In order to maximize your chances of getting a sale or agent, you
should submit to prodCos as well as agents. An option (or better,
a sale) to a prodCo can often do wonders when it comes to finding
an agent. Almost any agent would be happy to take on a client (and
take his 10%) that's already done the legwork and found money for
his work. When sending query letters to prodCos, call ahead of
time and make sure you know how to spell the name of the person
you're sending it to, and what their exact title is. Screenplays
are read and considered by the Development (or Creative)
department. Just call the prodCo (contact info is listed in the
Hollywood Creative Directory) and ask the receptionist if they
accept new material... and if they do, to whom you should address
the letter, and what their title is.

You should NEVER send your script (or a treatment or anything
other than the query letter itself) unless the company first asks
for it. Legal reasons prevent companies from accepting or even
looking at material submitted without their express permission or
a pre-existing working relationship. At best, your script (or
treatment or whatever) will be returned to you unopened, or thrown
away. At worst, you'll be put on the company's blacklist and never
allowed to submit anything again. Just send a query letter... if
they want to read your script, they'll ask for it.

The best way to optimize your chances of getting an option or a
sale is to send it to as many people as possible. Agents, if they
like the script, will send it to the prodCos they have connections
with. prodCos, if they like the script, can pay you for your work,
or at least give you the clout to get an agent.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Why are only two registered with the WGA? If you are trying to market 3 you should register the 3. You probably should register them all in case you get some interest but they want to see additional work.

I'd also copyright them with the US copyright office to be doubly protected. Consider it insurance. You probably won't need it, but if you do, you'll really wish you'd gotten protection.

RJSchwarz

I was going to ask a very similar question. Do you need an agent to submit a screenplay to a major studio? Or for them to take you seriously?

I also wasn't quite clear on agents, either.
1) How do you know which ones are any good? I know not to touch any that make you pay something up front, but how do I know if they're actually going to do anything for me? Or if they have a good/prestigious reputation?
2) How should I go about snagging one? What are they going to want to see if I've not yet sold anything? I currently have a number of shorts, a feature on the table that I'll finish before attempting any of this, a pilot and a spec sitcom episode. Is that too much to much for a portfolio? Not enough?

If I were to sell a feature length script to a production company- what is a standard asking price?

I HIGHLY recommend anyone with these kinds of questions to IMMEDIATELY go to the website: http://www.wordplayer.com and read EVERY PAGE!!!!

Seriously.

You don't just "sell screenplays." The industry doesn't work that way.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

quote:

---

Originally posted by DaveD

I was going to ask a very similar question. Do you need an agent to submit a screenplay to a major studio? Or for them to take you seriously?

---

To submit to a major studio; yes, you need an agent.

quote:

---

I also wasn't quite clear on agents, either.
1) How do you know which ones are any good? I know not to touch any that make you pay something up front, but how do I know if they're actually going to do anything for me? Or if they have a good/prestigious reputation?

---

Other writers can tell you if their agents are any good. The WGA
has a list of signatory agents. The reality is agents don't really
do much for a new writer. They do not find work for you. You
still need to network and pitch and work hard to make the right
connections.

quote:

---

2) How should I go about snagging one? What are they going to want to see if I've not yet sold anything? I currently have a number of shorts, a feature on the table that I'll finish before attempting any of this, a pilot and a spec sitcom episode. Is that too much to much for a portfolio? Not enough?

---

One very important thing to remember is agents only earn money if
they sell the script. It's a business and their livelihood.

A writer with one script isn't going to be as desirable a client
as a writer with several scripts - no matter how good it is. That
doesn't mean you shouldn't try to find one now, it means you
should understand that if you get a meeting, one of the first
things an agent is going to ask is, "What else do you have?" If
you have a couple of great ideas, that isn't going to be as
impressive as pulling out five, really good finished scripts.

It's a very social business - referrals are extremely important
and can make it very difficult for a new writer. The best way to
get an agent is through a recommendation from someone in the biz,
preferably someone with credits. If youre out of the loop,
youll have to call the agencies and find out who might be looking
for new clients.

Since you don't have any screenplay sales under your belt, you're
going to have to approach an agent cold. Without being able to
say, "Hey, I've sold a script! Sign me.", you have to entice them
some other way. There are two ways to get somebody to read your
script. You can network and get to know them on a personal level,
then ask them to read your script as a favor. Networking, however,
can take years to cultivate the kind of relationship where an
agent is willing to do you the personal favor of considering your
script without it feeling like you're using him. Your other
option is to query. Send a letter to agents, asking them to read
your script. Since you don't have any sold or produced screenplays
under your belt, your letter has to convince them that your script
is worthwhile anyway.

quote:

---

If I were to sell a feature length script to a production company- what is a standard asking price?

---

The WGA has minimums the low is $58,477, the high is $109,783.
That's if you sell to a signatory company. Non signatory prodCo's
don't have to follow the WGA agreements so the "asking price" will
depend on dozens of actors. Could be as low as a few thousand to
close to the WGA minimums.

As Brian said, script are not usually sold, they are optioned for a
period of time. That number is often 3% to 8% of the asking price.

=============================================
The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress.
Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

Thanks for the responses to my question. I'm checking out the wordplay site right now, and plan to look up the Hollywood Creative Directory afterwards. Oh, and I plan on registering my 3 other scripts too!

Horror Vixen

Thanks for the suggestion of sending the script directly to a production company. I was thinking agents only.

Force Yourself

They best idea for selling a screenplay is to find any agent or any consultant.
Some screenwriting consultants help to market screenplay. Have you ever heard about ezscreenwriting which provides Screenwriting Consultant, UCLA Screenwriting Instructor, screenplay help, story consultant, how to write a script, how to write a movie and many more things? I think they may be helpful for you.

Hey,

in regards to getting your screenplay sold, this article might be useful http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/index.php?aid=2354

more specifically, if you want to learn how to pitch your script, this article could help http://www.raindance.co.uk/site/index.php?aid=2320

www.raindance.co.uk
Write*Produce*Direct*Film

You can aquire an Agent the same way you would approach a Production Company. Send a well written Query letter, most of the time written in same vane as the (Screenplay)SP. Be careful only send these to real agents. Look to the WGA for a list, or a Talent agency with a name. There are a ton of imposters out there. It is better to have more than one SP to send to an agent, but you should give direct attention to one screen play, after that mention the rest briefly. If you are lucky enough to be contacted back from an agent. The first screenplay will wet there appetite. If they like the first they will want the rest. If they ask for money to SCRIPTSHARK, or FILM DOCTOR your screenplays it's a bad talent agency. Most Talent agencies will ask for coverage(which is the same as ScriptSharking, but it's usually not paid for by the writer. It's paid by the writer as part of the Talent agent fees. So you pay only after the SP is sold.) I've had friends get sucked in. They paid to have all the screen plays editied, but then nothing came of it, and they were out hundreds of $$

So be careful

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