Has anyone here approached a actor, actress, producer, director or someone high up in the bizz directly about a screenplay?

If so, how did it go? I have heard stories of average folk doing so and had mixed reactions from these famous people.

What's your thoughts on the matter?

Gotta give it to you, Brandon. You always choose unique thread titles.

I considered contacting Bryan Brown - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000986/
at one time cause my ex was doing some work for him (unrelated to the film business) but I decided, no. I didn't have anything written at the time I'd rate highly enough, so that was the deciding factor.

Personally I wouldn't approach anyone until I knew I had something extraordinary to offer.

Yeah, as LC said, be sure that it's a script that has had good reviews from people you trust. I've done this twice. The first time was with an actor called Charlie Creed Miles. I got him to read my Repercussions script and, although he liked it, he felt that the part wasn't right for him. Considering what he's doing now, I'd say that he was right. Rather than looking for Charlie Creed Miles, I should be looking for the next Charlie Creed Miles. Whatever, that script has been sold now anyway.

The second time I did this was with Momma's Boy, that I passed along to Sheridan Smith's agent to read. They were interested but assumed I was going to produce it myself and enquired on the budget. I took that to mean they were only interested in hearing cash sums and backed away from further talks.

I think the biggest lesson I took from both of those experiences was not to aim too high. Also, make sure that the part genuinely suits the actor.

I've also got execs to read things before... but you've really got to do your research. Often times, you'll only be able to contact agents, so have to get by them first.

I’m in post-production of a short at the moment. The director approached a bunch of famous actors who haven’t made anything in a while to see if they were interested in the male lead. One of those was Matthew Modine but there were others, including the green power ranger lol.

When I say approached the actors, I mean their agent of course. I’ll use the Matthew Modine experience as an example but they were all similar. This was  paid role but it was bare minimum. He said Matthew loved the script but wanted us to also pay for the flight and hotel during his stay. This would have been more than the entire budget so we had to decline.

I suspect Matthew (nor any of the other actors) saw the script and this was all from the agents. The lesson here is, unless you’ve got the budget or some way to get the script direct to the actor, it’s unlikely to happen.  

I went to high school with Matthew McConaughey (although we were not in the same grade) and thought about using that angle to approach he or his agent about something.  But like LC, nothing I had at the time was worth him looking at.  One of my best friends is very good friends with Richard Linklater, director of Dazed and Confused and Boyhood (they played high school baseball together) and they still stay in touch. I thought that might be another avenue, but again, nothing I have would likely appeal to him at this time.

In a roundabout way, we were able to get Dee Wallace (mom in ET and Poltergeist) to appear in my short "Roadside Attraction", which is in post production.  The director was a good friend of hers, and she agreed to appear for free for a page worth of dialogue.  That was pretty cool.  But I would never have had the guts to approach her directly.  It really is all about who you know and who they know if you're going to approach someone like that.  Otherwise, you're just going to wind up going through their agent in almost all cases.

Gary

Quoted from Gary in Houston I went to high school with Matthew McConaughey

Ooh. Dreamy.

................

So taken was I with with what you said about MMc I didn't read till later the stuff on Linklater, and Dee Wallace Stone. I always loved DWS. Looking forward to seeing Roadside Attraction. Is it slated for festivals or what...?

P.S. Gary, do you have the same accent as McConaughey?  :D

Quoted from MarkRenshaw I suspect Matthew (nor any of the other actors) saw the script and this was all from the agents. The lesson here is, unless you’ve got the budget or some way to get the script direct to the actor, it’s unlikely to happen.

This has more or less been my experience. I wrote a time-travel script on assignment, and the director sent it to Jessica Alba, Tom Felton, and Bill Nighy. Felton and Nighy's agents were disinclined to discuss things further without the right budget in place. Not sure if there was even a response from Alba's camp. That project seems to have fallen through since, but Felton at least was confirmed as reading the script, which is super cool, especially since I wrote the role for him (the director had all three in mind before I even started the script).

