Niad's a "payfer"

[nrsncmc]

Let's see....how can we get writers to pay us to read their screenplays without actually getting a reputation as a "pay for a read" agency? I know! Let's have a contest!!

Here's the response I got from Niad from a query letter I sent them:

Because we are currently holding the second annual Become a Hollywood Screenwriter contest, we are only accepting submissions through that contest. Please visit www.becomeahollywoodscreenwriter.com for more
information. We hope to read you there!

:rollin


Charley

[sidneyfalco]

This is the sad state of managers. Two years ago when I used to post here most frequently there were many more managers accepted new clients.

Here is the fate of several of these companies


Catch 23 - out of business
Bondessen -Graup - split up
Santos Fischer - split up
Radmin - everyone has left except Lynn Radmin
chris emerson - critical mass is gone.
jaret - hasn't updated website in 2 years.

Wendy Niad - charging for a "contest"
Cresendo - charging for coverage

[KidCharlemagne108]

Interesting summary Sydney.

Regarding Jaret - aren't they still active? Don't they rep the Legally Blonde writers? I submitted to them via phone and they requested and read my script. I didn't realize they had a web site.

I read on Max Adam's site that Foursight Entertainment's site was a bit of a black hole as well. I think she mentions that she hadn't heard of anyone ever getting a response from them. Interestingly enough I phoned them and got a script request and a pretty fast read.

Radmin liked one of my scripts and requested more material and then I never heard anything from them again. Guess this explains why :-)

KC

[JoanEasley]

Maybe something has changed at Catch 23, I don't know, but they are still in business. This past winter when we did an agent-manager search, Aghi Koh at Catch 23 was interested. We met with her at their beautiful new office.

We ended up going with someone else as a manager, but Aghi submitted our script several places as a producer. Now she's producer on another project of ours.

We communicate mostly by e-mail, so I could be talking to her from her home from all I know, but I just had to mail her something, and it was the same Catch 23 address.

[Bystander3]

The best way to fight this growing "pay me to read your script" trend is to scrupulously avoid these manager/script consultant operations, stay away from suspicious contests--and encourage as many other spec screenwriters as possible to do the same. Even if you have money to burn, DON'T spend it on these outlets. Gravitate toward the legitimate contests and learn how to market your scripts and represent yourself, if no one else will.

[LIMAMA]

Clarification: as I understand it, Crescendo is not asking writers to pay for coverage. If you wish to submit to their "script services" dept. and use their analysis services, that's another story.

[chrisb]

Hi,
It's my understanding that there are really only a handful of contests that mean much around town; Nicholl, Chesterfield, Disney's fellowship and Austin, I believe top the list. I'd certainly agree about being wary of contests run by prod co's or management companies to disguise reading fees.

However, Re: Crescendo, I would not put this company on a list with some of the others mentioned. I've found Marc to be among the most helpful people I've met, someone genuinely interested in helping upcoming talent.

Cheers,
Chris

PS - Didn't Catch23 use www.c23.com as their website? (If so, it's down).

[sidneyfalco]

yeah I made a mistake typing about catch 23 - they're not really out of business but they are not the fully financed mini-AMG powerhouse that they were in 2001 since they lost their financing and a lot of mangers like shawn hopkins, daryl taja, etc left.

Foursight was run by some USC students who had a desk at Bender Spink's offices.

also, just because someone takes your e-query and you send them your script DOES NOT mean they're an active manager. You will have to do research on this site and inhollywood or baseline/filmmtracker to see whether this person is actually active and setting up projects.

also, always double check script sales where there's no studio attached. For some reason the trades print these "sales" for many projects when no money has even exchanged hands and a small production company has just free optioned a script! (i.e. Maverick does this a LOT). Often times its just to get publicity for the producer/writer and then you never hear about that script ever again.

[rtiocvlkw]

Pretty sure they're still around as well.

Got a reply from them regarding a query about a month.

[sidneyfalco]

Bondessen is on his own with a new company - Fuse Entertainment

Allen Fischer is now at Principato Young it looks like.

[rtiocvlkw]

Where did Jeff go?