Major Prodco Exec requested script but need agent or manager

[ChristopherCurtis]

Originally Posted by SoCalScribe

I don't think anyone's accusing you of being in that situation. Most of us (I think) are responding to the exec's response, not accusing you of handling the situation unprofessionally. I wanted to make that clear because I think everyone here is trying to help you rather than accuse you of being a newbie or somehow behaving inappropriately.




Yeah, that's pretty much exactly how it goes sometimes. Most execs even use their work email in that situation.




This part isn't. "Protocol" and "strict company policy" are systems in place to prevent or curtail unsolicited submissions. Believe me when I say that no one in a position of creative authority in this industry would keep his or her job for long if they refused to read a great script because it didn't follow a rigid and inflexible submission process. Maybe there's a submission release to sign along the way, but if it's a great script, that's all that matters.




Creative execs are lauded for finding great material, not slapped on the wrist for failing to follow a rigid submission policy. Here's the important part, though... if you're being told that there's a strict submission policy in place or that they'd love to read it but their hands are tied... it's all a polite way of saying, "I don't want to read your script." If they did want to read it, they would have asked to read it. There is no company policy anywhere in the industry that says, "If you come across a script that catches your interest, you can't read it."




Having a manager or agent is irrelevant if it's a great script. People in the industry make deals with writers all the time regardless of whether they have reps, are guild members, etc. It's all about the quality of the script. If you've written a great script, it doesn't matter to them whether you pay a rep 10% or not.




Bingo.




You had it 100% right a minute ago. If he really wanted to read it, he could. If he really wanted to refer you to someone who could submit it on your behalf, he could. But he didn't. Don't rationalize the situation by thinking he doesn't have time or it's just because he has to follow some arbitrary submission procedure. You had it right the first time. If this guy "REALLLLLY wanted to read it," he could. But he didn't ask to read it, nor did he refer you to a manager, or offer any special consideration other than "submit it just like everyone else." That's a pass.




Just out of curiosity... if your partner is a seasoned, optioned, produced working writer... does she have a rep that can submit it for you?


I don't want to (and hope I don't) come off as particularly harsh or combative, but I see the direction this train of thought is headed in. Believe me... I've been there on both sides of the table. Regardless of the circumstances of the meeting, the bottom line is that this guy heard your script premise and had a chance to say "send me your script." He didn't. Instead of saying, "Send me your script," he said, "Submit it through proper channels." That's a pass. You can justify it by saying it's punting, or that he's just a guy following company protocol, or that he's an exec who's probably very busy and can't read it right now... but the honest truth is that if he's not saying, "Yes, send it to me," he's saying "no." There are a million nice ways to say "no" to someone (and I've even used the 'strict policy' and 'I'm very busy right now' excuses myself on occasion)... but it's still a no.

If you truly believe this script is right for this company, then do what you have to do to submit it through "proper channels." Heck, why not try to find an actual manager or rep rather than someone who will just submit this one project for you? Just please understand that you don't have any special "in" with this executive or this company, so don't go out of your way to parse his response looking for underlying meaning. He didn't bite when he had the chance; it's as simple as that.

Best of luck to you and your partner on your writing endeavors!

hey Socal, thanks as always for your valued feedback and insight. My partner DOES, or should I say DID have an agent and manager, however, but for reasons I am not privvy too, she parted ways. Yes, parted ways. That means she wasn't happy with them, or vice versa. So, we are trying to start fresh here with our script, find a manager first, which hopefully would lead to an agent. BUT, it all starts with the damned read! right?

can't get a manager if they don't read it and like your work, cant get an agent unless THEY read it and like it and want you as a client. You can't send unsolicited material to these agents (well at least the big guys), sooooooo, you're left with getting an "in" somehow from someone who DOES read it and champions it for you, or at least takes steps and effort to move it along the process by sending, recommending, to others.

the mission continues.....

[ChristopherCurtis]

Got all the info I needed, thanks everyone.

Just know that I'm not laying in bed at night tossing and turning, sweating bullets, banging my head against the wall over this "request". I really do get it, but I wanted to get some more feedback, and insight from you all. Kind of a reality check.

I'm also re-energized now, back on my marketing/promo horse, and after all, its "Christmas in July", how appropriate!

[michaelb]

I'd have just paid more attention to post #2 and called it a day.

