No response

[gravitas]

Hey guys,

How long typically have you waited for a response from a query fax or email?

[EJ Pennypacker]

you would think that the concept isnt working for them (how many have you sent out your query too?).

ideally, you dont wait, you simply move on. or you call after two weeks.

EJ

[sppeterson]

Most people I've queried respond within a week to four weeks.

I don't follow up on queries -- they're pretty much fire and forget.

[gravitas]

I sent the query to thirty production companies. Targeted, guys who deal with event/fantasy stuff. But not top of the food chain, mostly second tier companies that were co-producing. Half via fax, half via email, to their development heads. This was over a week ago, so I'm not sure how long a typical response takes.

EJ Pennypacker, I recognize you from DVXuser. Nice to see you here. :) (Gravitas was not my name over there though.)

Maybe I'll follow up with a call in another week. I figured fax would be the best route.

[English Dave]

Always follow up queries. If you don't give a damn why should THEY?

[gravitas]

Always follow up queries. If you don't give a damn why should THEY?

Could anyone suggest good follow-up dialog for the phone? I suck on the phone, definitely have to work on that.

[kidcharlemagne]

If it's email queries I find I get most of my responses in the first 1-5 days. If they don't respond after that it normally means a 'not for us'.

[English Dave]

Could anyone suggest good follow-up dialog for the phone? I suck on the phone, definitely have to work on that.

Write it out first. Like a script about a confident and hugely talented but unheard of writer who doesn't come across as an a$4hole but has something worth reading.

Easy.:)

[mtoomey]

If it's email queries I find I get most of my responses in the first 1-5 days. If they don't respond after that it normally means a 'not for us'.


I agree with KidC. Actually, most requests I get from an email query are within 24 hours (I don't bother with snail mail or fax). I've often wondered if the time of day I send the e-query makes any difference.

The rational side of my brain says no. But the bi-polar part thinks if I send it late at night, it'll get mixed up with the spam they have to go through in the morning. If I send the query early afternoon, they've probably already gone through the spam and my email might get read.

The bi-polar part of my brain also likes to watch re-runs of Law & Order while eating costco size bags of fire hot cheetos (with lime) all day long.

[phatgirl]

Hey Sweet ED - You can't possibly mean to follow up on every query you send out 'cause that'd be a huge waste of time, yes? Maybe you meant to follow up on every script submission you send. That makes very good sense.

And I agree with Kid. If they don't respond in the 1st few days, it's likely your email query was deleted. Move on and query elsewhere.

[Robot17]

Always follow up queries. If you don't give a damn why should THEY?

Ditto.

I give two weeks although I usually ask when I talk with them on the phone. I don't send blind emails or letters. I call first for their policies and a name to address it to.

One reason I don't do fire and forget is because I'm good on the phone and can often get people talking and get input from them. I've developed some GREAT contacts at production companies that way.

Oddly enough, if you're succinct and brief, many of the people you talk to sort of admire the gumption so don't worry about hassling them as long as you're not rude. I have a great contact that is a major major major director's development guy who has spent quite a bit of time feeding me input via email, and that was because we had a couple brief talks regarding one of my high concept stories.

I also have another great contact at the most successful producer in the world's office I can go back to because someone in the office lost my script (or left - I forget) and she felt terrible about it etc. She's really cool and if I hadn't followed up I wouldn't be able to meet up with them in the future etc.

Like I said though, I'm really good on the phone so if you're not you may go about it in a different way. And by the way - these people are great contacts because my bet is they're also great people. I've talked to lots of those in Hollywood in spite of what you hear.

Bot

[gravitas]

I'm very thankful for everyone's responses. I think the real bitch of this one is that it is an event film/ fantasy epic. Not the best genre for an unproduced writer to attempt to market.

[Robot17]

Gravitas -

I don't know whether you'll suceed when you query people with your project.

I do know whether you'll suceed if you don't.

Send them the next American Beauty.

Bot

[gravitas]

Alright, so I called a prodco the other day and here's how I got past this:

Her -- "Sorry, we don't accept unsolicited materials"

Me -- "Can I have my lawyer send it over?"

Her -- "Sure."

So now I am past the first threshold, but I still have things to figure out, as my lawyer typically doesn't submit materials for his clients.

Mind you, this is not a prodco I queried in the past. My approach has been wildly random so far. Email, fax, and now phone.

Thanks for all the help. Bot your message inspired me!

Now if I can only figure out the lawyer thing...

[Robot17]

Alright, so I called a prodco the other day and here's how I got past this:

Her -- "Sorry, we don't accept unsolicited materials"

Me -- "Can I have my lawyer send it over?"

Her -- "Sure."

So now I am past the first threshold, but I still have things to figure out, as my lawyer typically doesn't submit materials for his clients.

Mind you, this is not a prodco I queried in the past. My approach has been wildly random so far. Email, fax, and now phone.

Thanks for all the help. Bot your message inspired me!

Now if I can only figure out the lawyer thing...

Now query attorneys. The conversation goes like this:

You
Hi, my name is Gravitas, and I have a submission I need to make to Dreamworks (whoever) and they'd like to see it come through an entertainment attorney. Would anyone in the office be amenable to that or could you refer another attorney to me?

Assistant
No, we only work with people we have relationships with.

You then move on to the next one in the Creative Directory.

Assistant
Let me take a message and if anyone can help you we'll let you know.

You then move on to the next one in the Creative Directory.

Assistant
No, we only work with people we have relationships with, but you can call Joe Schmoe at Schmoe, Smith and Jones. Here's the number etc.

You then call Schmoe, Smith and Jones and tell them so-and-so refered me to you etc.

Repeat until you have a submission rep.

You should be able to come up with somebody that will help although you may have to pay a fee or hourly rate.

Bot

[gravitas]

Wow how much does this suck? The prodco assistant that told me it was OK to send through my lawyer, called him today and said not to send because they don't want any unsolicited submissions, and are behind on their reading. ****. Moving on.

[Robot17]

Query attorneys though.
You'll run into it again.

Gravitas - out of curiosity, why did you call them after they said yes?

Bot

[gravitas]

This was not a prodco I had queried previously. I thought I'd try the phone route initially instead of fax or email.

I haven't had one request out of about thirty queries, so I think the logline needs re-worked. Something in my approach isn't working here, so I'll just keep at it. I do appreciate the input from everyone.

[Robot17]

This was not a prodco I had queried previously. I thought I'd try the phone route initially instead of fax or email.

I haven't had one request out of about thirty queries, so I think the logline needs re-worked. Something in my approach isn't working here, so I'll just keep at it. I do appreciate the input from everyone.

Gravitas -
Here's a post of mine from WP that could help you.

Please read and re-read the part about not sending anything until you're sure it's good enough and a professional quality script.

http://www.wordplayer.com/forums/scriptsarc10/index.cgi?read=151401

I want to make sure that you're using bullets that you can go pick up and use again because even if they pass on your project if they like your writing you'll probably be able to submit to them again.

This place is a great board to post loglines and get feed back. Scripts are another story, but in general you'll be able to work out a servicable logline here and probably get submissions if the story has merit to begin with.

Check out the post though.

Bot