Quoted from Gary in Houston In a roundabout way, we were able to get Dee Wallace (mom in ET and Poltergeist) to appear in my short "Roadside Attraction", which is in post production.  The director was a good friend of hers, and she agreed to appear for free for a page worth of dialogue.  That was pretty cool.  But I would never have had the guts to approach her directly.

This rules, dude! Feel like character actors like her are a great asset to low-budget indie films. Obviously not huge stars, but a lot of them have cult followings or some kind of draw in their own way, and many of them are super talented, committed actors.

Hmmm - approach? Well, I sent a tweet to Elizabeth Banks as well as posting on her FB that I had a perfect script for her - does that count?

Quoted from eldave1 Hmmm - approach? Well, I sent a tweet to Elizabeth Banks as well as posting on her FB that I had a perfect script for her - does that count?

I dunno, does stalking count? If so, I'm in!

Quoted from LC So taken was I with with what you said about MMc I didn't read till later the stuff on Linklater, and Dee Wallace Stone. I always loved DWS. Looking forward to seeing Roadside Attraction. Is it slated for festivals or what...? P.S. Gary, do you have the same accent as McConaughey?  :D

Ha! Yes, I do have a bit of a drawl and I do say y'all quite a bit. I mean, I do live in Texas.  :)

And yes, "Roadside Attraction" is going to be entered into some festivals, so I hope that I can post a link to the video -- but some festivals indicate it can't be shown anywhere (including on Vimeo and YouTube) prior to the festival, so we'll see how soon I can get it up. (that's what she said)

A lot of people think they're not good enough, huh?

Quoted from BSaunders A lot of people think they're not good enough, huh?

God, no. I'm bloody brilliant already.  ;)

But, it's not just about that. Yes, the writing has to be of a high calibre but there are a lot of other factors that make something good enough too, quite apart from the writing talent, not least of which is that it's suitable for whatever contacts you have.

Anyone would be a fool not to present their best work if they're actually in a position to have some heavy weight talent and big name producers look at it. Which means wait until you've not only written something you think is good but another five things that are good/great. It's a whole different ballgame to your family and friends telling you something is great.

I've never thought about approaching 'names' for short scripts... Interesting what Gary said, and it made me think.

As for the feature length scripts - I'm yet to complete one (2016 is the year) so that's primarily the reason for me. Gotta be careful too as you might only get one chance. Last thing I'd want to is blot my copybook with something that's average at best. Like I said, whatever you've written better be A grade bloody good otherwise that's your contact pretty much blown.  JMH, of course.

Quoted from Gary in Houston Ha! Yes, I do have a bit of a drawl and I do say y'all quite a bit. I mean, I do live in Texas.  :)

Cool. I'm imagining you're more MMcon than Dr Phil, even though I do find some Philisms quite amusing.  :D

And, keep us in the loop regarding RA, looking forward to seeing it.
Good luck with it, Gary.

Quoted from LC God, no. I'm bloody brilliant already.  ;) But, it's not just about that. Yes, the writing has to be of a high calibre but there are a lot of other factors that make something good enough too, quite apart from the writing talent, not least of which is that it's suitable for whatever contacts you have. Anyone would be a fool not to present their best work if they're actually in a position to have some heavy weight talent and big name producers look at it. Which means wait until you've not only written something you think is good but another five things that are good/great. It's a whole different ballgame to your family and friends telling you something is great. I've never thought about approaching 'names' for short scripts... Interesting what Gary said, and it made me think. As for the feature length scripts - I'm yet to complete one (2016 is the year) so that's primarily the reason for me. Gotta be careful too as you might only get one chance. Last thing I'd want to is blot my copybook with something that's average at best. Like I said, whatever you've written better be A grade bloody good otherwise that's your contact pretty much blown.  JMH, of course.

Well said.

I look forward to reading your feature.

Brandon, tried PMing you but unable to.  ;)