Lost in the maze...

[VanceVanCleaf]

Hello my fellow writers...

I've started my query campaign and I have to admit, I'm lost in the maze of production companies... I used IMDBPro and tried to find companies who have produced Action/Drama/Thriller stuff the last 10 years. Sadly, I can't find a search option for that in IMDBPro (Am I too stupid? Please tell me...). So for now I picked some companies "looking interesting" at random, and others looking up respective movies. Very often I end up with "does not accept unsolicited material".

So honestly, I've written my 15 queries and already don't know whom to take next. How do you work and check this up? Is there any search on IMDBPro?

Sorry for the question....

[MargoChanning]

Well for starters, here's a link that may help you:

http://www.imdb.com/list/B9yYXbHsluI/

imdb list of the top 20 action flicks in the last ten years. If you don't know the movies offhand, just google your category and something will come up — just like this did. Then look up the prodcos.

You're not "stupid." You just need to work harder — and think broader, when you're searching for info.

Hope that helps.

[Done Deal Pro]

Originally Posted by VanceVanCleaf

Sadly, I can't find a search option for that in IMDBPro (Am I too stupid? Please tell me...). So for now I picked some companies "looking interesting" at random, and others looking up respective movies. Very often I end up with "does not accept unsolicited material".

This isn't actually a plug, but our search page on the main site (as part of a subscription) let's you do really advanced searches via genre, title, writer, company names, reps names, type of material, etc. You can go to our FAQ page and find a screenshot of our advanced search page via the "search for all the projects" link under Q/A number 3.

And you will see a number of companies, pretty much on any site or list you look at, that say "no unsolicited materials." This really means don't just send them your script without a request first. It doesn't mean they can't or won't accept a query from you. If your query letter & logline are really great they can make exceptions -- companies I've worked for have. Most companies though receive a lot of very bad query letters and basically hide behind the "no unsolicited" sign, to avoid dealing with you. It's a polite brush off.

[VanceVanCleaf]

THANK YOU!

(Concerning the last advice, this was exactly what I wanted to ask next - so thank you! I'll send some queries to the "no-unsolicited material"'s too )

[VanceVanCleaf]

@smcguinn: Thank you, looked it up - and ended (like in my own similar research) with prodco's Universal, Warner, 20th cent. Fox, who either don't have any contact sheet at all, don't take any new stuff etc - in short: I'm not in a position to get a query through to such big ones. (And I understand that policy).

...

Considered my dwindling finances, I can't afford to subscribe in another place to get some information.

....

Well... okay, I think I'll stop with all this. Problem is, I don't know what to do with my life when I don't write. But thats not your prob, so I'm gone now

[Racoon]

When I use imbd I go under the movies that are in preproduction or production and get emails from those first. Then I just go through the production comapany lists one at a time copying them down unless they have only done thing that are really low budget (under 50 thousand) then I just start pitching.

I've gotten my share of dont accept but I also got a lot of reads and nice repspones telling me they are looking for something different. It takes time and patience to go through the lists but it will pay off.

Racoon

[VanceVanCleaf]

I'll give it a try, Racoon =) Thanks