Just signed on, & like what I see.

[lblack]

This site is great! I wish I had known about this site years ago. Looking forward to chatting with you. I have a script I just completed, and I have a question. Is it better to go with an agent, or fly solo? I am leaning heavily towards the latter, but I thought I would cover my bases.

[dpaterso]

Welcome to the board.

I don't know the answer from experience, but I'm good at repeating what others have said previously! :)

Agents really want to find writing talent who can consistently produce sellable material. If you only have one script then you might have problems when they ask, "What else have you got?"

Querying prodcos directly might be a better bet. (Assumption: you're gonna rewrite the hell out of that script until it shines!)

If you haven't already, you might want to check out the screenwriting tips (http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24087) thread which lists potential contact links/suggestions for agents, managers, prodcos & contests (in post #3, I think).

-Derek

[lblack]

Thanks for the link, Derek. By the way, I visited Kenloss (spelling?), and loved it. I want to go back! I have numerous scripts hand written, just not typed up. The large majority of those, are partials. I just didn't like the direction they were going, and stopped. I am way too critical, I know, but I want what I do to be good, not mediocre.

[Mumut]

Welcome, lblack. I have one script finished and well worked over and one written but needing work to bring it up to any sort of stndard. I'm pretty sure that when I've written a few more, I'll need an agent. Living in Australia will probably be a disadvantage otherwise. So best of luck finding representation.

[lblack]

I'm still not sold on the agent thing. I think I could do a better job of selling my material to a producer. The way I figure it, if it's good, they'll want to meet with me. If they want to meet with me, then, they liked my script. I figure a good script will sell itself...true?

[icerose]

I'm still not sold on the agent thing. I think I could do a better job of selling my material to a producer. The way I figure it, if it's good, they'll want to meet with me. If they want to meet with me, then, they liked my script. I figure a good script will sell itself...true?

Welcome to the boards. Ideally this would be so but the industry has closed considerably in the past 30-40 years, partially due to writers acting psychotic. Prodco's and actors have put up brick walls to writers because writers tend to spas out if someone doesn't believe their writing is perfect, or go stalkerish to try and get their material read.

Most prodco's you cannot get to on your own. There is a site called scriptpimp that opens up quite a few via their membership and has massive listings and what they're looking for. However, you have to pay for membership.

Agents can also get you hired for gigs you wouldn't otherwise have access to. Furthermore agents can negotiate and they known good terms from bad terms on contracts.

If you ever do get a sale without an agent, hire an entertainment lawyer (not a realestate attorney or a divorce attorney or a contract attorney, an entertainment lawyer) who can then somewhat negotiate and tell you which terms are going to screw you over and whether or not to sign. They can be pricey, and sometimes an arts council will help hook you up with a pro-bono one.

Anyway, welcome and goodluck.

[killbox]

I'm still not sold on the agent thing. I think I could do a better job of selling my material to a producer. The way I figure it, if it's good, they'll want to meet with me. If they want to meet with me, then, they liked my script. I figure a good script will sell itself...true?

Thats endlessly debateable. I have seen people come to blows over that topic. You are mostly right, a good script will get noticed. You are also right, you can get a lot accomplished without a manager or agent. A select few Hollywood writers have survived without one or both.

But its not the norm.

Just in example- you could submit your logline to a Prod Co owned by an Actor your interested in. Most of the time your answer will be:

"Thank you for your recent email regarding your script. I am sorry to say we have been advised for legal reasons not to accept unsolicited scripts, therefore we are unable to forward your script to ----------. If in the future you set this up with a bona fide production company you are more than welcome to resubmit your script."

Thats assuming they even respond to an unsolicited e-mail or letter.


Also, a good agent or manager will be well connected in the industry and that changes everything...

Welcome to the boards!

[lblack]

Thank you all for the welcome, I think I'm gonna like it here. I do appreciate the feedback. I can see that I have some thinking to do on the matter. ;P

[curious1980]

Hello. Hope everything works out for you. I'm just as new as you are. Hopefully, we can both learn something by being on here.

Regarding your question, I think either way is going to be difficult. It's hard now days to get someone to take a look at your work (especially if you aren't a little successful). Most people don't have the time and others are drowning in scripts to the point where they can't see over them. Eventually, your stuff will be read but who's to say that they'll like it. Either way it goes...it's a pounding pavement, banging on doors process. An agent can make things easier...but that doesn't mean sit back and let the calls roll in. You still have to make connections on your own. Hope I helped. Once again good luck.