So I am wondering...

Anyone here got an Agent?

Tried/trying to get one?

Stories of success, rejection?

Or do you, from experience, believe it is possible to succeed without one - or at least to get started first and find one later?

And what do you see as the role of an Agent if you get one/have one?

And are there national differences - what is the Agent situation in Australia say, or Canada?

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I will get the ball rolling my saying that I have in the distant past looked for an Agent, without success, and have just started to search again.

I believe that if you are serious in wanting to be a screenwriter, you do need an agent. A good one. You can only do so much yourself. It's as simple as that really.

So, anyone any thoughts?

If you manage to sell a great script without an agent, they will come to you right after it. I've read stories of unrepresented writers selling and then holding meetings with agents and being in a position to pick which one he/she thought would do best for them. It must be a damn good choice to have.

It must.

It would be nice to be in that position.

Supposedly companies won't read your work - or very rarely anyway - if it doesn't come from an agent. I have, however, had work read by a couple of production companies, in the dim and distant past, who were open to submissions by unrepresented writers.

And I know of one major TV company now who will read work direct from the writer, if you ask them nicely first.

So it can happen.

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Actually Brian, glad I saw you - would this be of any interest to you?

http://www.playwrightsstudio.co.uk/ignite2009.htm

I know some people hate InkTip, but there weekly newsletter tells stories about writers there getting an agent based on the quality of their writing on scripts posted there. Sure, the scripts that sell are never $300m blockbusters, but they can lead to landing an agent for sure, or if you're even luckier, sell or option your script. I think it was Breanne who optioned her script on there earlier this year so things can happen there.

Interesting link. I've never thought of writing a play actually. And I do have such strong feelings against the BBC nowadays. I don't think I'd know where to start to be honest.

Niles...

No one sells a script on just luck alone-- sure, some luck needs to play a role in making it happen.  Having said that...

It's possible to sell a script without an agent, no doubt.  Would it be better to have one, absolutely.  But like 1987brian said, once you sell one, agents will come and seek you out.

For me, no I don't have an agent but I'm not going to wait around either for one to come along.

I have three features, all original that I'm trying to shop around.  Hell, I 'm even thinking about using the pitch, "If you like it and want it, it's yours.  All I want is my name in the credits.  Why, because this will more then likely give me the option of take-your-pick among agents and second, alot easier for me to get my other two features through the door.  (Of course, I could be wrong in my certain mind set)

Heck, I may never get there without an agent but that wont stop me from trying.  Nor should it stop anyone else.  

With or without.  Either or...

If you truly believe you have a good story to tell-- someone's going to eventually read it.

Ghostwriter22

Quoted from ghost and_ghostie gal I have three features, all original that I'm trying to shop around.  Hell, I'm even thinking about using the pitch, "If you like it and want it, it's yours.  All I want is my name in the credits.  Why, because this will more then likely give me the option of take-your-pick among agents and second, alot easier for me to get my other two features through the door.  (Of course, I could be wrong in my certain mind set)

I can understand your reasoning behind this idea, Ghostwriter - but I wouldn't personally.

If I were looking at a pile of submissions, and one had a letter saying "you can have this for nothing, I just want my name on the screen", I am afraid I wouldn't even bother reading it.

It sounds a good idea - but remember, you are a craftsman, you have spent time - months? Years? - writing this script, and yet you are telling someone that you have so little interest in it that you are willing to give it away. How do you think that will sound to a professional?

It would sound like you place no value in it - it's not very good and you don't care about it.

Regardless of whether that is true or not.

I will let you into a little secret (don't spread this around, just between me and you) - when I was much, much younger...I did this too. Most of those I sent it to didn't even reply. But one did take the trouble. They returned the script, with a note along the lines of what I have written above. They asked why they should take the time to read something that I obviously placed no value on, let alone investing money in producing.

They also pointed out another fact that had never struck me - they get this sort of approach all the time, and the quality of the scripts, when they did read them, was usually so poor that it had dissuaded them from even bothering with such submissions anymore - it was only because I'd including return postage that they took the time to reply to me at all.

But, who knows, you might find it works for you.

Good luck anyway.

Niles...

You make a valid point.  I didn't look at things that way, maybe I should.   Thanks for sharing that secret.  

Ghostwriter