Last week I was given (by a trusted friend) the home address of a well known British comedy writer/performer. Would I be a fool not to contact him and ask if he would be willing to read one of my scripts?
If I did contact him, how do I explain how I obtained his address wihtout mentioning how I actually got it (if you know what I mean), or will this person even care how I got their address?
If your friend knows him then probably the best way is for your friend to ask him if he minds you sending a script.
Oh my simply be gifted in the approach. Plan some big ol attention getting event. Ride a bike into a bush when you know this person is home. Or come up with something. You are a writer.......write?
Nope I would not tell how. I would make a spectacle of myself.
What do you hope to get out of it?
My friend doesn't know him, he just gave me his address as he had access to it, the access he had to it is completely legal by the way, i mean in terms of data protection etc.
Quote: Marc P @ December 3 2008, 10:45 AM GMTWhat do you hope to get out of it?
I want him to read one of my scripts!
Why not stalk him for a bit first? Let him get to know you gradually, perhaps by poisoning the goldfish in his pond, or writing "I love you" on his front door in your own blood and semen?
Quote: Lee Henman @ December 3 2008, 10:47 AM GMTWhy not stalk him for a bit first? Let him get to know you gradually, perhaps by poisoning the goldfish in his pond, or writing "I love you" on his front door in your own blood and semen?
But seriously though, what do people think? Shall I just write to him without explaining where I got the address? Or do I need to bring it up?
Quote: Mike Dan-Carter @ December 3 2008, 10:47 AM GMTMy friend doesn't know him, he just gave me his address as he had access to it, the access he had to it is completely legal by the way, i mean in terms of data protection etc.
I want him to read one of my scripts!
Sighs.
And then...?
Well if he likes it, he can then pass it on to someone he knows that could make it happen. What better recommendation than a well known multi award winning comedy writer/performer.
I think they'll probably be a bit busy with writing their own projects and trying to get them made to even give yours a look, let alone somehow get it made.
Personally if I was the person in question I would be a bit pissed off with someone sending me stuff.
Quote: Mike Dan-Carter @ December 3 2008, 10:49 AM GMT
But seriously though, what do people think? Shall I just write to him without explaining where I got the address? Or do I need to bring it up?
I can't see the point really. Suppose he reads your script and likes it. What then? Is your hope that he'll pull strings and get you in touch with influential people? Or do you just want him to read it for an opinion?
Either way I don't think you'll get very far. For one thing if your stuff's brilliant he'll see you as competition, I know I would.
But it seems like such a good opportunity to just forget about it. Surely it's best to try rather than just tear the address up and forget about it, isn't it?
If you don't ask, you don't get, right?
Quote: Mike Dan-Carter @ December 3 2008, 10:56 AM GMTBut it seems like such a good opportunity to just forget about it. Surely it's best to try rather than just tear the address up and forget about it, isn't it?
If you don't ask, you don't get, right?
I suppose the worst he can say is "No". But I wouldn't hold your breath for even that response. Who is it anyway? I don't see any harm in telling us that.
Quote: Lee Henman @ December 3 2008, 10:55 AM GMTI can't see the point really. Suppose he reads your script and likes it. What then? Is your hope that he'll pull strings and get you in touch with influential people? Or do you just want him to read it for an opinion?
Either way I don't think you'll get very far. For one thing if your stuff's brilliant he'll see you as competition, I know I would.
You make some good points, but I'm reminded of a story I read about a 20 something year old male who worked in an off licence and had John Sullivan as a customer and one day asked him if he would read a script he'd written, John said he was glad he did read it because the script was great and the chap is now writing for The Green Green Grass and has his own sitcom in pre-production with Shazam.
Quote: Mike Dan-Carter @ December 3 2008, 10:59 AM GMTYou make some good points, but I'm reminded of a story I read about a 20 something year old male who worked in an off licence and had John Sullivan as a customer and one day asked him if he would read a script he'd written, John said he was glad he did read it because the script was great and the chap is now writing for The Green Green Grass and has his own sitcom in pre-production with Shazam.
You're forgetting that most successful comedy people (especially performers) are so far up their own arseholes they'd need a tube of KY and a torch to read your script anyway.
But yes, I suppose given the right person it could work out. But what if they hate your script? Isn't that going to make you feel really deflated?
It's a minefield mate.