A former IC screenwriting student of mine recently emailed for advice. He had just gotten an offer from a "v.p" at an agency called Writers Literary Screenplay Agency (WLscreenplay Agency) who said she was interested in his work. The one caveat -- he was required to PAY a fee to someone "reputable" to "analyze" his screenplay before they took him on. The v.p. (or someone) had read his script and had kind words to say but there was also a very long explanation from the agency offering to either recommend someone they knew or mentioning the student could find an analyst he paid on his own (I'm assuming that analyst would have to meet the agency's requirements.
Here's the point, and burn it into your memory: NO WRITER SHOULD EVER, EVER PAY AN AGENT. OR BE ASKED TO PAY SOMEONE ELSE IN ORDER TO GET AN AGENT. If this is the case, you're likely dealing with some sort of scam. As a writer, or any kind of artist - you are the talent. An agent is the person who represents YOU. You do not PAY them until they make a deal for you. Case closed.
It is very easy to be swayed when people are telling you they like your work. Especially when you're starting out. Especially when it feels like it can be difficult to get a good agent or manager. But don't give into temptation. Your career will eventually move forward if you a. keep doing the work b. keep getting better c. keep putting yourself and your work out into the world.
Don't be taken in by people who want to prey on you and your dreams. If it looks too good to be true, it often is. Use your instincts. Or...email me.
-SG
PS - The agency I mentioned is listed as a group of "scams" by the website: sfwa.org/beware/ Apparently, this agency used to be called the Literary Agency Group. One way to make sure an agent is reputable is to go on the Writer's Guild website (wga.org) and go to the list of wga approved agencies. There's a long list of good people. If in doubt you can call the guild. Or...email me. Again. Whatever you do, don't sell yourself or your talent short!
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3 comments:
When I first moved to LA, I trained to work the phones for a foreclosure list company...total scam. After the sell, we were to try to get teh callers to buy even more garbage, like scam health insurance and something else. One of my "classmates'" previous jobs was as working the phones at video sales for Girls Gone Wild. The whole operation reeked of bad karma. Thankfully, I had to quit right after the paid training!
Scams are not limited to the entertainment business -- though one hopes they would at least be a little more.....entertaining.
Next time I comment, I'll proofread what I've typed! Gads!
What I learned from my scam training was the selling technique of ending all sentences with "down tones." When being forced to watch GWB's last State of the Union speech, I realized that he ends every sentence with down tones. My take: his speech was further proof that his preziduncey is nothing more than a scam, entertaining at best, tragic at worst.
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