Querying TV agents/managers--need advice

[elephant1978]

Anybody who knows me on this board is aware that I don't really query agents--I just wait until somebody in the biz refers me. Well...I've decided to take a more active approach and query as many people as I can. I am told this is the time to get a TV agent in preparation for the next staffing season. I have some questions, hopefully you guys can help.

1) Query letters--I know for feature queries, you include a logline and any selling points about the script or yourself. But for TV, aren't you trying to sell yourself as a writer rather than sell a particular project? So do you tell them what specs you have available? Do you give a log line for any original pilots? If you have enough selling points (name dropping, etc.), is it enough to just say "I'm looking for a rep and I would like to send you some sitcom specs, yada yada...?"

2) I'm going to do this the old fashioned way and crawl my way through the HCD. Any advice on deciding which agent at a particular agency to query? Any way to narrow things down and make more tactical moves? I haven't seen an HCD for reps yet--does it provide the info you need for this kind of stuff?

3) I'm also a feature writer. My plan was to try my TV angle now and if I don't have any luck, try again in a few months with my new feature. Is this wise or should I mention it to these TV agents? My feeling is I would have better luck if I focused on one or the other. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

Ele...

[Scriptman]

I'll do my best to take a crack at answering some of the questions based on my experience or what I've been through.

Answer to question(s):

1)

I normally queried them with my strongest TV spec script. Giving them, not just a cookie-cutter logline, but a little more detail of what it's about and why they'll have a blast reading it. One agent did tell me original pilots are good, too. Shows some originality. Some agents/managers will ask for other material. It's sort of the reason why it's good to have an original under your belt. However, another agent told that TV is difficult to break into without referrals and that a good feature easier to sell you to the networks or sell the script itself to someone else if they have to.

Also, I don't snail mail my queries out, I e-mail them to the proper people and almost always get a quick response saying yes or no.

2)

I haven't seen an HCD for reps yet--does it provide the info you need for this kind of stuff?

I take it you must mean that maybe the Fall Edition of the HCD Representation Directory hasn't come out yet? If not, there is a Representation guide from HCD at the bookstores that you can buy, and it does tell you what agency/managers handle television. This is where a lot of research is involved because television has many branches to it. Some agents within an agency that handles television writers may not particularly handle Sitcom Writers, she may handle Reality Television clients. Her fellow agent in the room next door to her handles Sitcom Writers and someone may specialize in handling clients that write One-Hour/Longform. Arrrgh! So it comes down to querying the right person. By the way, HCD also has an online trial offer if you don't want to invest in another expensive book.

You may want to query the large/small boutique agencies that deal heavily in television such as Broder, Preferred Artists, or management places like Untitled Entertainment. Places that are not too busy to help you out when the timing is right. Crawl your way through the HCD, but make sure you're organized by keeping a log of everyone you queried, otherwise it becomes a query mess and you can't remember who said yes, no, or call me back on such and such date much closer to pilot season.

3)

Is there a way that your feature could become converted over into a one-hour TV spec script? It might take some quick tweaking with, but it'll be something different to show.

It does help if you focus on one thing or another. But your main purpose in getting an agent is to get staffed or to be remembered for those possible freelance assignments, which most of the time showrunners don't hand out to outsiders, but only to people that they know.:rolleyes

I'm in the same situation. It is that time of year. And with nothing great on TV to spec...? I don't know. Arrested Development or Two and a Half Men are the hot ones right now. Not even the new fall slate of shows look that interesting even for the future. But then again, who knows?

I believe that querying works if it gets to the right people and a year-round relationship with that agent/manager can be established. Remember that most of these people will be at their computer at some point of the day, and it's easier for them to respond to an e-query and type "I'm not looking for any new writers right now," than to snail mail them a query that will take an entire orbit around the earth just to hear that same response. Then you can try back in couple of months and move on with your life. With all the "no's" you get, you can pat yourself on the back for starting your own "Who You Know In This Town Database":\