Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

[GucciGhostXXX]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Same... my opinion changes by the second. Don't hold me to ANY of my dumbass opinions.

[finalact4]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

I go back and forth on this. With Agents I'll send it to 6 people at one place at the same time, because the chances are so low.

Managers? Depending on size, I will do a few at a time. I mean **** it, what have you got to lose. Hustle it. Send it. Forget it. With the current landscape it's worse than ever. People to read, but not many, because they're so busy picking up the Agent slack.

I don't know if there is a right or wrong way. Just get your **** out there. Time's a wastin'.

BTW, my opinion may be different tomorrow.
FA4

[GucciGhostXXX]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

I was saying that the top managers may be more likely to say yes to a good writer they think they can develop versus junior manager who are looking for homerun clients. Now it can be opposite too with low level person being more willing to take a chance... but there is something to being the owner or partner and not afraid to make a decision.

The way great scripts can get bad coverage because if the lower level person recommends a spec their boss doesn't like they get more crap than just saying no to everything.

Gotcha.

Yeah, I think that sh!t is definitely going on. I'm not sure I've EVER had anything land on the lower level (which is why I prefer to try to avoid them now). I think that lesson cemented for me when my script did ZERO at Nicholl, yet it gets me signed to CAA and the producer from the Matrix is calling me from on set to offer me an assignment (Literally I could hear "Rolling!" in the bg and he's kinda whispering).

But, that's where it gets tricky. Truth is, my own agent didn't GET that script. I came in with dark family drama (Think: American beauty), 4 weeks later I have a gritty script (Think: Hell or High Water) dark/violent. Agent didn't get it, didn't want to take it out. My ex was like "Fukk that, I dig it, I'll take it out myself." So she did. It landed.

Two points here:

1) Agents (etc) have highly different tastes. My agent saw me as the Dark-Emotional-Drama guy. Agent was kinda shocked by that script (how does he go from THIS to THAT?? Does not compute). My ex knew me, knew I had layers. She likes dark sh!t, perfectly fine with fukked up violence, so long as it's smartly written (TIP: If you're gonna submit to her, your best bet is if it has some kind of fukked up element to it).

2) Having someone higher up the food chain take your sh!t out can get you DIRECT reads from the BOSS. But! If you land someone with that prowess who has those high level relationships whereby dealing with the higher ups direct (i.e. can call anyone), will they actually work for you? Or is it better to go with someone newer who is hungry to hustle, but who cannot call anyone, and struggles to be heard through the noise with even lower level exes... and who plain do NOT have direct relationships with the higher ups?

Idk that answer. It's a crap shoot. This sh!t's a mindfukk.

[Bono]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

I was saying that the top managers may be more likely to say yes to a good writer they think they can develop versus junior manager who are looking for homerun clients. Now it can be opposite too with low level person being more willing to take a chance... but there is something to being the owner or partner and not afraid to make a decision.

The way great scripts can get bad coverage because if the lower level person recommends a spec their boss doesn’t like they get more crap than just saying no to everything.

[GucciGhostXXX]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Give it some time, but it's amazing how sometimes the top guys or gals can get something and the junior manager is more nervous to sign people. So the lower people can work against you too...

I really would love to know the answer to this btw.... when anyone interviews a rep how that works. Because at agencies they all seem to work like ants together and I can't even tell how much they care about 1 client when so many of them share.

Isn't it similar to what they're looking for? *Someone who you can imagine having a relationship with for several years?*

I'd say it's also...

Who has what sounds to you like the best strategy moving forward.

Who is most excited about your work.

Who's made the most sales lately.

Who's confident they can get you in rooms.

Who wants to go out with THIS script not the NEXT ONE.

Etc...

How many boxes does each rep tick?

Or did I misunderstand your question?

[Bono]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Give it some time, but it's amazing how sometimes the top guys or gals can get something and the junior manager is more nervous to sign people. So the lower people can work against you too...

I really would love to know the answer to this btw.... when anyone interviews a rep how that works. Because at agencies they all seem to work like ants together and I can't even tell how much they care about 1 client when so many of them share.

[Lahlowen]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Thanks, Lahlowen, for sharing your experience.

Just to add a coda to my original post: After discussing my situation with a couple members via DM, I decided to not contact other managers at that particular company. The company is well-known, but small (i.e., it has only a handful of managers). Being turned down by one manager this time, and then immediately approaching that manager's colleague could be perceived as disrespectful, even if I mean no disrespect.

Since I'm new to all this, and like many here, playing the long game, I'd rather play it safe in this situation, and take calculated risks in others.

I *do* plan to re-approach that small company. When I do, I might even contact a different manager there. But for now... laying low.

Nothing at all wrong with giving it a breather and circling back later, yep. Sounds like a good plan.

[ZAZluvr]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Thanks, Lahlowen, for sharing your experience.

Just to add a coda to my original post: After discussing my situation with a couple members via DM, I decided to not contact other managers at that particular company. The company is well-known, but small (i.e., it has only a handful of managers). Being turned down by one manager this time, and then immediately approaching that manager's colleague could be perceived as disrespectful, even if I mean no disrespect.

Since I'm new to all this, and like many here, playing the long game, I'd rather play it safe in this situation, and take calculated risks in others.

I *do* plan to re-approach that small company. When I do, I might even contact a different manager there. But for now... laying low.

[Lahlowen]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

I say query the other managers at any company. I did that and got signed FYI.

Same. Sent a query about the same script to two managers at a top firm. One responded instantly requesting to read it, and asked to rep me three days later after reading two of my scripts and loving both. Ironically, the other manager's assistant responded the next day requesting to read that first script as well, lol. By then I was already with their firm though, so...

[ZAZluvr]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Thanks to all who contributed their thoughts! Very much appreciated. Onward!

[GucciGhostXXX]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

They did their job. Proved TO YOU that you are a good writer -- I think doing well in those contests can validate you that way, but yes the scripts merit and how far they go or you go --- is up to you.

Yup! Now's the time to hustle!

[finalact4]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Thank you, FA4!

One script made the quarterfinals at Nicholl, which was a first for me. Of course, I queried like mad after that, and am still doing so even though the finalists have been announced. (This same script went nowhere at Austin, so there's that whole subjectivity thing rearing it's head.)

The other script made the top 10% at Nicholl and 2nd Round at Austin. Certainly not the upper echelon, but it was at least *something* to include in a query.

Thanks for your perspective on querying vs. read rate. Eight queries and two read requests sounds enviable, especially given the current climate. Based on all I've read on DDP, I keep my expectations low, try as hard as I can, and when I fail, try again. Good luck with those reads you got. Hopefully no ghosting.

congratulations. and you're right subjectivity is a bitch.

keep keepin on...

[Bono]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

They did their job. Proved TO YOU that you are a good writer -- I think doing well in those contests can validate you that way, but yes the scripts merit and how far they go or you go --- is up to you.

[ZAZluvr]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Word.

Thanks, Gucci.

[GucciGhostXXX]

Re: Opinion Needed About Querying Managers at the Same Company

Don't let your contest scores deter you! EVER!

Again, my scripts (fukkin 2 of them) that didn't make it past 1st round in Nicholl got me signed at CAA and an offer from a Matrix producer to write something for him (I'll be honest so you see what I mean).

Do NOT let these contests determine your VALUE! They are often DEAD FUKKING WRONG! about what Hollywood wants.