Looking For Representation

[Mishelle]

Where is the best and the cheapest location to post a logline? I completed my script, Sci Fi/Horror/Zombies, and am looking for representation and/or option. My script is registered and copywritten. What I have found so far are several sites that make you wonder if the universe is shrinking, so I'm guessing I'm looking in all the wrong places. Does anyone have a suggestion?

[odocoileus]

http://home.earthlink.net/~kullervo/id5.html

The Script Is Finished, Now What Do I Do? (http://www.swedenpress.com/writer.htm)

[clockwork]

Hi Mischelle,

Check out the screenwriting tips (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24087) sticky thread, specificially post #3 (prodcos, agents, managers), which might give you a nudge in the right direction, who knows. Folks hereabouts have all kinds of experiences, hopefully they'll also weigh in with what worked or didn't work for them.

We also have a Screenwriting forum (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=60) in our Share Your Work area (password = vista) where you can post material (loglines, script pages) for feedback.

[Mishelle]

I'll check them out. This helps quite a bit. Has anyone dealt with an agency called Screenplay Writers Agency? Their site looked a little iffy, but I was curious about them.

[clockwork]

Yeah, one to avoid. I believe it falls into the same group as all of the following...

Strategic Book Publishing (www.StrategicBookPublishing.com), is part of the Strategic Publishing Group, which also consists of:

The Global Book Agency (www.theglobalbookagency.com)

Eloquent Books (www.eloquentbooks.com)

Strategic Book Marketing (www.StrategicBookMarketing.com)

Strategic Book Agency
--Childrens Book Publishing Agency (http://www.childrensbookpublishingagency.com)
--Writers Book Publishing Agency (http://writersbookpublishingagency.com)
--Screenplay Writers Agency (http://www.screenplaywritersagency.com)
--The Screenplay Agency (www.thescreenplayagency.com)
--Poetry Book Publishing Agency (http://www.poetrybookpublishingagency.com/)

All of which share the same basic website and are on Absolute Write's Writer Beware's 20 Worst Agents (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=525728&postcount=1) list.

Read more at the Bewares and Background Check (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22) board or by using the "Search" function at the top of every page to type in an agency you're unsure of.

[nmstevens]

Where is the best and the cheapest location to post a logline? I completed my script, Sci Fi/Horror/Zombies, and am looking for representation and/or option. My script is registered and copywritten. What I have found so far are several sites that make you wonder if the universe is shrinking, so I'm guessing I'm looking in all the wrong places. Does anyone have a suggestion?


This question, and variations on it, came up so often on another news group in which I participate (and has come up here, around four or five times since I've shown up) that I wrote a rather lengthy response that made it into the FAQ.

I've posted the link to that reply previously, and so I'll post it again here:

http://www.panix.com/~mwsm/nms_faq.html

NMS

[Mystery Man]

Why do something as passive as post a logline on the internet when you could be proactive with your career and actually call agents? The agent you want isn't going to be trawling the internet for clients.

[velveeta]

I received the best advice a few years ago-"Do everything to get your polished script out there." Email, call, fax, post a logline or use an e-query service. Use whatever resources available (dependent, of course on your financial resources.) Are there pitfalls to every possible outreach? Yep. Your email can go directly into the junk mail folder. Your fax into the trash. You may spend your hard earned money to post a logline that doesn't get much attention or gets the attention of someone who doesn't have the juice to get a movie made. Your e-query service email may get instantly deleted. You may never talk to an agent or manager when you cold call.

The thing is all of the above has worked for someone.

One other piece of unsolicited advice: think really hard before you turn down an opportunity.

Three years ago, I had used an e-query service and was contacted by a manager who was just starting out. He read the script and offered to represent me. He had no sales and few connections in the business so I decided to wait and find someone with a track record. Three months later, the manager sold a script for 250k against 500k. My script sits in a drawer. Would he have sold it? Probably not--the execution isn't where it should be. I'm not saying sign with anyone who calls or email but the lack of a track record shouldn't always exclude a possible rep. Ask for a 30 day out clause.

Okay, I'll climb off my soap box. I feel better. As you were.
Vel