Sensible marketing or double dealing?

[RachelD4]

I’m looking for some guidance on a TV script I wrote recently.

The good news is that I signed with a film agent who assures me discussions are ongoing with a producer to make a pilot. However, I'm still waiting & it’s getting more & more difficult to keep the faith, particularly given that this would be my first deal.

So my question is - should I sit tight & wait patiently with all my eggs in one basket or else try & sell it elsewhere? As it happens there were a few agents interested when I distributed the script initially.

I'd really appreciate any advice on this.

Regards

RachelD4

PS. My contract with my agent is worldwide but can be cancelled by giving 30 days notice.

[wordmonkey]

Go write something else.

The chances of a new TV show getting made is so staggeringly slim, that you're way ahead of the game already. And even if things roll well, you could even get it to a produced pilot and that never sees the light of day.

My advice, write something else so whatever happens to this project, good or bad, you have something else that the agent can latch on to.

In some ways, it's just a numbers game. And the more work you have out there, the more chance you have of selling something and getting the success you want.

[xhouseboy]

I’m looking for some guidance on a TV script I wrote recently.

The good news is that I signed with a film agent who assures me discussions are ongoing with a producer to make a pilot. However, I'm still waiting & it’s getting more & more difficult to keep the faith, particularly given that this would be my first deal.

So my question is - should I sit tight & wait patiently with all my eggs in one basket or else try & sell it elsewhere? As it happens there were a few agents interested when I distributed the script initially.

I'd really appreciate any advice on this.

Regards

RachelD4

PS. My contract with my agent is worldwide but can be cancelled by giving 30 days notice.

You mention you wrote this pilot only recently. Established TV writers within the industry are commissioned to write pilots, even second and third eps, and can then wait a year, perhaps even two years, as producers attempt to put the entire package together.

In the meantime, they get on with their writing. I've known some projects take 4/5 years from initial commission to production.

Personally, and if your agent is well established, I'd sit it out and let him/her deal with the nuts and bolts side.

ETA: You mention that you signed with this film agent with a 30 day get-out clause. I'm assuming no money changed hands re your contract.

[clockwork]

I’m looking for some guidance on a TV script I wrote recently.

The good news is that I signed with a film agent who assures me discussions are ongoing with a producer to make a pilot. However, I'm still waiting & it’s getting more & more difficult to keep the faith, particularly given that this would be my first deal.

So my question is - should I sit tight & wait patiently with all my eggs in one basket or else try & sell it elsewhere? As it happens there were a few agents interested when I distributed the script initially.

I'd really appreciate any advice on this.

Regards

RachelD4

PS. My contract with my agent is worldwide but can be cancelled by giving 30 days notice.

If everything is as you say it is and your agent is worth his salt at all, he should be telling you to sit tight and let them hammer it out. Negotiations like this can take absolutely forever with no real guarantee of how quick or how efficiently it'll all go down. How long have they had it?

EDIT - D'oh! Didn't see the other posts and replies. Dpat may merge/delete as appropriate.

[RainbowDragon]

What's the harm in giving it time? If it doesn't work out you can always try elsewhere later. As writers we want to sell our work right away, but producers generally aren't in a hurry to buy, so the advice above to work on the next project is sound. Or if you're really into the pilot but it's all written and revised, plot out tentative story lines for the first 5+ seasons while waiting :)

[English Dave]

Don't know how long 'ongoing discussions' are but I'll assume weeks rather than months?

I also assume you chose to go with this particular agent when others are interested, for a reason?

'Ongoing discussions' with whom? If you don't know that then change agents. If you do then sit tight and wait.

[RachelD4]

Thank you one & all for replying so quickly. I feel a lot better but also a bit sheepish. Yes - its only been a few weeks & my agent has been giving me the same excellent advice as you guys - wait & write something else. Thanks a million.
RachelD4