Say I've got a script.....

[lazlor]

and no less than 100% of the people that have read it agree on a particular actor as being perfect for the lead.

This is not an a-list actor...

How would I go about trying to get the script into his hands?
Straight to them, or through the agent?

AND.... say they we're interested. That's where a letter of intent comes in.. correct?

just getting my ducks lined up....

[pnugentr]

I'll save the "if you're a un-produced, agent-less first-timer, you're barking up the wrong tree" speech for someone else and say this instead:

If the actor has a prod-co, query them. If not, find out who rep's the actor and query them. I admire the chutzpah, good luck!

[GroundlingCom]

I'd be curious to hear a pro's slant on this approach.

Obviously, an agent is an agent -- not a producer. But if you could catch their interest (big "if"), is it unreasonable to think that they might go to bat and pitch the hell out of it on your behalf?

[jimjimgrande]

the agent's manager is where I suggest you start. if he's not A-list, he probably doesn't have a prodco. In that case, he's probably also more willing to get involved if the project is right for him.

In another lifetime I had an up and coming actor attached to an indie script we were trying to produce and this attachment came through his manager. I confess, it was my producing partner who got the ball rolling on this and he was at a small but legit prodco, thus making the call to the actor's manager was a little easier. Nonetheless, it was his manager who was willing to make the time to take the meeting with us and his client, and afterward, the actor said he wanted to do the project. (epilogue - we never got the movie made and he went on to win an oscar a few years later)

Here's what I would do. Call SAG, find out who his agent is. Call agent's office and ask if they rep him. When they say yes, right away ask, does he have a manager also? If they give you an answer, great, say thanks, hang up, then call or query the manager. If they ask who the hell you are, tell them you're an independent production looking to submit a script to their client for his consideration. Be ready to pitch a logline and and a brief description of the character, emphasizing how perfect said actor is for the role. No more than a sentence for each, be very brief! Also, be ambiguous about the state of your financing.

Let us know what happens or tell me to go to hell. I suspect many subsequent posts will articulate how stupid this strategy is and others will hail it as genius, but that's why we post.

Good luck.

[pnugentr]

I would love to hear who the actor is. Seems like it would really depend how "non-A list" he is. I mean technically that could be everyone from Gary Coleman to (some might say) Chris Cooper.

[lazlor]

well, he is repped at William Morris, and has a manager.

Talkin 'bout Jerry Doyle.

re: the "if you're a un-produced, agent-less first-timer, you're barking up the wrong tree" speech....

yeah, I fall into that category. However, don't make assumptions just yet. I've worked in the industry for ten years on the production side of things, and...

the script I'm referring to has gotten a rave review from someone who has *sold*, he passed it on, which led to piqued interest of an established director. No one has committed to anything as of yet, very beginnings of things. Just thought I'd see what I could do footwork-wise.

So I think I have a little bit more of a shot than zero.

thanks for the replies...I'll go the route of querying the manager...

laz

[wcmartell]

Here's the problem - the lead has to be someone who sells tickets. They will fund the film based on the star - so your star has to be big enough to get the movie made.

So even Chris Cooper may not be big enough to get the project off the ground (depends on the size of the project).

But if you have a project that a star can get made, you're always better going directrly to the star. The agent will want a "firm offer" (ie: money) before the script will get to the star. Personal connection is best, production company comes next, manager comes last (they want money, too).

- Bill

[Hassanchop2]

Querying his agent will get you bubcus. Most likely you’ll get a letter saying Mr. Doyle will only entertain pay or play offers at this time, but thanks anyway.

The best way to get a script in to his hands is use your industry contacts (if you have been in the industry for ten years, you should have some) have them put it into his grubby little hands.

Only then you might get a read.

How do I know? I’ve tried both methods and only the second one was some what successful.

Best of luck.
:D :D :D

[lazlor]

thanks again all for the comments...

[pnugentr]

Babylon 5 Jerry Doyle?

[lazlor]

yep

[pnugentr]

I could be way off here, but my impression would be that he doesn't have enough stroke to get something made even if he is committed. Seems like he's more the "his agents hustling to get him the part of 'Wacky Teacher' on "The Parkers" type of working actor.

I could be wrong. I often am.

[wcmartell]

I don't know who Jerry Doyle is - and that's weird because I know who most of the B list stars are (and even who the Z list stars are). Has he ever carried a movie before? Even a DTV movie? How many units did the DTV movie sell?

I've worked with people you may never have heard of who are *huge* in DTV (or foreign). They star in a bunch of movies and make close to $1 million per. They can carry a movie at a certain budget. Who ever funds the film is going to look at this from a business standpoint - and will want a lead who will get people to rent the film or buy the DVD. They don't care whether the person is perfect for the role or not - they only care if they attract an audience. That's why all roads lead to Whoopi Goldberg - she's played roles that were originally cast with Bruce Willis and Eddie Murphy and several other male stars. When those guys dropped out, the producers scrambled to find an available star who could carry the movie - and Whoopi fits the bill (even if she's not a suave Cary Grant-like cat burglar or a lady's man tough cop). The lead is a business decision.

And if everyone who reads the script says he should play the role, you need to expand your circle a bit. Hard to imagine not one person read your script and said "Whoopi!"

