Producer follow up

[John1Paul2]

I just received a very irritating request for a screenplay, as follows:

Thanks for the query. You can send your script via regular mail or email (.pdf or Word) along with the attached submission form and a copy of your original email. Since we do receive a lot of scripts we are only able to reply to those we are interested in pursuing and do not send out rejection notices.
Best,
Georgia
Zero Gravity Management
1531 14th Street
Santa Monica, Ca 90404

Because producers receive so many queries, I can understand why they don’t reply to them, but not the scripts. After I have taken many hours to write and rewrite something until it’s worth reading, not to mention the money spent on mailing it, at least they can email me back, even if it’s only to say it sucks. I have notice that this has become a trend and a very penurious and pernicious (I am using a lot of p words, maybe because I feel pissed upon) one at that! It makes me feel that when I send a script out it just lies around in some pile gathering dust, or maybe it’s being use as a coaster, who knows.

Has anyone else been experiencing this problem? Anyway, I am going to email this company back and tell them that I am passing on sending my screenplay and the reason why.

So now that I have vented, I’ll get back to work.

[William Haskins]

nature of the beast; i'd send the .pdf and let the chips fall where they may.

what have you got to lose?

"patience, grasshopper..."

[jimb11]

John1Paul2

I just received the same response to my query...I'm just going to send it out and see what happens. They are definately legit....my advice: just follow their instructions. Good Luck to you!

Jimb11

[William Haskins]

would one of you kind gentlemen throw a brother a bone (or a contact name and email addy)?

pm is activated.

thanks.

[John1Paul2]

I don’t question their legitimacy but their professionalism. I have spoken directly to development people at Paramount and NewLine, just to name a few, who discussed my scripts with me at length. Even though I did get rejected, I greatly appreciated their time and courtesy.

I think writers shouldn’t feel so desperate as to allow themselves to be treated like S--- just to be read.

[ComicBent]

Just be glad they will look at it.

Remember that you are not under any commitment to them. You can send your script elsewhere even while they still are looking at it.

You just have to assume every submission has been rejected, until you hear otherwise.

[John1Paul2]

Comic,

You're missing the point, but that's ok.

[noh1]

John, why are you calling a managment company a producer? Are they marketing themselves as producers, full-time now?

[jimb11]

William,

sent you the info. check your PM.

jimb11

[noh1]

Just be glad they will look at it.


No offense, dude, but it's that attitude that gets so many writers into trouble.

Never be so desperate that "Just be glad they look at it" is your mindset. Nothing good can come of it.

[John1Paul2]

There is nothing wrong with expecting professionalism in this industry. Nothing less is disrespectful. I prefer to respect myself and maybe aim a little higher.

[sppeterson]

I'm with you on this, John. It's just silly to spend an hour or so reading a script -- or even 10 minutes just reading the first 10 -- then complain you're too busy to take a minute typing out "Thanks, but not for us."

[whateveryeah]

Not to rain on any parades here, but... I sent ZG at least a half dozen queries in the past and got nearly an identical response each time, sometimes within seconds. Are you certain the request mechanism isn't on autoresponder? This is what I suspect and that they separate the wheat from the chaff later (which is why they want you to reinclude the original draft of your query). ;)

[noh1]

You should just forget about ZG.




It is irritating to never hear back. I hate it, especially in situations where they're "what else do you have? Oh really? Hey, send it!"

[whateveryeah]

You should just forget about ZG.
:lol

Believe me, I have. Somehow methinks my ultimate style/subject matter isn't to their liking. That's not to say they might not be a fine market for another writer's work...

More irritating than "what else do you have?" is those folks who insist on overnight fed-exed delivery of a hard copy script (or two or three copies of that paper printed script) because they have someone who might be interested that needs to make an immediate decision. Yeah right. Did that expensive baby once, then learned if they want it that badly they can take the PDF by email and print the damn copies themselves. :D

It really would be a lovely world if all producers and agents/managers who request things could respond in a polite and timely fashion. Sadly, it just ain't so. My experience has been that interested parties respond rather quickly (within one to two weeks). When it's longer than that and I've gotten no response I just chalk it up to experience and assume that place was a pass. There are, after all, a lot of fish in these seas and they all have their individual preferences.

[BoonHogganbeck33]

There is nothing wrong with expecting professionalism in this industry. Nothing less is disrespectful. I prefer to respect myself and maybe aim a little higher.

There is nothing wrong with holding yourself to a higher standard. But if you are expecting people in this industry to conduct themselves with integrity, professionalism and respectfulness - you might find be in for a shock.

If anything, those are things this business lacks most. And, sometimes "legitimate" production companies are the worst offenders. Nothing illegal, per se. But...

You've chosen the path of a writer, lowest on the totem pole as far as above-the-line goes. Prepare to be treated as such. That's one reason writers are clamoring for agents, because at least you will have someone looking out for your best interests. Even so, your best interests are aligned with an agent's best interests, so you are helped by default.