Ok, so I've recently started sending Query letters to agents, and one came back from an Eddie Kritzer:

http://www.eddiekritzer.com

After talking with him about his policies, he agreed to read the script.  The next day he sent me a letter saying he wanted to do business.  He attached a contract.

Now, Mr. Kritzer isn't an agent.  He puts together single deals and takes them around to production companies, producers, etc.  So because of this he requests a $500 advance.  

Now, I looked him up and he seems to look legit, but something doesn't feel right here.  (probably the $500)  I just get the feeling that his "production company" would accept anything. Odds are this will all fall through (because it's really hard to part with 500 unless I'm 100%), but what do you guys think?

Quoted from dresseme So because of this he requests a $500 advance.

Run away. A real agent's fee is 10% of the purchase price of your script. Which means he gets paid if you get paid. Anyone asking for money in advance is scam.

EDIT: I noticed he doesn't call himself an agent. I don't know what he is supposed to be. But the $500 in advance is a big red flag.

Yeah, that sounds about right.   I think my favorite part of dealing with this guy was asking him "What did you like about the script?"

His answer:  "I liked the ending the best, it was so ironic."

Right....

Quoted from Mr.Z I noticed he doesn't call himself an agent. I don't know what he is supposed to be.

He doesn't call himself an agent, but his listing is posted on agency listing websites.  Which is odd, because I used a website that's usually quite dilligent in weeding out frauds/scam artists.  

I have no idea if this guy is legit or not, but I wouldn't trust anyone who chooses the pretentious "hand on chin" approach when posing for photos. And the bad toupee doesn't help either.

There's plenty of scam artists out there who ask for money for reading fees/administrative costs/ etc.  I'd keep away from anyone asking for anything like that.


Phil

No.  Do not hand over your hard earned money to this guy.

Just what exactly is he promising for this $500 dollar advance.

If he sees $ signs because of the work you've done, he can do his job and upon completion get paid.

It's not as though he's laying out physical supplies to do his work:  Like say a house reno person who needs to buy roofing tiles.

My husband works for companies doing computer technical work.  He gets nothing until after the job is done.

He could create service contracts with some, but smaller companies can't afford to outlay regular payments on something which isn't "broken" yet--so it's by requirement.

I really don't like the sound of this guy.  If he charges everyone $500, and assuming he can sucker one person per day and work five days a week; he can conceivably make  $10,000 a month.

With that kind of money he ought to be able to "buy" a couple contracts to make himself "look" legit.

Well, I really don't know and I apologize to him big time if he is legit, but I don't think you should have to "buy" a job.

Sometimes, I think that all of the artists are busy struggling in the name of "art"... and then all the vultures, they're out there just waiting for the next number from the uninitiated--the next generation to pop up.

That cliched line of "There's a new sucker born every minute," is so true.

It's like all of the pyramid schemes and shmancy "get your whatever diploma" schools out there.  We're all working for the man and the men who've figured out a way to scoop up extra from that man (who doesn't have any scruples) are often the same-- lacking in scruples.

How can he prove to you afterwards that he's even done his $500 dollars worth?

It's a pretty hard thing to prove.

Be careful.

Sandra

Man, that Kritzer guy has SLEAZEBALL written all over him.  Well, I'll just say what I've said many, many times before (including on my website):

If they ask for a fee -- any kind of fee -- run away.  Writers don't pay agents and manager.  Agents and managers pay the writer when work is secured for the writer. Never ever pay anyone to rep you.  Never.  

Got it?

To the OP: Where did you get this Kritzer's name from?  I'm assuming he didn't come out of the Hollywood Creative Directory or the WGA website.  Listen up, folks.  If you're gonna search for agents, managers and/or prodcos to send your scripts to, get the names from the HDC and/or the WGA.  If you're pulling them off some arbitrary website, or a CraigsList ad, then you're just asking for trouble.

Don't get ripped off.  Educate yourself!

I was going to start a thread on Eddie Kritzer, only to learn that someone had started one back in 2007.

Eddie contacted me today.  I had apparently replied to a posting he placed on craigslist, saying he was looking for feature length scripts.  His name rang a bell, though I couldn't remember where I heard it before.  After listening to him talk about himself for ten minutes, I looked him up.

While he may have done some production work fifteen or twenty years ago, with some big names attached, his claim to fame, now, is acting as an agent or manager or some other time of rep only to charge the writer a reading fee of about $500.

Legit agents and managers do not charge the writer any money in advance.  They get paid a percentage of the sales; if you don't get paid, they don't get paid.

Another problem in dealing with Eddie is that he doesn't know when to stop.  He's been known to harass writers to get them to 'sign up' with him.  When that doesn't work, he resorts to a barrage of insulting e-mails and telephone calls.  You can google his name to get the full story.

Should he somehow contact you, end the communication as quickly as you can.  You have nothing to gain in dealing with him.


Phil

I've been contacted by Mr. Kritzer as well. A couple years ago, i think. Same deal. $500 bucks. Seems your first instinct was the same as mine: something's fishy here. Needless to say, I stayed away. And I recall asking him something similar about my script and he have me a totally generic answer. Enough said.

Don't waste your time (or your hard earned cash).

Steve

OMG do not do it!!!! Run

Quoted from SAC I've been contacted by Mr. Kritzer as well.

I haven't been contacted  by Mr. Kritzer. Should I be upset?

R

Quoted from dogglebe You have nothing to gain in dealing with him.

Aside from a little fun, perhaps.

I was contacted by Pierre Chambers two days ago, but haven't replied yet. He writes: "My company now offers a service of submissions to studios and notable agents who are seeking projects right now. It would be "unsolicited" through our company. Let me know."

Before he asked to submit one of my scripts just like he wrote to a few of us here. I guess this time it's the same story. Did you write back?

Quoted from khamanna I was contacted by Pierre Chambers...

This guy didn't contact me either!

R

On a serious note, sadly, there's loads of answers to this stuff in here, usually under threads such as Interest In My Script. Beware  -

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-cc/

R again.