- Bill

[CT in ATL]

Are there any juicy supporting actor parts you could get an A-List *star* interested in? Could there be? (Beef up one or two supporting characters to lure somebody.) Not that I'm a "pro" but that could be a way in...

[jimjimgrande]

I think if laz has been around for ten years, we can assume he knows a little something about the realities of getting a picture financed.

I don't see that the original question in this thread was about how to finance a movie with B-list actors, but was about getting a script to a particular actor and the best way to go about doing that.

[Hassanchop2]

http://www.timem.com/starwebs/jerrydoyle/auto/pics/doyle60.jpg

Jerry Doyle as Michael Garibaldi on Babylon 5

[peasblossom]

Good actor! Loved that show. I have a story that might be of interest.

My first script had a lead character that I could not envision any one in the role. Then, I saw a movie with an actor I'd seen before, but never really liked, only he was costumed with long hair in this movie, and looked the part of my script's character. He also had production co., though I did not know this at the time (I was completely unsavvy about this business).

Called up the number that gives you actor's representation, he had a manager. Called up the manager, he asked me if I had a lawyer, I said no. He said, "well, if you had a lawyer, I could send the lawyer our release, and then we would accept your script." I hung up feeling ill from nervousness and stupidity.

Six months later I met an entertainment lawyer at a meeting for a new Shakespeare theatre company. He agreed to be my lawyer - he called up said manager and my script was sent.

A year later - after no response from actor or his people, went to see the actor in a play, and sent him a gift of appreciation (to the theatre) for his acting , mentioning my script which I thought he had. He called while I was out, and left message thanking me for the gift. Never mentioned my script.

Still have no idea if he ever read it. The whole experience made me feel like a stalker. Also wonder if the actor/producer has a house somewhere filled floor to ceiling with unread scripts. In one of my screenwriting classes I ran into another screenwriter who also had been given the ok to submit to him, and has been waiting eight years for a reply.

However, if I ever had another lead character that I felt just matched someone perfectly like that, I would try to get script to them.

Good luck with Jerry Doyle - he is like an unappreciated Bruce Willis.
-Sandy

[Winter in New York]

>Hard to imagine not one person read your script and said "Whoopi!"
- Bill

Six degrees of Whoopi Goldberg? Ye-gads, a new dinner game!

Kevin Bacon will be p*ssed... :lol

[wcmartell]

Why do you attach an actor - any actor - to your script? It's all about getting it made (ie: getting the financing).

You don't want to attach an actor who *prevents* your script from selling.

- Bill

[jimjimgrande]

in my experience -

sometimes getting one person attached, particularly someone who is well liked even if they don't bring money to the table, gets the ball rolling as far as attracting a director and also attracting other talent, ideally actors for supporting roles whose names do have some value.

I also don't think I'm the best one to judge what actor can make my picture and who can't. If I took the same package to different people I'd get different responses. Granted there is a quantifiable market value for talent when it comes to raising overseas funding through pre-sales with a company at AFM or Cannes, but in terms of domestic independent financing co's, there are too many with too wide a variety of interests for me to be able to make any sweeping generalizations.

Getting people involved gets the ball rolling, then some drop out, and others come on board. It didn't get my indie made, but it worked for my friend with a group of actors, who, at that time, had no bankable value in the common perception.

[Hassanchop2]

You don't want to attach an actor who *prevents* your script from selling.

Hey Bill, for all we know Jerry is an über star in Bangladesh. :eek

:D

[Hugh Jardon]

Unless you're talking about an A-list star or
director, the fewer attachments, the better.
And A-List stars won't read the script until
financing is in place.

[wcmartell]

Though it's frequently out of date, the Hollywood Reporter publishes a rating of actors that is used by just about everyone involved in funding films (except, maybe. private investors).

Other lists that are often used include the HBO and Showtime approved actors list - if you hope to sell your film to cable you'd better have someone who is one either (or both) of those lists.

If you are attaching an actor in the LEAD it needs to be someone who gets you the money. And you'd better make it your business to know who those actors are. Ignorance isn't a defense. The information exists.

As a guy putting together a couple of films with private investors, I can tell you they always want to protect their investment - and they always ask me why I want to sign this actor or that actor - having a stack of DVDs starring that actor or being able to show them the Hollywood Reporter list (or HBO or Showtime) is what seals the deal and gets them to write the check.

If you end up stuck with some actor that prevents you from getting funding, you've just screwed yourself out of a deal.

- Bill

[jimjimgrande]

"If you are attaching an actor in the LEAD it needs to be someone who gets you the money. And you'd better make it your business to know who those actors are. Ignorance isn't a defense. The information exists."

my previous post assumed that the lead brought no money to the table - sorry for not making that clear

I will also admit that since I gave up indie producing I have not kept abreast on how actor's market values are tracked

My assumption from the original post was that laz was looking to get the script to a tv actor for the purposes of making his own movie the budget of which could be a mil or a $1.98 I don't know, but I got the sense this was more a personal endeavor than a business project. My bad for assuming.

If he is looking to put together a saleable package then by all means it is necessary to get the numbers straight before approaching talent. He should probably get a budget done for his movie. He should also get a lawyer to handle the submissions for him, both to talent and to prodcos. And there's a lot more about all that that should probably come from people who are doing this right now like Bill.

[NikeeGoddess]

hey, whatever approach actually works is the right approach whether it's front door, side door, or back door ;)