I’m currently putting together my material to start pitching my web series/tv series again. My strengths lie in pre- to post-production so I’ve been struggling with this for a couple years. Fortunately I have a few friends who work in development who believe in this project and have agreed to help me, but they’re doing it on top of their own work, so I want to do as much leg work as I can before calling on them. There’s also an A list actor that I’m acquainted with that I wrote a part for. I mentioned it to him a couple years ago when I first started pitching and he said to reach out to his business partner. I figured he had a reason for me to go that route instead of straight to his agent so I did but never heard from him. Which was unsurprising, as I’ve had a hard time getting in touch with him before, even regarding things I was supposed to do for their company. Since then the actor has gotten even bigger, and his company is being restructured so I’m not sure trying his business partner again is the right path. I’d like to go straight to his agent, since I feel like I’m very close to getting a green light and a letter of intent would help that go faster. The thing is, I’m not sure how much I can tell the agent. One of my friends helping is VP of television at a major studio, but since the first season is a web series it’s not his department. Since the ink isn’t even on the page yet I don’t want to mention specifics, but is there a way to include that information without sounding like I’m trying to artificially create interest? Having your project talked about in meetings is a lot different than someone from a studio liking your tweet, but both scenarios can be described the same. On the flip side, can/should I mention the actor’s interest when I’m pitching it without a letter?
Producing : How to talk about it without talking about it? by Sandrene Mathews
How to talk about it without talking about it?
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(The idea of "artificially" creating interest is novel to me - you create a product and market it, it's all artificial by definition, don't worry about that part). Go directly to the agent unless you have a focused business proposal for the business partner. The long and short of it is that if you have not got $$ in hand for a pay or play deal, your project better have some very specific and career-enhancing cache to it for that talent. There must be some reason why that particular talent should want to be in that particular role, outside just the money. Absent that, you are not likely to get to square one. With it (and assuming the agent has some kind of sense), you will have the door open to show how fantastic the project will be. The agent will want to know literally everything about it, including the budget. Don't tell them anything they needn't know, and maybe not all of that until they have a clear statement they are interested in speaking more.