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I want to send query letters out to creative agencies, not signatory agencies. I don't want to buy the Hollywood Creative Directory. Is there any way I can get online information on which development execs are accepting query letters? Also, if any of you are looking for agents, the Writer's Guild website has a good list.

I want to send query letters out to creative agencies, not signatory agencies but I don't want to buy the Hollywood Creative Directory (starving writer, you know). Is there any way I can get online information on which development execs are accepting query letters? Also, if any of you are looking for agents, the Writer's Guild website has a good list. I'm a newbie, so any info would be great. Thanks.

Dear Eric and Gil,

Thanks for the information. That was great advice. I have read quite a bit and I have done quite a bit of revising, but I am a novice. I don't want my first impression in the business to be a bad one. Thanks for the tip about making cold calls and about the books. Do you know any books that also deal with the business aspect, i.e. industry conventions a newbie wouldn't know?

Thanks and good luck. Go screenwriters.

WAIT UNTIL DARK with Katherine Hepburn is a great, overlooked thriller. Not so much horror but fantastic at creating fear without blood. When it was orignally released, some viewers actually passed out. More on the horror side, THE WICKER MAN is pretty disturbing. People either love it or hate it.

Hello! I'm applying to the Nick Fellowships in the animation category. Does anyone know anything about animation writing? Is the format diferent? Where could I get a animation script to look at? Also, what are people's opinion of the Nick Fellowships and animation writing in general?

Thanks a million.

PS. It's my 21st birthday and all I can think about is my writing. What does that say? ;)

Does anyone know the correct length, in pages, for a half-hour animated cartoon, such as The Simpsons? Thanks - Stephanie

Thanks, that helps a lot. Now all I need is an agent. ;) I've written a script for the Simpsons, but it's too short, so I have to make it longer. Do you know anything about the Disney/ABC Fellowship? I'm thinking of entering it.

I am, in TV. I heard less people entered TV or it was easier to win in TV or something to that effect. How about you?

Got this answer to one of my screenplay queries. What do y'all think? Is this sort of thing a scam? If it isn't, thought people might be interested.

~We got your information from Big Cat Productions. Allow us to introduce ourselves. We’re www.nogoodscripts.com and we’re the answer to the ridiculous cry from Hollywood that ‘there’s no good scripts.’ What we’re offering is a site that gives writers a chance to show off what they have. Our site allows prospective agents and production companies to browse through our archive of coverage. (A 2-4 page wrap-up that summarizes the plot and evaluates the characters, dialogue and storyline.) All our coverage is written by professional script readers, people who’ve studied film, written about film, made films and love movies as much as you do. This coverage will give anyone who checks out the site an idea about your script and may give you a thing or two to think about as you prepare your next draft. If anyone wants to read one of the scripts we have posted coverage for, we’ll send it to them and let you know someone’s interested. Think of us as another voice to promote your work. We’re just setting up the site and are looking to build a database so all we want to do is read your script and post the coverage. (There’s usually a fee for this, but since we’re just beginning, we don’t want you to pay for anything.) Please fill out the attached release and send it back to us. We’ll have two script readers read what you’ve sent us and you can read their coverage on-line shortly. If you could, please e-mail us to let us know to look for your release. The web-site will be launching soon. Check us out. We think you’ll like what we’ve got to offer. Thanks,

Tom Bean Nogoodscripts.com

Thanks for the research. You confirmed my own research and suspicions. But sometimes it's hard to know. Where do they get off charging that much from starving writers any way? ;) Thanks again.

Great, lots of TV writers. I bet everyone heard the rumor that it was easier and now there will be a flood of TV scripts. Like William Goldman says, nobody knows anything. ;) I'm doing The Simpsons. It's a spoof of Lord of the Rings.

Curb sounds interesting to write for. Is anyone doing straight-up drama, like The West Wing?

Richard-

Does the mouse have ears that stay perfect circles no matter how he turns his head? Because call me crazy, that smells like a hit to me.

Warning taken. I agree. Why is it that only the slimy scum return my phone calls and emails? Is is a writer's thing? Do we have a force-field that attracts lower ocean dwellers?

I have a Simpsons script, but they only take things from writers with agents. Does anyone know which agents represent the writing staff for the Simpsons?

Any info would be cool.

Since I don't have anything that would really make me diverse, that's what I did too. But if you have something that might make you interesting to them, such as you come from a minority background or grew up in some weird place, I would mention that. After all, this used to be the Diversity Fellowship. Basically, if it helped you get into college, put it down here.

Richard -

Love the iron lung. I think it is a very underrated plot device.

I have a Simpsons script that I want to sell, but they only take scripts from represented writers. Does anyone know a way to get around this? What agents sell to the Simpson and/or represent Simpsons writers?

Steve-

Thanks! :) That is exactly the info I needed. Long live the message boards and helpful fellow writers.

Steve -

Have you used who represents? It seems to only list actors.

How do you know they are announcing them now? I was under the impression it wouldn't be until the Fall.

I'm graduating college in a year and I plan to move to pursue my career as a screenwriter. I'd like to move back to NYC instead of LA. Is NYC any good for screenwriters? How about other areas of the country for work (Florida, Chicago)?

Then I guess I didn't win. Bummer.

Greg-

So this guy/company is not legit?

I was looking at the winners for the major screenwriting contests the other day and it occured to me that maybe, MAYBE one of them was a straight-out comedy. The closest I saw was a dramedy or perhaps a romantic comedy.

