Q&A: You have said that for excellent screenwriters, it is a seller’s market. Is this true for an unknown screenwriter with no powerful insider contacts and no track record?

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You have said that for excellent screenwriters, it is a seller’s market. Is this true for an unknown screenwriter with no powerful insider contacts and no track record?

Apr 27, 2011

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Temujin: A message for Carrie, Robert McKee and every other unknown screen and tv writer!

at May 03, 2011 - 11:56 AM

This response is too obvious and I think a little disingenuous.
Robert does not address the most (repeat most) crucial first stage in this process that you will find is 'bottlenecked'. (That's another debate for the corporate strategists.) This is what you must do:
Get a list of agencies and agents from Hollywood Creative Directory (HCD). Cross match that with a list of agencies from Writers Guild of America.
It is pointless doing what Robert McKee suggests - to identify which agencies (or perhaps agents) handle the writers you respect. You will discover this leads to the top 3 agencies only. Now read on -
You will be unable to identify the specialisations of the agents.
You will discover that the top 5-10) agencies will not accept even a query letter unless it is by referral.
You will discover that over 50% of the remaining agencies will not accept query letters either.
Most of the others may accept query letters but will ask for an email asking whether you can sub,it a query letter even.
Most of them will not bother to respond + or -.

I have my own views (from a corporate strategy viewpoint) as to what is likely going on. However I'm seeing signs that the networks and studios are sensing that there is a need for change. I see that one agency (Don Buchwald) has recently merged and the President of its LA office didn't even know it was happening!
Fox has set up a new writers 'think tank' which I think is a crappie idea and is an invite to plagiarism and committee think. Avoid this!
I see some major advertisers flexing their muscles over disparate issues.
So while it's certainly true that quality of writing will show through, and I presume no one should deny this - except the lazy and the stupid - there are layers of readers you must reach first. The system is not structured to do this. Duh!