What titles/positions do you query at prodcos?

[BIG Z]

Totally green question, but do you try to get a query in front of the Creative Director...VP of Development...Creative Executive...?

[SoCalScribe]

Totally green question, but do you try to get a query in front of the Creative Director...VP of Development...Creative Executive...?

The entire Development (or Creative Affairs) department handles the consideration of material, but query letters are usually the province of the lower-level administrators and executives: Story Editor, Creative Executive, Director of Development (Creative Affairs), etc. You don't often have VP-level and up handling query letters, unless it's a very small company where there are only a couple people in each department. When you get to a company where there are many people in a development department, the less experienced junior execs get the queries and specs to sift through, and the more established senior execs usually focus on making deals with established talent and shepherding projects through active development.

[BIG Z]

Thanks! Very helpful information.

Now, if I could only find an organized way to weed through 3300 prodcos to find the ones who might be interested in my script, then find a way to contact the people you mentioned...

[fisherman]

Thanks! Very helpful information.

Now, if I could only find an organized way to weed through 3300 prodcos to find the ones who might be interested in my script, then find a way to contact the people you mentioned...

Yeah, that's the darnded onesideness of it all, and one of the many reasons they call this business a crapshoot.

[MacG]

You're bound to run into a ton of "no-unsolicted-material-accepted" rejections, which is why it's always imperative to be extremely polite to whomever answers the phone.

When I was just starting out sans-representation over a decade ago (God, I can't believe it's been that long...), I was able to turn more than a few of those "nopes" into "yeses" by simply explaining my situation.

Being gracious is always important, though: the receptionist today may be the CE within the next few months. Seriously, you just never know who is going to ascend the ladder or how fast. Everyone should be treated as a potential contact.

[BIG Z]

You're bound to run into a ton of "no-unsolicted-material-accepted" rejections, which is why it's always imperative to be extremely polite to whomever answers the phone.

Do you advocate calling production companies then over email queries? Or even calling reps?

Don't worry...decades come and go :)

[MacG]

E-mail is the best, of course, but back in 1999, I didn't have access to the addresses I needed. So I made a lot of phone calls. And sometimes phone calls work in the sense you can't be ignored or deleted, as is way too easy with an unsolicited e-mail query.

[catcon]

E-mail is the best, of course, but back in 1999...

Them was the days. Not that I was writing in them days.

But recently I came across the following. Check the URL to see where it's from. Some TV writers list archived from 2001. Most of the data's useless because, even where the companies have websites, they're still using AOL and earthlink emails!

There's a gap from about 65 to 100, but most of 100 to 900 is there. I scanned quite a bit but eventually concluded none of it was useful. I thought I might find some buried email structures or something.

For you old-timers, you might find some of the now-defunct company info, and the who's working with whom, to be of interest or amusement...

Production Companies, etc. (http://www.tvwriter.com/icircle/archive/prodco/A_Prodco_1Page100.html)

[BIG Z]

This begs a question I should (and probably will) ask in it's own thread: how DO you (or DOES one) go about intelligently, methodically sorting through the chaos of prodcos?

IMDb Pro lists over 3100 entries worldwide. I don't write popcorn/tent pole style stuff (yet) - mostly scripts with budgets under $5 million (we'll call them "cable movies"). How do I locate that sweet spot, that Goldilocks-perfect fit, in between the majors and major-minors and the wannabes, has beens, and never wases?

Somebody get me Bill Martell on the phone!!

[sppeterson]

This begs a question I should (and probably will) ask in it's own thread: how DO you (or DOES one) go about intelligently, methodically sorting through the chaos of prodcos?

On IMDbPro create a search covering the last several years that finds films in your genre and around your budget range, then query the producers and production companies that made those films.

It's a real grind, but it will generate some reads.

It's also good to be Canadian.

[SCRIPTMONK!!!]

This begs a question I should (and probably will) ask in it's own thread: how DO you (or DOES one) go about intelligently, methodically sorting through the chaos of prodcos?

Here's how I did it. Granted, I only did this a little over a month ago and it is yet to bear fruit, but I managed to whittle down 3300 to about 180.

Go to your local library and ask for the most recent edition of the Hollywood Creative Directory. If you live in LA, go to the main downtown library. If you live outside of LA or NY, you might have to buy a copy or subscribe to their website. The HCD lists the information on every production company worth a tinker's damn, plus some who aren't. If they don't accept unsolicited, most will state it flat out in the section under "submission policy" so you can weed them out right away. You will even find a number who encourage unsolicited material. Along with their contact info, they all list produced credits. If their credits sound like the type of stuff that your script would fit into, jot their name down.

Take your list and do some research in imdb to find some details on the company's credits. This will help cut your list almost in half as you find who really has tastes that are similar to your script, and who hasn't produced anything since a straight to video short film in 1988.

Return to the library and the HCD. Look up the names on your list of keepers and find the name and contact information of the lowest ranking person in the development department. If they give the name of a story editor, send him/her. If they give a creative exec, use that. A lot of companies don't list anyone lower than a Senior VP, or maybe not even that. That either means they are too damn big and your might need to do more research, or they are small company with big titles.

It takes a long time and its a pain in the ass, but that's what I did.

[NikeeGoddess]

Thanks! Very helpful information.

Now, if I could only find an organized way to weed through 3300 prodcos to find the ones who might be interested in my script, then find a way to contact the people you mentioned...you should plan on attending one of the big pitchfests this year. the companies who participate tell you what they're looking for right now. that's the information you need.

[SBScript]

Totally green question, but do you try to get a query in front of the Creative Director...VP of Development...Creative Executive...?

Just don't address the intended recipient as "Dear Industry Professional"...

[PrestonW]

... I've had luck with queries to "Industry Professionals." If you have no alternative, why not?