agent. What I’ve read from other writers is that Hollywood personnel won’t touch a script unless it is handed to them by an agent. My guess would be that your manager did that job for you? Or has the networking opened up another way of passing along scripts?
BobSaenz
Post authorNope… happened on Twitter. But… it’s happened on the phone, in person, email… you name it. Sorry it happened to you.
BobSaenz
Post authorPat…. My Manager, John, is the one who opened doors for me. I am grateful and happy for the relationship we have. Without him I would still be trying to break in.
Ted
That was a good story. I get people blindly sending me scripts all the time thinking I am their solution to getting their script into the hands of an agent or studio. And I have no idea who these people are, nor have I ever met them. They look me up on IMDB and assume I am someone who will gladly help get their unsolicited script to the right person. Writers are passive. They spend weeks if not months laboring away on a screenplay, and then just hand it off to someone else with the expectation that they will make it happen.
When I first moved to LA I didn’t know a soul. I sold my first script that got produced and stars an Academy Award winning actress. I accomplished this on my own without an agent and I’m black! Yes, I had a manager who was instrumental in making it happen. I landed my first manager 3 months after moving to LA after being rejected over 150 times. But I didn’t give up. I’m persistent and very aggressive when it comes to my career. I’m the captain of my ship and I believe in myself. I know how to approach people the right way and I know when to say no . Above all else, I veer clear of negative people who say it can’t be done. Don’t believe that lie. You can do it! You just have to learn how to wade through all the bullshit in Hollywood.
I encourage all writers to take charge of your career and not rely on anyone else but yourself to get your work sold and produced. Find a manager who “gets” your concept. Don’t waste your time looking for an agent. They won’t do anything for you unless you’re established. Find an established director who likes your work. Get your script to a star who might have the clout to get it made. Don’t hand off your script to some stranger on Craigslist. And don’t waste your time entering your script into any of these retarded screenwriting contests. I don’t write scripts to win a contest. I write to get paid and because I’m passionate about my craft!
BobSaenz
Post authorThanks Ted…. and congratulations on your success. You understand how hard it is and how patient and persistent you have to be…. plus you have to write great scripts… Nice.