Interesting point.
I love my theatre but also detest some of its smug pretentiousness. I saw Aeneas Faversham Forever by The Penny Dreadfuls in Edinburgh, and they reinvented the medium for me.
Though it had a through-line, each scene was like a grotesque sketch ending in a belly laugh to carry the audience through the blackout. By far and away the most I have ever laughed.
Ayckbourn is wank though...
Quote: Rick Allden @ December 2 2008, 10:56 PM GMTAyckbourn is wank though...
I love these writers' community sites. Let's all share the love.
I saw an AA play a few years ago, and I thought it was very good.
That's the only cultured thing I'll ever say.
I don't think as a new writer for TV/film you will get a literary agent interested until you have a company interested in developing/producing a script of yours - I know I didn't. My agent (ex-PFD and in the business 30 yrs) had me recommended to her after interest in a couple of my scripts. I don't exclusively write comedy, but I only got the interest from her after I had a deal that needed handling.
Agents are not necessarily there to just recognise your talent, but to market it effecively and thus to protect you. Once you get real interest in your work, they are specialised to protect your authorship and hustle on your behalf.
I think I'd somehow got in the mindset that the only way to get recognition is to campaign for an agent first.
Sell yourself before you let someone else do it.
Good work - ta. 
Quote: Seefacts @ December 2 2008, 11:13 PM GMTI saw an AA play a few years ago, and I thought it was very good.
That's the only cultured thing I'll ever say.
After your recent success Seefacts, have you had any luck with agents?
Quote: Rick Allden @ December 3 2008, 8:45 AM GMTI think I'd somehow got in the mindset that the only way to get recognition is to campaign for an agent first.
Sell yourself before you let someone else do it.
Good work - ta.
Unfortunately you have to do a lot of ground work before you attract the interests of an agent.
Like others have said, forget trying to get agents interested until you have producers interested; that's the most important thing. Or do the opposite.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ December 3 2008, 10:05 AM GMTLike others have said, forget trying to get agents interested until you have producers interested; that's the most important thing. Or do the opposite.
I half-heartedly agree with that sentiment I'm pretty sure.
Quote: David Bussell @ December 3 2008, 10:29 AM GMTI half-heartedly agree with that sentiment I'm pretty sure.
Why don't you go kill yourself. Or do the opposite.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ December 3 2008, 10:05 AM GMTLike others have said, forget trying to get agents interested until you have producers interested; that's the most important thing.
Lots of people get agents from agents going to look at some of their work that has been staged. Invite some along the next time you have a play staged.
Quote: Mike Dan-Carter @ December 3 2008, 9:53 AM GMTAfter your recent success Seefacts, have you had any luck with agents?
I haven't tried recently.
I met one before my limited success but basically the agency was too big and I hadn't done anything. He basically told me to go and achieve something and he might be interested from there.
I was a bit annoyed because he liked the script, everyone in his office liked it, his mate at Tiger Aspect liked it, one of the BBC biggest producers liked it, and another company liked it but he still wasn't having any of it.
Even with a recommendation, he wouldn't sign me until I became sellable. It'll be next year when it give it a proper go again.
Quote: Tim Walker @ December 3 2008, 3:21 AM GMTI don't think as a new writer for TV/film you will get a literary agent interested until you have a company interested in developing/producing a script of yours - I know I didn't. I don't exclusively write comedy, but I only got the interest from her after I had a deal that needed handling.
Tim,
Like yourself, I like to write all sorts of different things (including music)....I generally prefer to write drama, but also don't mind a bit of comedy writing, and also am sitting on a great idea for a Saturday night live TV show.
Am thinking of compiling the stuff together to send it off, but wondered if there's a list of agencies who you should send to (i.e. the "A" list of agencies) before others?
Well a little bit of internet research can show you which writers/comedians etc. are with which agencies. Many of the 'A' list ones will have been set up (or acquired agents from) the big break of of PFD. I was recommended to some agents at a couple of the biggest "name" agencies (I won't say which), but by that time I'd settled nicely with an agent/agency who was handling my first script deal.
I can't say for certain, but if a producer/script editor really likes your work then it wouldn't be too impolite to ask them to send your work to an agent with a letter of recommendation. Getting an established agent unsolicited is (I imagine) fairly difficult. Best of luck.