Who is Matt Damon's agent, and a couple of other questions

[theperfectpitch]

Who is Matt Damon's agent??
Who is Nia Vardalos' agent??
and who is Gene Hackman's agent??

I'm the author of a recently released biography that is getting more and more interest because of the moving and miraculous true story of the subject. By the way, I also have the rights to the book.

I've been told by some of you on here to get an agency interested in the story before trying to contact any talent, which is what I plan to do. I just like knowing who represents who so that at that time I can see if particular actors would enjoy a story where they can see themselves as characters for a film adaptation of the book.

How much input can an author, whose book is being adapted,
have with a director, production co. etc. with script/scene ideas, casting, and soundtrack?? Do they at least listen??
Do they ever do more than listen and actually incorporate any ideas, etc. or is an author's input not counted at all??

[jimjimgrande]

Who is Matt Damon's agent??
Who is Nia Vardalos' agent??
and who is Gene Hackman's agent?

call SAG - fortunately for you, I believe you get three per phone call.

[Hamboogul]

I'm the author of a recently released biography that is getting more and more interest because of the moving and miraculous true story of the subject. By the way, I also have the rights to the book.

Why wouldn't you, as the author, not have the rights to the book?

BTW, Damon's agent is Pat Whitesall at Endeavor. Vardalos is repped by Jeremy Zimmer at UTA. (at least as of a year ago)

[JakeSchuster aka Ostroff]

How much input can an author, whose book is being adapted,
have with a director, production co. etc. with script/scene ideas, casting, and soundtrack?? Do they at least listen??
Do they ever do more than listen and actually incorporate any ideas, etc. or is an author's input not counted at

Answer:
None; no.

And for the author of the source material, that pretty much shuts you out. I once had a middle-aged ex-child actor call me repeatedly trying to option a novel of mine (this after I told him to talk to my agent, and just before I gave the option to another producer). He said, trying to clinch the deal with me: "But I'll put in all the music you mention in the novel."

First sign of someone who doesn't know what the hell he's doing.

[theperfectpitch]

Thanks for all of your thoughts and answers.

[KidCharlemagne108]

I hope you have a financed studio movie. I've hear that Matt Damon's agent is only interested in pushing him for studio movies. Good luck if it's an indie movie with no finance up front i.e where you first need Matt's name to secure finance.

Sounds like you need to get it to a producer that has a name. Then you or another writer can write the script. The producer could then get then get Matt's agent excited. Then hopefully Matt.

KC

[MacG]

I hope you have a financed studio movie. I've hear that Matt Damon's agent is only interested in pushing him for studio movies.

Yep. First words out of his assistants' mouth: "Is there money attached?" Say anything other than "yes," they pratically hang up on you if you.

I wish I had the balls to say something akin to, "No, but then again SURVIVING CHRISTMAS had money attached and look how well that turned out for Affleck, you douche bag!"

[KidCharlemagne108]

Yes, I've made many of those calls and it's been the standard response - finance first. BUT this doesn't happen in all cases -some agents are more open to the indie route and recognize that films get financed via other means e.g international soft money and that this is a different process.

I've been read by big stars because the agent knew my co-producer and she liked the writing. But this agent was open to the indie route which is usually - 'we need your star to read it and express interest first then we will go out and raise money'. Some agents are open to this and some are not. Also some LA agents are very LA/studio film centric. Others are open to what is going on in Europe/Australia etc...

I recently had a big agency agent's assistant tell me that they wouldn't forward my script to their star because they wanted him to do studio movies only. However, our director contacted his local agent/manager and they liked the script (and the director) and passed it on to him. He read it quickly and the director and the star met for over 3 hours. Unfortunately he didn't 'get it', so that was that.

So my humble advice - don't give up - there may be a talent agent or manager out there who may see your biog as the perfect vehicle for their star.

It sounds like you need someone to champion the project. A producer or agent who will get things moving. I think it will be tough for you to get anywhere with talent agents on your own. I've teamed up with someone who knows how to raise money. I don't think I would have had much luck on my own.

KC

[theperfectpitch]

Thanks charlemagne. Yeah, I agree. Getting an agent or agency to champion the book to be made into a script is the first step, that and get studios excited about it. But it might be safe to assume that even if Matt Damon, and the others I would envision being casted for this wonderful human interest story / semi-celebrity biography, actually read the book and really enjoyed it, enjoying the adapted script might be another thing.

As much as I would love to adapt the script, as the author of the book, I realize that some of you have made a great point in e-mail that insisting on writing the script myself would be a deal breaker, because I don't have the script writing clout to deserve or demand to write the initial adaptation. However, I do have plenty of ideas for some script/scenes or sequences that, it sounds like, won't reach the director's/writer's desk because they usually develop the movie based on how they see the book as a movie. And to be honest, having one's first book adapted into a movie at all is more than enough to be grateful for.

But, again, the first step isn't too much wishful thinking about getting a cast together but getting an agent to represent the book. I also plan on putting a book ad in a catalog targeted to the film industry, so every bit helps.

[KD The Wubat]

It's Whitesell, I think.

[MakingMagic]

And it's Patrick.

MM