How Long After Submitting?

[Ecrivette]

Wondering, in your collective experience, about how long after someone (a manager/production company/agent/etc.) has asked to read your project, you have waited to hear a response?

For good reactions, where they always immediate?

As Jay-Z said, "I got no patience and I hate waitin'," so I feel like I'm checking my email every five minutes. :rolling:

Someone, please give me hope that just because I don't hear right away doesn't mean anything bad.

[Jcorona]

For good reactions, where they always immediate?

Yes.

No.

Corona

[LIMAMA]

Sometimes it's quick, sometimes it's slow. I had a manager contact me after I sent him a query...a year later.

[Robot17]

When I query or submit I ask "when should I do a follow up?".

If for some reason I haven't asked or don't know then I wait 2 weekends and do a follow up call.

I'm one of those people who don't mind being aggressive, just as long as I follow the rules of the game. If they say a month then that's what I'll do.

I think most people don't mind if you follow up as long as you're not a pest about it.

Bot

[RGF]

I once handed a script to a big-time producer at a festival on a Sunday and got a call from her on Monday...showin' some big time lovin.

I've also gotten calls within a day or two of submission showin' me some big-time disinterest.

Plus, I've never heard from that time in 1987 when I sent my student film to someone named Spielberg.

There's no rules. The adoration or the kiss-off the can both come tomorrow, or a year from now, or never.


....in high probability they won't even get around to reading it for a month or two. Best advice is to just forget about it and write something else. Follow-up with a friendly nudge in about 6 weeks.

[sasqits]

Jay Z is lucky that he is not a screenwriter.

[Ecrivette]

Jay Z is lucky that he is not a screenwriter.

I think he did actually make a movie, which never saw the light of day. Not sure if the wrote it though. Hmm...

All of the other responses are exactly what I assumed and was just hoping that someone would tell me something else. *sigh*

I should have been a rapper instead. :rolling:

[kidcharlemagne]

2-6 weeks is average I would say.

Follow up after 2-3 weeks.

[amandag]

In a fast-paced world such as ours, I like to e-mail the script and follow up simultanously.

When they answer the phone, you say, "Right now, I'm sending you the script you asked for. Did you read it yet?"

And when they say, "Not if you're sending it now," YOU say, "but I'm outside your window right now." And when they turn and you're suspended 15 stories up outside their office, they'll generally get the point.

TO RECAP:

1. sent script and follow up at exact same time: 0 dollars
2. teleport outside of their window: 6 billion dollars
3. get arrested and pay for bail: 500 dollars
4. getting that coveted read...priceless.

[Ecrivette]

So, two things I've realized today:

1. I need to attend meetings naked; and
2. Learning to teleport is priceless.

I love this board! :rolling:

[yammo]

It's taken me as long a month to hear back from some production companies. It really just depends. Yes's tend to come fast and NO's even faster.

[zim]

If someone is interested...they will reply. Very simple. And if they like it, they'll reply quickly. I've had a producer read something in the evening and call me immediately following. Granted, the script sat in a sludge pile for a month from my cold letter query, but he read it--then called.

I think most people say to allow 4 weeks for a read, then make contact. That's up to you though. Personally, I think I just sent out my last "reminder" email but that's just me. It's not worth worrying over for sure, so just continue to write and continue to target potential readers.

Consider yourself lucky if you receive any contact whatsoever. Hopefully you'll create a fan, someone who will be receptive to future scripts. And remember to only send out your best possible draft.

zim-

[Ecrivette]

I figured that there was a process and I guess I would rather have time then a quick "no thanks."

Still, I have never been a patient person. When I was a kid, I would unwrap and rewrap my presents because I just couldn't wait. Yea, that bad. :rolling: I wish I could say it was something I outgrew.