Manager relationship question

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  • Manager relationship question

    Over a year ago a manager responded to my cold query and asked me to send him my script. I never heard back so I emailed him again about a different script. He then told me he really enjoyed the first one, and yes, send him the next. He liked that one, too, and told me he had a producer friend who might be interested (though later he apparently changed his mind about showing him.) In all, he's liked three out of four screenplays I've sent him, and during a phone conversation told me he thought I was very talented, but didn't want to sign a contract. So I guess what we have is a hip-pocket relationship. (I only know that term from DDP. )

    I'm really confused, because to my knowledge he's only taken one of my scripts out, and that to a producer I asked him to approach.

    And now my real question:

    I recently queried a producer who requested my script. She's had it about three weeks now. Should I follow up with her, or ask the manager to do so? I had this happen twice before: two really big name producers requested my scripts through queries I sent, and each time they passed. (Although one company sounded like they were on the fence and told me they had been in meetings about my script.) I wonder now if I'd asked the manager to follow up if the response would have been different.

    Is that what I should do in this situation? Or is that not done? I really don't get the business side of all this, and I don't understand why this manager doesn't take anything of mine out even though he apparently likes it. He's even told me he's got ideas for places to take a certain script, and then months later seems to forget he's ever said such a thing.

    Any advice?

  • #2
    Re: Manager relationship question

    I'd say email the manager and mention that a production company requested your script and now has it. If the manager says "Cool, let me check in with them", then by all means, let him/her. If he doesn't offer to, screw him. Do it yourself, then start looking for a manager, because this one's not really interested.

    As for the past experiences, I doubt not having the manager make the call factored at all into the production company's decision. Them liking a project enough to put it into development has zero to do with who made the phone call, it's about the material. Plenty of writers get production companies interested in their material without representation. In fact, that's how a lot of people end up with representation to begin with.

    Good luck!
    https://twitter.com/DavidCoggeshall
    http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1548597/

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    • #3
      Re: Manager relationship question

      Thanks, David! This is really good advice. I appreciate you taking the time to respond.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Manager relationship question

        I've never forgot the first thing one of my reps said to me "if one of us isn't working hard enough for you. Cut the chord. It's not personal. It's business." Ask yourself (honestly) if this person has your best interests at heart and is helping steer your career in the right direction. If the answer to this is a resounding no. Move on. Find someone that wants to be a part of your journey. There's plenty of hard working, passionate managers out there. Why settle?

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        • #5
          Re: Manager relationship question

          Originally posted by Mintclub View Post
          Move on. Find someone that wants to be a part of your journey. There's plenty of hard working, passionate managers out there. Why settle?
          Thanks for the input. I totally agree, in theory, but this is easier said than done. I was congratulating myself that I'd found one manager; it wasn't exactly easy. I have queried others who aren't interested in my screenplays. I have two period pieces, and a fantasy/rom-com/musical.

          At the end of 2012 one producer read my first script, loved it, and asked if I could I send her anything else. I only had one complete script at that time but I sent two others that were only partially completed. She read those and asked if we could talk over the phone. I was so excited; I was sure she was going to option my screenplay or give me a writing assignment. When she called she told me she'd never made a personal call to a writer in her career thus far, but she felt that she had to tell me how much she liked my work and how creative I was, but that if I didn't stop writing period pieces I would never get a job in Hollywood.

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          • #6
            Re: Manager relationship question

            I don't have much to add, other than giving an enthusiastic nod to the advice already dealt.

            Best of luck. Exciting news.
            "...it is the thousandth forgetting of a dream dreamt a thousand times and forgotten a thousand times."
            --Franz Kafka "Investigations Of A Dog"

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            • #7
              Re: Manager relationship question

              Firstly, I think it makes good common sense to always include your reps into a submission/query that you have made (essentially on their behalf). IMO you should have then handed over the process to your rep, who should have submitted on your behalf, and of course follow up with them when time permits. This is the rep game. This is the writer game. Writers write. Then hand material to their reps to sell/launch careers.

              Secondly, it sounds like this manager hasn't been doing much of anything for you. Have they really read four of your scripts, told you were talented, and then only sent one script to one producer?

              I don't know how your writing compares to others or what stage of this game you are at, but it might not be a bad idea to either get a new rep who will be more aggressive in selling you, or you need to have a phone conversation/sit down with the rep, and ask them what their plans are for you? What is the point of sending out a script to one person? That just doesn't make any sense to me.

              Who is the rep? Feel free to PM me if you want to keep it private.

              EJ

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              • #8
                Re: Manager relationship question

                EJ: Sent you a PM.

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                • #9
                  Re: Manager relationship question

                  Side note - It's pretty common for the manager-writer relationship not to be bound by any written contract, so don't sweat that part. It's often to the writer's advantage.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Manager relationship question

                    The main questions are: Do you like him? Do you want him to be your manager? Do you trust his taste, hustle, and contacts?

                    Or are you just excited about the possibility of having ANY manager?

                    If you do think you can work with this guy, you should definitely clarify your relationship. I would say to him, straight up, "I'm going to keep shopping this around on my own. Is it okay if I include a line on my queries, 'If interested, So-and-so at Management Company X will send it to you'?"

                    (i.e., "Are we in a hip-pocket relationship or not?")

                    If he's not even willing to commit that far, then he really doesn't believe in you as a writer. Might be time to cut him loose.

                    But remember, the relationship is all in how you want to see it. Are you in the rep's hip-pocket? Or is he in yours?

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                    • #11
                      Re: Manager relationship question

                      Originally posted by Bunker View Post
                      I would say to him, straight up, "I'm going to keep shopping this around on my own. Is it okay if I include a line on my queries, 'If interested, So-and-so at Management Company X will send it to you'?"

                      (i.e., "Are we in a hip-pocket relationship or not?")

                      If he's not even willing to commit that far, then he really doesn't believe in you as a writer. Might be time to cut him loose.
                      This is a great idea. I'm going to do this. Thanks so much!

                      And thanks for all the replies thus far. They've all been really helpful. I wish I'd posted my concerns on this board a long time ago.

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                      • #12
                        Re: Manager relationship question

                        Originally posted by Bunker View Post
                        The main questions are: Do you like him? Do you want him to be your manager? Do you trust his taste, hustle, and contacts?
                        I actually do like him; I do trust his taste, but not sure about his hustle and contacts. I think he's spread way too thin, but maybe that's the case with all managers?

                        Originally posted by Bunker View Post
                        Or are you just excited about the possibility of having ANY manager?
                        Unqualified yes.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Manager relationship question

                          Maybe I'm naive, but if you've managed to get a producer interested in your script, why include the manager to whom you have no obligation? To give him 10% for nothing? And if the producer is interested and wants to buy/option it, wouldn't you easily find another manager then, more enthusiastic?

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                          • #14
                            Re: Manager relationship question

                            Originally posted by Bunker View Post
                            I would say to him, straight up, "I'm going to keep shopping this around on my own. Is it okay if I include a line on my queries, 'If interested, So-and-so at Management Company X will send it to you'?"

                            (i.e., "Are we in a hip-pocket relationship or not?")
                            So if you do this, then what is the point of having a manager? It's like hiring an agent to sell your house, and then you saying to the agent, "Hey, why don't I try and sell my home, while you don't sell it?"

                            That's ridiculous.

                            EJ

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                            • #15
                              Re: Manager relationship question

                              The fact that you're querying producers (while repped) isn't a good sign. This is the symptom of an underlying problem -- your manager isn't putting your material in the hands of people who are interested in it.
                              "Write every day. Don't quit. The rest is all bullshit." - Brian Koppelman

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