Representin'

It's a question I see a lot of screenwriters at the foothills of the heap ask: Agent or Manager?

First, let's define the differences. In my experience...

Managers typically have fewer clients, provide more hands-on script development, focus on networking opportunities (setting up meetings), and are more often in a position to be willing to "break" a new writer.

Agents typically have more clients, offer less one-on-one time, and focus more on making a sale or securing a writing assignment. Agents are registered with the state of California.

Managers are not registered with the state and, technically, are not supposed to negotiate a deal (they'll set you up with an entertainment attorney for that).

Think of it this way: A Manager is more like your Research & Development Department and your Marketing Department. An Agent is more like your Sales Force.

Because agencies come with a verifiable reputation and track record, it should be easier to do your homework on an agent. In theory, they should be more of a known commodity.

Because anybody can hang up a shingle and call themselves a manager, you need to do your due diligence. Both managers and agents will get a 10% commission on any money you make while working with them.

Any manager or agent who asks you to pay upfront for any service whatsoever is not legit. Run away.

So, back to the original question. If you're a new writer looking to break in, my feeling is that you have a better shot at aligning yourself with a manager who is willing to take on new clients. You want someone with good script development instincts who knows a lot of people. This is your chance to get your calling card script into a lot of peoples' hands.

And if things go well, the manager can hook you up with an agent.

The other option is to look for an ambitious junior agent who's willing to work with unknown writers.

And of course, there's the Big Ass Caveat -- there is no instruction manual. There is no definitive road map. There is no blueprint for a career path. It happens differently for everyone.

Dave's Rickety Bridge Part II

So I crawled out of my cave and ventured toward the chasm.

And I did some homework. For some reason I thought I was about the only one smart enough to check out a screenwriting posting board. Yes, sir, I was going to have a competitive advantage all right. Because, what, only a few million other writers, give or take, were privy to this sort of classified info.

So I found a thread talking about up-and-coming managers. A few were listed. I wrote down their names. Who knows, in retrospect, they were probably posting their names themselves, but I didn't ask any questions I didn't want answers to.

Then I sent out some query emails. I'm a believer in the less-is-more school of querying. Really, really, really less is more. Give them an interesting logline that allows their imagination to see the potential, and that's it.

I think my query went something like this...

I'm an up-and-coming screenwriter, and I recently completed a script that you may be interested in.

Title: The Floaters
Logline: A misfit high school guy realizes that the school's janitor is a washed up one-hit-wonder pop star from the eighties, and the kid convinces the janitor to help him form a band.

And that's it. I'm sure I signed off accordingly. Gave them a thanks for their time and some contact info.

Within a week or two I'd heard from a couple managers requesting the script.

Then... nothing. That's another thing you have to be prepared for: So Much Nothing. I will have to post on this in the future.

But the Nothing ended a couple months later. I received an email from the Manager that said the script I sent was the first one he'd responded to in the last 1,400 or so.

I don't include that number to brag. I include it to show why they take soooo long in responding, if they respond at all. And how much competition there is.

More to come. The script gets sent around town... and does not sell.