Okay, so I answered a posting on IMDB pro and an independent producer now wants to read my script.

The problem is he also wants "anything else" that I have - my bio, any attachments, any financing, etc.

My bio?  I'm a schmo who's sitting in my basement in a bathrobe right now typing this.

Attachments?  I like cheese.  A lot.  I would marry cheese if it were socially acceptable.  In fact, I have my eye on a cute piece of swiss... but I digress.

Financing?  Yeah, I'm up to my neck in debt.  Not sure he wants to know that, though...

How do you get around these questions gracefully?  This is not the first person who's requested my script - I've gotten three other requests for reads, but none of those people asked for this information.

AJR

AJR,

Just write some blurb for a bio. You are a writer, after all.

Say you've got some people interested in producing a script of yours, they say they're gonna make it next year. They might be. Maybe your mum is. Point is he doesn't know who when where. Be vague.

Sell yourself. Make it interesting. Make him keen.

Don't send him everything. If you wanna send him something else think about it, then pick.

You'd marry cheese? Get a grip!

Tell him how long you've been writing. Tell him why you like it. Just make it good. Post it here if you're worried. You'll know you'll get as much help as you need.

Ren

Your bio is just why you write, what lead you to this point - if you've written other scripts, what were they, what did you do with them. If you have had any feedback, especially from pros, it would be worth mentioning.

As to anything else - if you haven't got it, say so - a lot of times you will find this sort of request, but you will find some writers will be able to supply this or that, others not so much.

I would say that this is a good sign - these are the sort of questions that do get asked by professionals (most agents for example want to know these sorts of things when you approach them) - it's the ones that don't ask the questions that are the ones to watch!

Thanks guys -

Obviously I'm making it sound worse than it is - of course I can tell of my writing history, the other companies that have requested reads, etc.

It's just weird to hear someone ask if you have a budget - isn't that the producer's job?

Anyway, I will take the "festive period" to think over my response and on Saturday I'll decide whether to send him the current version or ask him if he wants to wait about 3 weeks for the re-write.

Everyone have a great holiday!

AJR

I'd say he might be wondering what you expect. Or maybe what you've had produced. Or he may be fishing to see if you want paying. Either way I wouldn't worry about it, just skip over it for now.

Oh, and ren, everyone who knows me knows about my proclivity for cheese and they accept me for who I am - shame on you for judging me...

Send the script, as well as a brief bio of yourself.  

Attachments and Financing are irrelevant, unless you've signed an actor or raised some of the budget on your own already, which I doubt.

Thanks Mike -

One more thing - I'm almost half way through a re-write, and I expect that finishing and polishing will take me another 2-3 weeks.  I should write back to him and tell him to expect a "polished script" in about that amount of time, no?  No sense in sending a previous version?

AJR

I've been here before. They wanted some more info about me while they considered my scripts. Personally, I think it's just common business etiquette and nothing more. Unless you have some amazing achievements or a family member in the business I don't think it matters much.

Mark

Quoted from ajr Thanks Mike - One more thing - I'm almost half way through a re-write, and I expect that finishing and polishing will take me another 2-3 weeks.  I should write back to him and tell him to expect a "polished script" in about that amount of time, no?  No sense in sending a previous version? AJR

Seems a bit long to expect them to wait, especially since you've answered their ad, which would presumably mean you have a presentable script on hand.

Unless you're making some drastic changes to things, I would send what you have now.

Mike,

Thanks for the advice - it kinda lit a fire under my you-know-what. I split the baby and e-mailed him that I would have a final "polished" version sometime over the New Year's weekend (I operate best under a deadline, even a self-imposed one). Considering it takes him 4-5 days to return my e-mails I should be okay.

AJR