HOW • TO • GET • AN • AGENT |
What Agents Want (and Don’t Want) to See
By Elizabeth English*
First, call or write to literary agents who are listed as being willing to look at unsolicited screenplays. Do not send a script unless you are invited to do so!
How to find listed agents:
- The Hollywood Creative Directory’s Agent/Management directory
- Writers Digest
- Writers Guild of America (East & West)
Guidelines for getting an agent:
- Write killer titles, loglines and one-sheet synopses for the all the scripts you want to submit to agents.
- Write up a one-sheet document with titles and loglines of all your completed screenplays. You may be asked to send these before sending in a screenplay.
- Presentation of script: be sure to have a plain cardstock cover, front and back; a title page with all your contact info; three-hole punch white paper; two solid-brass brads in the top and bottom hole.
- “Attachments”, in the form of actors, director, producer, and most importantly: money, to your project, will always help get almost any agent interested. Mention this, if applicable, in your cover letter. These days, however, most agents only want to see submissions as attachments via email. Be sure to have a great cover letter with your contact info and with the script attachment.
- Have more than one screenplay completed. At least three of your best screenplays need to be ready to go, when and if requested.
- In your initial phone call or e-mail, try to find out what genre of story that agent is looking for, at the moment. Agents generally know exactly what the buyers want to see, and will usually only request those genres. But needs change all the time, and at a moment’s notice, so let them know what you have, even if they’re not looking for that at the time of your call.
- Story: This is the first thing agents look at, when considering whether to read your script or not. Unique story, well-told.
- Writing ability and style. Everything depends on this.
- Dialog: your ability to write good, memorable and believable dialog is paramount.
- Format and structure: in submitting your work to an agent, you should be sure the script is in proper format and structure. There are many books and online articles on these vital subjects. Edit every word of the script with a fine-toothed comb, and correct all spelling, punctuation and syntax errors.
- Budget: yes, a screenwriter needs to know about this. Many buyers are looking for specific subjects with very specific production budgets. Currently, a low-budget feature film will be $10-20 million, for example. If your script requires action scenes and/or CGI graphics, double that figure.
- If you know The Business at all, make the agent aware of this, so he or she will know you are a professional.
- Let the prospective agent know you are open to re-writes and edits of your scripts. You will almost always be asked to do re-writes, sometimes “on spec”, so prepare yourself mentally and be agreeable to it.
- Be willing and able to pitch your screenplay to production companies and studios, with the agent, in person. If you live far from L.A., let the agent know you can arrange to go there for pitching appointments.
- Be friendly and easy-going, yet professional and self-confident. Hollywood, even though it’s a “snake-pit” at times, is run on connections and contacts. If they don’t like you, and don’t feel they can work with you, you don’t have a chance there.
- Be honest! Never, ever hype yourself or your script unless the information is absolutely provable. If you’ve won a contest with your script, let them know. And if you’ve been submitting your scripts around to everybody for years, and they ask, tell the truth. Production companies and studios keep lists of what has been submitted, and you don’t want to embarrass your new agent!
How to get “discovered”:
- com is a good website to post your scripts on, to be seen by many agents, producers, and development company executives)
- If you live in or near Los Angeles, attend parties and other events where Hollywood types will be.
- Enter film festival competitions, and win!
What should an Agent do for you?
- Send out your loglines and one sheet synopses, and scripts to Development Executives at production companies and studios
- Give suggestions on potential edits and re-writes that may be needed to sell the script
- Set up pitch sessions for you at production companies and studios
- Get the best deal he or she can for you, above schedule of WGA minimums.
- Encourage and inspire you to create new material and projects.
What agents DO NOT want to see:
- A script sent to them “cold”, with no phone call, e-mail or letter first
- A script that is too long (over 130 pages), or too short (under 90 pages)
- A script that is bound incorrectly (no brads, no cover, no title page)
- A script that is not formatted correctly & has grammatical and/or spelling errors
- A cover letter that is more than one page long
- A script that is mostly descriptions of people and locations, like a novel
- A script with unrealistic or stilted/boring dialog
- A script with more than 100 scenes (each scene costs money)
- A script with a prospective production budget over that what is requested
- A script that is not in the genre requested
- A writer who calls or e-mails sooner than 2 weeks after the agent received the script
- A writer who is unwilling to consider re-writes and edits
- A script that has any typos, misspellings or poor syntax
- A script without conflict in the plot and story-line
- A script without interesting, memorable characters
| SUGGESTED READING & RESOURCES: |
RELEVANT E-ZINE ARTICLES BY ELIZABETH ENGLISH
- Titles & Loglines: https://moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-16-Titles.html
- Pitching in Hollywood: https://moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-15-Pitching.html
- Making of a Hollywood Film: https://moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-13-Hwood.htmlTwo Brads or Three?: www.moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-07-Brads.html
- Characters in Screenplays: https://moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-06-Character.htmlConflict in Scripts: https://moondancefilmfestival.com/Article-05-Dreams.html
BOOKS
- Lew Hunter’s Screenwriting 434
- Linda Seger’s How to Make a Good Screenplay Great
- Linda Seger’s How to Make a Good Screenwriter Great
- David Howard’s A Writer’s Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay
Books & Magazines:
- Lew Hunter’s Screenwriting 434
- Linda Seger’s How to Make a Good Screenplay Great
- Linda Seger’s How to Make a Good Screenwriter Great
- David Howard’s A Writer’s Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay
- Creative Screenwriting
- Scr(i)pt Magazine
MAGAZINES
- Creative Screenwriting
- Scr(i)pt Magazine
WEBSITES
- www.absolutewrite.com/
- www.americanfilmfoundation.com
- www.asascreenwriters.com
- www.craftyscreenwriting.com
- www.davetrottier.com
- www.fadeinmag.com/
- www.hollywoodnetwork.com
- www.inktip.com
- www.mermaid7seas.com
- www.moviebytes.com
- www.mwp.com/books/writing
- www.ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/wcmartell/
- www.screenplay.com/
- www.screenstyle.com
- www.ScreenTalk.biz
- www.screenwriterstore.co.uk
- www.ScreenwritersUtopia.com
- www.ScriptForSale.com
- www.scriptsales.com/DoneDLinks.htm
- www.thestorycoach.com
- www.wga.org
- www.wordplayer.com
- www.writersstore.com
- writerswrite.com/screenwriting
WORKSHOPS
- https://moondancefilmfestival.com
- screenwritingexpo.com
- writingclasses.com
SCREENWRITING CONTESTS
- moviebytes.com
- filmfreeway.com
- withoutabox.com
Contact Elizabeth English at: [email protected], with GET AN AGENT in the subject line.