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My POV
Brian A. Wilson
AGENT HUNTING, PART 1
I'm meeting with about 25 agents this week. At the mid-point of my expedition, here are some quick observations.
MATERIAL IS KING. Time and again, the agents say (and let's take them at their words) it doesn't matter if you're a 150 year old one-legged cave dweller, if you have a great (not OK, not decent, but great) script, you will find an agent and your work will sell.
BE BRIEF. These people are fielding 100 queries a week. That's 5,000 a year, from all over the planet. They don't have time to read a page of your personal bio and two pages about your script. A line or two on yourself, a logline, MAYBE a paragraph on your script and you're done.
BE PATIENT. They have other clients. Chances are, they don't need you at the moment. They have lots of other work to do. They will get to your query. When they do, if they like it, they will call you. If not, well, keep trying elsewhere.
HIGH CONCEPT HELPS. Not to say you'll never sell your mother-daughter-family drama, but it's not your best bet as a first script to sell or with which to hook an agent. A good, catchy concept that's well written will serve you best. And high concept doesn't have to be "Triple X." It can be "Splash" as well.
BE PERSISTENT. It's a numbers game, for the agent and for you. One William Morris agent said he averages 2500 calls per month. That's over 100 a day. How many do you make and expect results?
KEEP WRITING. You read it here first, folks. Keep generating material. You'll get better and your inventory will grow. Agents like that.
Got to get ready for tomorrow.
Keep writing.
BW
LA
transtexan@hotmail.com
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