Approached by an American producer

Hi guys,

I run a site where I dump some of the sillier comedy stuff I write. Over the last couple of months, it has started to get quite popular, and one or two posts have gone viral.

Oddly, the main popularity has been in the US, which I had not anticipated.

In amongst that came some interest from an American television producer, based in NY, who claims to be a fan and is interested to know if I'll consider some TV work. He appears to be legitimate, with credits producing several shows over there, including one I have seen, and several Emmy's, etc.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of arrangement?

I'm wondering what to expect, and what mistakes to avoid.

For starters, I thought you needed to be a resident out there and represented by an agent to even have a sniff of work. And naturally, I would rather not receive a transatlantic buggering for not doing my homework on this gig.
My guess is he's looking for cheap labour, but cheap is better than free.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

If he's a reputable producer then use his or her name as leverage to get yourself a literary agent. Let them handle your fee.

Spot on.

If he has proper credits you should be able to get an agent off the back of his offer.
If he doesn't like the idea of you having an agent, he's up to no good.

Sounds like it could be good news though!

Quote: Somethingson @ June 6 2011, 4:49 PM BST

Hi guys,

I run a site where I dump some of the sillier comedy stuff I write. Over the last couple of months, it has started to get quite popular, and one or two posts have gone viral.

Oddly, the main popularity has been in the US, which I had not anticipated.

In amongst that came some interest from an American television producer, based in NY, who claims to be a fan and is interested to know if I'll consider some TV work. He appears to be legitimate, with credits producing several shows over there, including one I have seen, and several Emmy's, etc.

Has anyone had any experience with this type of arrangement?

I'm wondering what to expect, and what mistakes to avoid.

For starters, I thought you needed to be a resident out there and represented by an agent to even have a sniff of work. And naturally, I would rather not receive a transatlantic buggering for not doing my homework on this gig.
My guess is he's looking for cheap labour, but cheap is better than free.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

View original

Come back and tell us what happens.

Thanks for the response.

That sounds like a plan, if anything actually comes of this. I hadn't really planned to go down this route yet so I am a bit clueless as to how it works.

He's clearly pretty well-established- it all checks out on IMDB etc. The only thing that's putting me off is that the production company he has set up is new and that neither it nor he have a particularly large online footprint.

I guess I just imagine industry heads, especially in the US, to be relentless networkers and have a trillion twitter followers etc.

To be honest, he hasn't given me much to stalk, and I find it a tad creepy and unnerving when I am unable to locate someone's home on Google Maps after a brief email exchange.

Unfortunately it looks like I might actually have to ask him any questions directly.

Quote: catskillz @ June 6 2011, 6:57 PM BST

Come back and tell us what happens.

View original

Can do, if you like.
It does have a touch of the unfeasible about it, but if it goes the way I imagine it will, I'll be sure let you know whether he uses lubricant.

Don't give him any money or your bank details. But there's no obvious harm in seeing it through; take a chance.

I had someone in the US ask me to look at a film script. They found me on Google but I have no track record in pictures. I don't have an agent anymore but I called a man who represents a friend of mine and he checked it out. But the acid test was when they were talking big money the agent said I should ask for a grand upfront to start. They never bothered me again.

Quote: Somethingson @ June 6 2011, 7:19 PM BST

To be honest, he hasn't given me much to stalk, and I find it a tad creepy and unnerving when I am unable to locate someone's home on Google Maps after a brief email exchange.

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Yeah,

Quote: Somethingson @ June 6 2011, 7:19 PM BST

if it goes the way I imagine it will, I'll be sure let you know whether he uses lubricant.

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Intriguing. Do please keep us posted. That is, if you can actually sit down at the computer afterwards.

Lol Bones.

Quote: Somethingson @ June 6 2011, 7:19 PM BST

...he hasn't given me much to stalk..

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Quote: Somethingson @ June 6 2011, 7:19 PM BST

.. and I find it a tad creepy..

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Hmmm.. sounds like you're made for each other.

Seriously though, if I had a quid for every "producer" trying to butter me up, I'd have three quid..

One american lot had me on tenterhooks for 6 months.. then..

Zilch.

Quote: Stylee TingTing @ June 28 2011, 11:01 PM BST

Seriously though, if I had a quid for every "producer" trying to butter me up, I'd have three quid..

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Not really though.

Quote: Marc P @ June 29 2011, 12:06 AM BST

Not really though.

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Cutting, Marc. Though one pound from someone with three identities still counts, right?