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I'd like to know what you think of the following experience I had with a Hollywood producer. I sent him a script and waited patiently for his response. He actually phoned me and promised he'd be reading the script very soon, then let me know if he likes it. He also said he'd be passing through my part of the continent very soon, implying he might actually see me. Well, he phoned again, left another message, promised to call back, but never did. So, I still have no idea whether or not he wants me script. I haven't heard from him in days. He's long since passed through town.

I say it's time to find another producer. What do you think? How loyal do I have to be to someone who can't let me know what's going on? Would it be a mistake to let agents and producers know about the first producer's apparent interest? Or should I assume it's like my friends suggest -- the producer was just hoping to get a free lay while he was in town?

Carol,

I wouldn't put all my eggs in one basket.

There are so many steps to actually getting a script produced, and on any one of them, everything can fall apart. The best remedy is to keep writing, keep putting your work out there, and then keep writing again.

I hope it works out with this producer, but my sense is that you just have to keep trying until something sticks. Move on, and if he calls, think of it as a nice surprise.

Carol:

That was a bad experience, but you should definitely move on.

Unfortunately, this business is filled with people who have very little integrity, and who treat others badly. The strange thing is that they're not smart enough to realize that the person who they treat badly today could be in a position of power tomorrow.

Many successful people in this business were treated badly early on in their careers. I remember seeing an interview with Sharon Stone where she mentioned a casting director who told her to her face that she wasn't sexy, and another one who ate all through her audition and never bothered to look up. Well, Sharon Stone remembers these people vividly because it really hurt at the time, and you can bet that they will never be hired to cast a Sharon Stone movie!

I hope that you won't let the sickos get to you.

They'll get what they deserve eventually.

Best of luck.

Did you have a written agreement with this producer? No? All he did was call you and say he's read your script and IMPLY he might even see you. Wow, and he never did and now you're upset. Oh dear. It seems to me you're crying over very little. If you call this being burned by a producer then I'm afraid you've got a lot to learn about the biz.

Cross your fingers and your legs. Keep up a good relationship with the "producer" but don't do anything you don't want to do. If you don't have a verbal or written agreement or option then you are free to shop it around to whom-ever you want. Things like this happen all the time and not always because the producer is a bad guy/girl. They have a lot on their plate and sometimes you get lost. It never hurts to send friendly email or the ocasional phone/fax to remind the producer you are still interesed and excited about working with him/her. If you feel you have been strung along then just move on and remember never to burn any bridges. The "nobody Producer" of today could be the next "hot producer" of tomorrow. Jay.

You're absolutely right, Jay.

The nobody producer of today COULD be the next hot producer of tomorrow.

That's why we shouldn't underestimate anyone.

And producers shouldn't underestimate us in return. The nobody writer of today could be the hot writer of tomorrow.

I, for one, know that I'm gonna "get there." I used to feel hurt by industry people who were dismissive and rude, but now I just feel sorry for them... because they're the ones that I will dismiss when I'm in the position to do so.

Perhaps some producers are like some corporate recruiters. Five years ago, a corporate recruiter was sending me out for an interview for a job. Prior to the interview, the recruiter was nicer to me than my best friend and was always available to talk with me at any length. During the job interview, there wasn't any chemistry, but I was still hopeful. The recruiter was suppose to call after the interview. However, the very second the recruiter realized that there was no money to made on me, the recruiter cut all communication. Suddenly, my new best friend wasn't accepting any calls from me--the recruiter was always out or tied up. It took me until Monday night (duh) to figure it out. I guess for the recruiter to have taken one minute to tell me that the company wasn't interested would have been a waste of the recruiter's time. I've talked to several people who've had similar experiences with recruiters. Some people are like that.

Thanks for the input. Some very wise words.

I guess I was simply confused, because I have no explanation for why the producer never bothered to call back. It makes me want to drop him a note and tell him that a simple rejection letter would do nicely. But I won't drop him a note, I'll just keep looking. In fact, I am looking around for another producer, as well as a new agent.

Would I work with him in the future? Well, he's just the producer. Not GOD. So, I don't think I owe him.

This does remind me, though, how a couple years ago Julia Roberts' people called and asked to see one of my scripts. Then, when my agent and I (I had an agent back then) tried to follow up, they kept telling us they never received the script, even after we mailed them a second copy.

I doubt I'll ever give Julia another script. And it just so happens I have a publisher looking at a novel that would make great casting for "older" actresses, which Julia soon will be.

As for how much I have to learn about the business . . . I believe people who know how to treat people well are the people who make it to the top and stay on top. Stay is the key word in that last sentence. Okay?

Thanks again for your input, guys! I greatly appreciate it.