Get A Manager To Get An Agent?

agent-manager-bothSo I have this script… I’ve worked on it off and on for approximately three years. I don’t need coverage. I don’t need anyone to tell me it’s good. Why? Because I had basically sold it before…

Long story.

But to make that long story short, suffice to say that it’s all coming back to distribution. LOL. Let’s just say that I have a deal in place IF I WANT IT. And to be honest, I do but the part I don’t like about the deal is that realistically, it could be another two or three years we can do anything with it.

Because of distribution.

Another long story that I won’t get into is why I currently don’t have any kind of representation… I have had representation before but it was almost always marginal and I’ve never felt I actually benefited from it. And I don’t blame the agent… Hell, agents are on the go 24-7 trying to get deals made. If they can’t get a deal made in a short amount of time, they move on to the next client — the next deal.

Let’s just say I’ve been OUT of THIS PART of the game for awhile so it’s been ENLIGHTENING to say the least… Using my own personal network, I was able to get my script out to over 20 producers/prodcos. Out of that list, everyone passed so far but five. Three actually made offers that I’ve subsequently turned down… Two are still discussing the script internally… LOL.

Whatever that means.

Why did I turn down offers? Because I didn’t want to outright sell said screenplay… I am part of the deal whether they like it or not which is why I am also entertaining the idea of producing it on my own and I am still persuing that thread when I can.

I even got an offer from a prodco I’ve never heard of — never sent the script to — to direct the flick. LOL. I almost jumped at that idea until I listened further… i.e., a $1 Mil budget and if I’m lucky, one “used-to-be-kind-of-had-a-name” actor. Gotta tell ya… If I had the right actor, I still might jump at that deal because I believe in the story. Unfortunately, they too lack distribution outlets… Meaning we’d very likely end up shopping a movie around to festivals and hope for a deal.

It’s interesting to have several of these opportunities exist… I FONDLY remember the days where all I gave a shit about was to sell a screenplay — take that money and go write another screenplay and make a movie out of it on my own which is in fact, the REASON I learned how to write screenplays.

I still live by that mindset but TODAY — in this economy — I realize we are not currently on solid ground financially. In a good economy, I probably would have had more bites on the script and the bites that I am getting are definitely worth less than they would have been just a short year ago. It forces you to sit back and really consider as much as possible because the longer one waits, the harder it could be to even make a deal… In fact, the word IMPOSSIBLE definitely comes to mind.

What I really find currently interesting is how I am getting calls from people I never even sent the script to… LOL. Most of these calls are coming from Managers. Gotta tell ya… I’ve never had a manager and several pro screenwriter friends of mine that have had managers got screwed by said managers so I’ve always kinda been leery of the whole MANAGEMENT thing.

Especially when these managers attach themselves to your script as a producer… Of course if they let you know UP FRONT that — that is indeed the plan — so be it. That didn’t happen with several of my buddies who opted for managers over agents. A couple of them walked away with a deal i.e., they sold their script but then later on found out that their manager ended up being one of the producers.

I guess that would kinda piss me off too unless I was told up front that that was indeed the plan. LOL.

Since I’ve been in this business, I honestly cannot believe the sheer number of managers that seem to exist out there… Whew! Which makes me think a little differently these days because hey… I want to believe the best about anyone. So based on this sheer number of existing managers, I also have to believe that there’s got to be quite a few who really do have YOUR INTEREST AT HEART.

I’m also seeing that there are a lot of management/production companies out there… Many more than I’ve ever seen before. Obviously, if you’re sending your spec to one of these outfits, you have to know up front that they may indeed not only end up managing you but producing your screenplay into a movie as well. Hence, the reason for this post.

I’ve spoken to a few managers over the last couple of weeks and thus far, I’ve been impressed. These managers SEEM to want to know what MY PLANS are — MY GOALS. Never had an agent really care about that too much and yes… I know that allegedly, a manager is supposed to be more concerned with their client’s career than they are about selling a script. I’ve definitely heard that before but hadn’t actually seen it take place… LOL.

In fact, I’d seen some managers take a few of my buddies on over the years — turn right around and hook them up with a decent agency/agent because from what I understand, a manager really can’t legally negotiate terms when it comes to selling a script. The only problem there is that you’re losing right around 25% of what you manage to sell your script for… 10% to the agent — 15% to the manager.

10% or 15% by itself doesn’t seem too bad to me at all… But lump them together along with taxes and now you know why we form Limited Liability Companies… LOL.

The only reason I can see for getting involved with BOTH would be if you’re writing as much and as often as Stephen King. Which means if YOU’RE NOT and you want both, you may want to kick your writing up a notch…

Or several. The material is going to have to continuously flow in order to keep these entities interested in your GAME. This brings us back to having several professional level screenplays ready to go. If not, then some very well polished ideas that you can pitch.

I am also seeing that not having representation seems to be some kind of implied permission to lowball you… LOL. Could be the economy too however… I would expect anyone to lowball you right off the bat anyway but from my limited experience in the last couple of weeks, it seems to be the norm.

We are definitely in hard times. And even if I go for one of these deals… The original problem STILL EXISTS i.e., the screenplay might not get produced for another couple of years which is REALLY, the only reason I went out with the script to begin with.

A vicious circle… LOL. I could just sit on my hands and write something else… I basically have a deal IN PLACE if I just sit on my hands. Luckily, the people at the prodco I work with are standup guys and understand my dilemma.

But it only seems like a dilemma to ME.

Unk

October 6, 2009 | Filed Under Tricks

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