[ChristopherCurtis]

Originally Posted by michaelb

I'd have just paid more attention to post #2 and called it a day.

Yea, its just weird because I could have sworn over the years I've read so many posts that say "dude! are you crazy??!! you can't just submit your script to someone at a major production studio, they have policy, procedures, rules and protocol to follow. they get sued all the time by people. Nobody is going to just read your script off the cuff without the proper paperwork at the minimum. ESPECIALLY at a major major like Disney, Dreamworks, Sony Pictures or Bad Robot. Not gonna happen. You need an agent or manager to do that for you.


but, hey, whattaya gonna do other than keep moving forward I guess....

[EdFury]

Originally Posted by ChristopherCurtis

Yea, its just weird because I could have sworn over the years I've read so many posts that say "dude! are you crazy??!! you can't just submit your script to someone at a major production studio, they have policy, procedures, rules and protocol to follow. they get sued all the time by people. Nobody is going to just read your script off the cuff without the proper paperwork at the minimum. ESPECIALLY at a major major like Disney, Dreamworks, Sony Pictures or Bad Robot. Not gonna happen. You need an agent or manager to do that for you.

Your statement is true... except when you get to network live and pitch. BIG DIFFERENCE between sending cold and a live pitch. The man let you pitch. That's something. Then they can say Yes or No. And, unfortunately, most of the time instead of plainly saying NO in that situation, they say no in the way they did to you.

[MJ Scribe]

After having read alot here (even before posting for the first time) I can recall distinctly some folks mentioning they've been read off a cold query to some heavyweight agencies. But I also remember they cautioned it's rare, and the material has to be stellar. But it happens. I even remember one mentioning calling on the phone and getting thru...

Archived threads on these issues go way back. With some crafty searches or just scanning the old threads, you'll see it. Especially in this Agents, Lawyers & Manager section.

Good luck!!

[speedyreader310]

I'm surprised at the number of people who think this is a pass...

Hard to tell what's going on. Could be someone who's newly promoted and hasn't learned to slip things through. Could be someone whose company is lawsuit paranoid and really does have an ironfast no unsolicited submissions policy. Could be this is his way of passing. All production execs deal with managers and agents on a daily basis. Ask him if there's anyone he recommends and and see if he will introduce you. If he really likes your pitch, he'll recommend you. If he skirts your question or doesn't answer, it's a pass.

[ChristopherCurtis]

Originally Posted by speedyreader310

I'm surprised at the number of people who think this is a pass...

Hard to tell what's going on. Could be someone who's newly promoted and hasn't learned to slip things through. Could be someone whose company is lawsuit paranoid and really does have an ironfast no unsolicited submissions policy. Could be this is his way of passing. All production execs deal with managers and agents on a daily basis. Ask him if there's anyone he recommends and and see if he will introduce you. If he really likes your pitch, he'll recommend you. If he skirts your question or doesn't answer, it's a pass.

If you look above, it IS one of those 4 I listed, so, they do have pretty strict policy. I also think another part of is, hypothetically he loves it. I think it looks better for him and his cred if he has an agent or at least a manager to defer to when pitching it to his boss.

So anyway, the other part of this is I was not the one who pitched, I don't think she even "pitched" him, they just had a great time, and bonded/connected/ with each other over that weekend, and through that of getting to know each other, she brought up our script and they took it from there.

I'll be happy to keep yall posted and updated, thank again for all the feedback.

[Levenger]

Agree with pretty much everybody, before I had reps I had execs read stuff I pitched them throughout the course of my networking/party whoring. In that time I'd also gotten a couple "Oh we'd need an agent to send it over." Which, seeing as I had probably mentioned I was unrepped, I took as a polite pass.

The policies are in place to deal with the teeming masses who want to jam their script down the throats of anybody they can find. I may be wrong, but I'd imagine a good exec would not only not be reprimanded for finding a "diamond in the rough" unrepresented script, but would probably be lauded for getting outside the system and finding a script from a new voice.

The only time I've ever heard "have your manager/agent send it over" now are because whoever it is knows or has worked with the respective rep before, and maybe they'd rather deal with them than me personally, but it's not for any sort of legal or policy-related reason.

[ChristopherCurtis]

Well we just made it to the quarter finals if the Page Awards, that's the top 10%, now if we can just make the semis or win!! Could help us with a lil bump of buzzy-ness ??



http://pageawards.com/past-winners/2...ter-finalists/