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Getting to know producers-or rather, getting producers to know you--is very difficult. If finding an agent to read your work is next to impossible, finding producers, while not easier, is at least more doable.
But again, it means working at it. If not every day, almost every day. It's all about finding out who is producing movies. Then finding out their addresses and phone numbers and e-mails (if available). Then you have to find a cool, innovative, sexy (I hate using that word) way of contacting them and asking them to read your script.
Having a good Logline certainly helps. Something high concept. Something that can be one of, say, 5 sentences in a letter or e-mail.
For example:
Dear Producer:
I've written a comedy about a (fill in the great idea).
I know enough producers to know that if something comes in that falls into the category of a "great" idea or "big" idea, they're more than likely to bite and ask to read the script.
But if your sentence is something like...
Dear Producer:
I've written a historical drama on the life of the dentist who carved George Washington's false teeth.
This will not fly.
The point I'm making is that when you're new at this or even if you've been at it awhile there's the fantasy that you'll get an agent who will send your script to a bunch of places and you'll get a deal. Even if you get an agent there are no guarantees.
So you need to chase down production companies because if a producer finds a script he'll run with it. Or at least he'll like it enough to ask you to read your next script. Suddenly you have a relationship. And if you keep in touch with him and he keeps liking your stuff, he may recommend something that's not his cup of tea to another producer.
So now you have two producers to send your stuff to (hopefully until you get an agent).
The object is to get to know as many producers as possible. And that also means getting to know the development people and secretaries who work there. Get people to like your work (and you) and you'll be surprised as to how many contacts you suddenly have.
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