What gives? Anybody know of contests that give comedy a sporting chance?

Nice plug Mr. Flaxman.

Thank you Edward. That is very reasuring. I agree with a the writer a few post back that said that they would rather sell a comedy. I think that may be the problem. Contests aren't always geared towards what with sell or get made, but some artistic "ideal." Does anyone know the rates of production success for contest winners?

How much does an entry level screenwriting job, like being a script reader, pay? Has anyone gone this route in LA or NYC and endorses it? And what other entry level jobs are there?

Thanks Paula for the information. I know what you mean about the PA route. You can only do it for so long. Plus, a steady diet of donuts, lukewarm coffee and cold pop-tarts loses its bloom after a while.

Would you say script reading or story notes something you can do while working a "real" or paying job? And by the way, congrats on the contest! I see your name on the boards all the time and it is nice to see a familiar face (or name) succeed. :)

Does anyone know what is going on with the Nick Fellowships? They said the end of the summer. Well, it's the end of the summer. Are they running behind schedule, like previous years, or has anyone on the board been picked as a finalist?

Why not the end of a Hawaiian summer? Then they could just send the things out whenever they feel like.

Thanks. Did you call them to get that number? All I got was an answering machine.

Stopped reading because you were happy? Congrats on the letter, if it was good news.

How long should I wait to make a follow-up call after I send out a query letter? A week? Should I be calling at all? I've gotten conflicting advice. And what should I say?

I'd rather be writing anyway. I hate folding letters and licking stamps. Yuck. And I'm clumsy so I always get paper cuts.

I'll continue to work of the query, but what about the synopsis? I'd love to see a few examples of really smashing ones. And how long is two long?

Original poster to Jerry Hatchet-

Yes sir. And I'm going to start by getting off this website. Just as soon as I find out how to write a decent synposis? Got any suggestions/examples?

What does everyone think about reading fees? Are they a sign of a scam and how much is too much? I always feel ripped off by them.

Jerry-

Thanks. That's pretty much what I have, but I was on the fence about the ending. I've also gotten conflicting advice about the ideal number of paragraphs. Some say 3, but I have more than that (still under one page). Is that terrible?

Thanks for the heads up. This agency is claiming to be a WGA agency, so I'll look them up and report them. It's hard enough trying to get a break without scam artists posing as agents.

I just read a rather disturbing article on the shelf life of screenwriters, which seems to be somewhere between ballerina and pro-baseball player. Thought it was interesting and wanted to see what everybody thought about it.

Has anyone heard of the Lee Shore Agency, particularly a Jen Piemme? They're interested in some of my work. Is there any resource you can look at to find if an agent is reputable? Thanks.

Steve-

Good advice. Where can I find more info on production companies? Are they on the moviebytes site?

Thanks. That's pretty much as the information I have on them as well. I'll keep digging and sending out queries to better agencies.

Thank you. Moviebytes writers have given me some great help already, so I'll definitely post if I have questions. A question on the HCD: Other than hauling to the library and photocopying half the thing, where else can I get it (preferably at a discount). I'm still a starving student.

Is representation essential, or can a writer succesfully sell their own work? If so, how?

I'd love to hear from anyone who has.

The Lee Shore Agency wants to sign me for my script Murphy's Law. Has anyone heard of and/or signed with this company?

What is standard agent %? They want 15 and 20% overseas. Is that typical?

Also, the contract states I will be responsible for photocopying, cover/query letters, long distance phone calls, fax, and other costs, and an $85.00 marketing fee.

Plus expenses for workshops, conventions, etc.

What does everyone think? Is this standard? I don't like all these fees and expenses.

Thanks. I think I'll start a new post with their name and see if anyone has experience. I've heard some sketchy things about them on the internet, too.

Thanks for the information. I'll look on Preditors and Editors. It sounds like a good site.

Steve,

You make a good point. On the one hand, a smaller agency may spend more time on you, but how small is too small? What's a reasonable amount a writer should expect to front? I'm new, but I'm of the opinion that if an agent is going to get 10%, they should pay for the expenses of promoting my work. Isn't that what they do?

Terry,

That's what I've heard and am thinking. What do you think of trying to negotiate with the agent down to 10% and no open expenses? Even if they take it, is it worth it? Or should I just keep looking?

Terry and Rich-

Amen. And you're right. If they have to charge fees, they're probably don't know anyone anyways. Also, how good could an agent in Pittsburgh be? Really.

What does everyone think of querying production companies? If it doesn't come from an agent, do they just through out your letter? I am in the process of querying agents, and I thought, why not prodcos?

To everyone - Sorry I haven't responded in a while, but thanks for the great advice.

Terri- Getting someone to write a letter for you is something I hadn't thought of. I don't live in Southern California, so it might be a little harder, but it is worth a try. Thanks!

Matt - I was in a hurry and I made a mistake. You were right, but it's just an online bulletin board. Chill out.

I've got a bite from the Marion A. Wright Agency and I was wondering if anyone has heard anything about them.

Also, other than asking around, how do you find out if an agent is any good? Other than Preditors & Editors, are there any websites?

Is there a "correct" way to write a bio? I'm young -barely out of college. What do I do if I don't have much experience yet or many credits?

Volunteering on productions is good idea, but do agents and producer really take that kind of experience into account?