Formerly Repped

[Bono]

I've been formerly repped and others have too, so if I land a new rep, I'll have to debate do I tell them about my past life with my writing partner or pretend it never happened?

How do you balance saying "Look I'm legit" without bringing up, yeah I've been discovered before and it didn't work out...

Do you show them the 1-2 scripts you may still love, but have been seen by the town, so they can't do **** with them or just let them die?

I'm not sure I've seen this question asked.

So I was first repped in 2004... 2007 when a spec went wide with someone else... so that's a lot of years of failure and just not doing stuff too.

I'd tell someone else just focus on the new stuff, maybe mention had some specs go out in the past, so I know the game somewhat, but I'm still a newbie to the town.

It's tough. I'm probably like any job less desirable because I'm a used car... i mean pre-owned car.

[docgonzo]

I've been in that boat. Right now I'm on my fourth manager. Got my first one in 2007, maybe? Stuck with her two years. Second one same thing. Then I was without a rep from 2011-13. I stuck with number three for maybe four months, if that (he sucked). Went without again for another two years, but also at that time I started making a little noise. I got a legit contest win, hooked up with a producer and sent a few scripts out (got meetings, but that's it). Then in 2016 I landed my current manager. I've been with him almost three years, and honestly he's as attentive as he's always been.

Lesson of the story, your history doesn't matter. All that matters is the material you're putting out there. So my advice, don't sweat it. Write something new and make it killer. You've been repped before, you'll be repped again. Once you're ready, start hustling and try to land one by hook or by crook. F*ck the rest.

[GucciGhostXXX]

I agree with docgonzo. Fresh new meat. Reinvent.

I had just done a year (dumb) of development with a Rudin-type, and previously been with CAA. I thought that might matter. Good selling points? NOPE! No one cared. “What’s your NEW script? And do I love it?” That’s it.

Wow, for real, anything from my past is irrelevant? “Yup! Don’t give a fukk.”

Your past experience amounts to a quick blurb if anything, or don’t mention it. Too much experience and I suspect they’ll feel you’ve run your course and it didn’t WORK (Yup, pre-owed car = skeptical). I feel like working with a big producer and failing to get it made almost hurt me more than it helped me.

Yup, you been repped once, you’ll get repped again.

Good luck, brother!

[Bono]

Thanks.

Also my writing partner and I made money via an assignment with producers WME introduced us too, however, it was embarrassing then, but worse now as they are based in Russia. The jokes were funny before, now it's just scary...

[Bono]

So Doc -- did you mention your past to current manager at all? Or only as you got to know each other?

I did query in emails

BALL SACK -- COMEDY (FORMERLY REPPED BY WME....)

And I think that did get me some reads I wouldn't have gotten.

[GucciGhostXXX]

Originally Posted by Bono

So Doc -- did you mention your past to current manager at all? Or only as you got to know each other?

I did query in emails

BALL SACK -- COMEDY (FORMERLY REPPED BY WME....)

And I think that did get me some reads I wouldn't have gotten.

I mean this with all due respect. Since doc and I have the same manager...

I did mention it to him. He was like... honestly no one cares. Okay cool, I appreciate the candor, now I know what we’re working with. If it stings, fine, I just want to know the truth. I’d say he’s good at giving it to you straight with no B.S. I don’t think he mentions anything in my past when pitching me. I don’t think it matters to anyone.

This is meant to be a compliment.

[Bono]

I find comfort that no one cares. Seems easier to move forward. They shouldn't care. Maybe it doesn't matter as it's not like I had a hit movie in 1994 and haven't worked since. Maybe they would care more then about past. But since I didn't make it, they don't give a ****.

Funny you two have the same rep. Did you just find this out via this board or you knew that before?

Sounds like you got a good one and if he treats you both the same great.

[GucciGhostXXX]

Originally Posted by Bono

I find comfort that no one cares. Seems easier to move forward. They shouldn't care. Maybe it doesn't matter as it's not like I had a hit movie in 1994 and haven't worked since. Maybe they would care more then about past. But since I didn't make it, they don't give a ****.

Funny you two have the same rep. Did you just find this out via this board or you knew that before?

Sounds like you got a good one and if he treats you both the same great.

Yeah, I think that’s probably true: harder to reinvent if you’ve already had something MADE then “crapped out” after that vs never had anything made.

Actually, I learned we had the same manager by googling which led me here. I then reached out to doc via PM.

[docgonzo]

Originally Posted by GucciGhostXXX

I mean this with all due respect. Since doc and I have the same manager...

I did mention it to him. He was like... honestly no one cares. Okay cool, I appreciate the candor, now I know what we’re working with. If it stings, fine, I just want to know the truth. I’d say he’s good at giving it to you straight with no B.S. I don’t think he mentions anything in my past when pitching me. I don’t think it matters to anyone.

This is meant to be a compliment.

Like Bono, I used to worry about this. I don't know what changed, but now I just don't give a f*ck. GG's right that it's better to come in fresh no matter how long it's been than to fizzle out and try to rebuild.

I think I mentioned to my manager that I was repped before, and he was like cool. And that was that.

And if I ever received a query with the title BALL SACK, I'm clicking. LOL. I mean, you have to right? I don't think you need the "formerly repped" part.

[finalact4]

Originally Posted by docgonzo

Like Bono, I used to worry about this. I don't know what changed, but now I just don't give a f*ck. GG's right that it's better to come in fresh no matter how long it's been than to fizzle out and try to rebuild.

I think I mentioned to my manager that I was repped before, and he was like cool. And that was that.

And if I ever received a query with the title BALL SACK, I'm clicking. LOL. I mean, you have to right? I don't think you need the "formerly repped" part.

even i would click on that.