Referral for agent

[carlbrooks]

Hello,

This is just a general question for the future. Okay so some agencies do not like unsolicited material. They like you to be referred first by somebody. Now usually how does this happen? Let's say I have had a few short scripts in production and want to move the next level and try to be involved with features, do I ask the short script production companies to refer me?

Do they send an email to the agency saying I know so and so and I believe he is suitable for your agency because... Or do you tell the agency that a production company or somebody recommended me and here are their details. How does the link between the referrer and the agency usually work?


Thank you

 

[mattjanacone]

Script agents

This may be a bit of a surprise to you, but when I was ready to submit a query letter to an agent, I bought a reference called "Hollywood Screenwriting Directory", which doesn't list script agents but production companies. It made me ask the question: Do screenwriters really need agents?

The way I understand the book is that screenwriters should send their polished scripts directly to studio executives, not agents. But before you submit a script query to a studio, I strongly suggest you sent it in for script coverage first.

Here is an article I wrote about script coverage:

http://www.mattjanacone.blogspot.com/2014/11/cover-your-asswhen-is-your-script-ready.html

When your script is ready, I highly recommend sending your script to Screenplay Readers:

http://screenplayreaders.com/

Brian owns the script coverage firm. Tell him I, Matt Janacone, sent you.

Take care.

 

[directorik]

The owner of a prodCo can be a referrer.

Typically the referrer is a person known to the agency so if the owner of the
prodCo had a personal friend in the agency and knows you have the chops
that person would tell you to call and drop his name. The agent would then
contact their friend and do their due diligence.

"Unsolicited" doesn't always mean a personal referral. A writer can send a
letter in inquiry to the agent. If the agent wants to read the script they will
solicit it.