Screenwriting : Al Anderson by Al Anderson

Hi Al, If the actors manager loves your script, I'm sure they have contacts with other managers and agents. Why not get back to them and ask them to make a referral or introduction on your behalf? I'm sure agents and managers are inundated with people trying all sorts of ploys to get their leg in the door and it's hard to separate the genuine from the chancers, so why not build upon the relationship you have and use it. A Skype call would be a good next step in building rapport. Kind Regards, Eoin

Thanks for the advice Eoin. The manager referred me to the CAA and despite the fact that I reminded them that the star in question was one of their clients and that it was his manager that referred me, I was told that it didn't count. It would have to be someone from within the agency who referred me. Last week I emailed a Media Layer in LA and told her my story. She wasn't surprised about the CAA response. She said that they were constantly approached by "people like me". It would have to be a Ridley Scott who reffered me before they would pay any attention. That didn't go down too well (The people like me part).. She then said that she would represent me for $400 per hour. Perhaps I should hire her for two hours ( I can't afford a runaway bill). Maybe that's below her? I have never understood why a writer should automatically be expected to be a super salesman as well and have to sell themselves in a two minute pitch. Isn't that what we pay agents for?

Something screwy there, as others have pointed out. Everybody in town knows that an unrepresented writer/actor/director/DP, etc, can't just reach out to a manager or agent and expect to get a hearing. At the same time, the manager of a well-established actor doesn't say encouraging things about a screenplay -- especially as strong as "thumbs up" -- unless there's a serious interest ... in which case why would he/she have said "Call CAA" -- knowing full well that the CAAs in town get dozens of hopeful call every day, and the callers never get beyond the receptionist. If that actor's agent is really serious, ask him/her to send you an email expressing the interest, and then use that to try to get someone to pay attention. Is the screenplay doing well in any of the big competitions? That's a help, as well. Have you posted on some of the screenplay sites? If not, you should be. (For the record, I'm Writers Guild, LA-based, and author of numerous bestselling books ... but currently unrepresented, and it's no easier for me than for you.)

You are right William about a hearing. I didn't know just how much I could bore everybody about the back story. I'm Scottish. I have a Masters Degree in Film Production and a Diploma from RADA. My screenplay is called ROBERT THE BRUCE KING OF SCOTS. From the very beginning I wrote the part of Bruce with Gerard Butler in mind. As a Scot wanting a Scottish actor to play the part I sent the script directly to him. If you have to know what directly means I'll be happy to explain.

Hi William, It's later and I have read a few more responses to my question. How did I get Gerard Butler to read my script? We were born a few miles apart. I have worked with him. Last Xmas when he spent the holiday with his mother in Perthshire, Scotland, my screenplay was gift wrapped under the Xmas tree. You have to think out of the box.

This sounds weird to me. The Manager/Producing partner wouldn't send you to CAA... as a Producer they could just option your screenplay. You don't need an agent for someone to option your screenplay. If they wanted to set you up with an Agent at CAA, they would call CAA and do all of the behind the scenes work. CAA would call you. This just doesn't make sense.

To answer William Simons questions. I entered the first draft of my script in the CWA script competition 2014. It got 8.5 out of 10 to be a success on the silver screen. I received some good advice from the judges and went on to write drafts 2 and 3. I have now entered draft 3 into the: Oaxaca Mexican Film festival. It has been chosen for final selection,the results being announced later today or tomorrow, The Paris Independent film Festival (30th this month), BlueCat Screenplay competition, Scriptapalooza screenplay competition, The Richmond International Film Festival (I won an award for another script last year at Richmond), The Los Angeles Film & Script Festival, The Las Vegas Film Festival and The Emerging Screenwriters competition. All of these yet to come. I am unfamiliar with screenplay sites. What are they and where do I find them? Thanks for the advice.