Which one is it?
I only ask because despite making a reasonable amount of cash from writing in the last year or two, I don't seem to be able to get any reaction at all from agents. If you've found one who's willing to take a punt on new people, let me know. By PM, if you don't want to put it out in public.
Quote: Antrax @ March 29, 2008, 11:08 AMWhich one is it?
I only ask because despite making a reasonable amount of cash from writing in the last year or two, I don't seem to be able to get any reaction at all from agents. If you've found one who's willing to take a punt on new people, let me know. By PM, if you don't want to put it out in public.
Yes, same here, please. Apart from the whole resonable ammount of cash part. 
It's more that he represents the producer I'm working with who's been really supportive, so it's recommendation based rather than me being just some unknown.
Quote: Seefacts @ March 29, 2008, 12:09 PMIt's more that he represents the producer I'm working with who's been really supportive, so it's recommendation based rather than me being just some unknown.
Fair enough - annoyingly, when I got my sitcom optioned, the person I was recommended to get in touch with by the production company had one set in a similar location with one of their writers, so weren't able to look at it due to conflict of interest.
Been advised to get myself an agent. I don't know... I think when I get to the point (hopefully in the not too distant future) of actually knowing I'm having something produced then I'll get around to it. Where Seefacts is sounds like the right time and way to go about it.
Quote: Tim Walker @ March 29, 2008, 1:24 PMBeen advised to get myself an agent. I don't know... I think when I get to the point (hopefully in the not too distant future) of actually knowing I'm having something produced then I'll get around to it. Where Seefacts is sounds like the right time and way to go about it.
Good luck. In the past year I've written stuff for broadcast, written a lucrative corporate script, become a published author, and had a two hour CD drama recorded and available via Amazon, and still can't get any bugger interested.
Quote: Antrax @ March 29, 2008, 4:17 PMGood luck. In the past year I've written stuff for broadcast, written a lucrative corporate script, become a published author, and had a two hour CD drama recorded and available via Amazon, and still can't get any bugger interested.
Bizarre? You're not only writing material about Man-Boy Love or something?
Quote: Antrax @ March 29, 2008, 4:17 PMGood luck. In the past year I've written stuff for broadcast, written a lucrative corporate script, become a published author, and had a two hour CD drama recorded and available via Amazon, and still can't get any bugger interested.
Set up your own agency Antrax. You just need a name nice stationary and then send your stuff out. When they ring up put another voice on 
Quote: bushbaby @ March 29, 2008, 6:24 PMSet up your own agency Antrax. You just need a name nice stationary and then send your stuff out. When they ring up put another voice on
I often wondered why people can't represent themselves - wonder why?
Quote: Griff @ March 29, 2008, 6:33 PMI think you can represent yourself. But the agent thing, rightly or wrongly, is about credibility.
At the Writers Guild event about sitcoms recently, I think all three panellists (Charlie Hanson, Beryl Vertue, Lucy Lumsden) all said they liked to read scripts that had been "recommended", and when asked about this, they said "by agents or production companies". And presumably by agents they mean "agents they've worked with before and whose input they value".
Of course, the agent route isn't the only way in by any means.
The thought of being able to say 'Oh, I'd like so and so to read this' and it happens is pretty mind blowing. Especially compared to the current one of 'I'll have to send this out to whoever will listen.'
Well, I do sort of represent myself as it is.
The problem with it is that there are all sorts of opportunities and chances you're just not going to hear about. You don't know who to approach. That's one thing an agent brings - contacts, the knowledge of how things work. I'm flying blind.
Equally, it can cause problems. A couple of years back my sitcom script got optioned by a production company. Well I say optioned - they basically did what we'd refer to as optioning, but without giving me the fee. As someone with no knowledge of the business, I didn't realise this. (Of course, the flipside is that they might not have taken it on had they had to pay, but that's a moot point). Annoyingly, of course, when I've written to agents since I can't say 'I've had a sitcom optioned by X', because it's not technically true!
It's frustrating, because the people who buy stuff like what I do, and pay me for it, but I simply can't get in the position of getting work to them because the men in the middle don't.
Were there no agents who would take you on when the script got 'optioned', or did you not bother approaching any?
Quote: bushbaby @ March 30, 2008, 3:32 PMWere there no agents who would take you on when the script got 'optioned', or did you not bother approaching any?
As I say, the one I was recommended to get in touch with by the production company had one in a similar setting, so they couldn't take it on.
And I sent it around quite a few others - and got roundly rejected. Still don't know why. I don't know whether the fact I had to say 'with prod comp X' rather than 'optioned by prod comp X' hurt it, probably not.
One did say they thought it was a little old fashioned. And I couldn't help but wondering what the hell the problem was with that? Sure if it meant they didn't think companies would be interested - but when I had a production company attached, surely that didn't matter two hoots? When a major production company is sending it to the BBC, does it really matter if you think it's old fashioned? You don't need to sell it, I've already done that. I'm offering you free money!
Quote: Winterlight @ March 28, 2008, 9:11 PMJames Williams: Don't be an arse
Seefacts: Thanks for the tip
That's some online dialogue which will make me laugh for many years.
Wow, you're all so smart...
Handbags away guys.
They are not actually arguing. Just reminiscing ABOUT arguing.