Unrepresented writers seeking agents

"My vision is an agency for only unrepresented writers"

So as soon as you get signed, they kick you out? ;-)

Actually eric, you need a license to be an agent. But no license is required to be a manager. So that's pretty much what you'd be if you did this. Of course, you wouldn't legally be allowed to negotiate contracts. If anybody took an interest in purchasing or optioning a script, the writer would then have to hire an entertainment attorney or sign with an agent. But that shouldn't be much of a problem at that point.

And just so you know, there's HUNDREDS if not THOUSANDS of managers out there. Mainly because anybody can callo themselves a manager since no license is required. But most of these countless managers have never sold anything. But if you have some serious contacts and are willing and able to screen large numbers of scripts, then you stand a chance of success.

So best of luck!

Gary

"Many Prod Co's will take material from an agency whether it is WGA signatory or not as long as they know the script has been vetted and the company bringing it to them brings good material."

That's also a major sticking point. How is a prodco going to know the agency brings good material if they've never heard of the agency?

And then you'd have to live up to it - the scripts would have to be at least "pretty good".

And unrepresented pretty good scripts are less common than you think.

From what I've heard, producers will only take submissions from agents known to them. Some are open to referrals from other people they know.

Eric:

If it won't get you into trouble I think you are better off sticking with your idea of selling a mailing list. I have been thinking about contacting you myself. You need to get a service like paypal so you don't have worry about billing or bounced checks. Take the money from your early sales and put it back into the company buying advertising on screenwriting sites.

Develop a mass mailing list and send the scripts out yourself. That way folks have to pay you every time they send out a script. Don't offer any guarantees. Instead offer some folks your services in exchange for testimonies if they get results. Keep everything as simple as possible.

It seems like a good plan. You'll hit speedbumps. I think JC Spink (Benderspink) started more or less the same way. Given their example, you might want to consider taking on a full and equal partner.

I'd sign up. I was a perennial semi-finalist here at AS, but have no representation and don't know how to go about finding it, either. As you mentioned, most agents will not accept unsolicited material.

You can download my script; I still haven't removed it from AS. If it interests you, drop me a StudioMail.

Suzanne, if you go to donedealpro.com and look through the forums (it is free), anything you'll ever want to know about anything in the industry can be found there. And if you don't find it, someone can answer it.

many companies complain that they get a ton of bad scripts from agents and managers. this is one reason why they won't bother with writers who haven't even proved themselves worthy of getting an agent yet. not saying these writers write crap... b/c i am one of them, but i really haven't tried hard to get an agent.

the Nicholl got over 7000 scripts this year. i'm guessing at least 6000 of those are from writers with no agent or manager. that's a staggering number of scripts to go through. do you think you and a few interns would really want to read all that? and i don't most interns could really pick out the great from the good.

most production companies are very specific with what they're looking for. they plan every year what their slate of films will be. so even if a script is great if it doesn't work for their plan then they won't take it on. you have to be someone "in the know" to really be effective with sending out the right scripts. this is why many managers and agents are genre specific. one might know how to sell teen horror flicks, but they have no idea how to sell a drama. your idea of selecting 5 scripts in different genres is too dreamy... and a red flag that you really don't know what you're doing.

just having a relative in the business is not enough. and if you screw up enough they might disown you and stop inviting you to the bbq's b/c you won't shut up about some stupid script or five.

good idea. i think script shadow has the perfect formula. help the writer write the best script and then call a "real" agent to start a bidding war.

@eric

i think your heart is in the right place. the best represntation gets "sold' and not always the best script.