Your expert opinion, please? From de Hobbledehoy.

Five months is a long time.

They should have read it by now. Sounds like they are backlogged. But at least they haven't blown you off. If they "passed" on your script and here you are calling, they SHOULD be at the very least TELLING you over the phone "It's a pass" and then they will thankfully stop getting calls from you. If THIS is their version of a silent pass (which it shouldn't be) then they're buttheads.

Try to get the NAME next time you call of the person you are actualy speaking to --but get that name in a SWEET way, not in a hostile way -- and ask pretty please: "Can I get to speak to YOU next month when I call again, Cynthia? You're so nice! And you seem to know your way around there. And hopefully you'll have more information for me next month when I do call." She'll probably make it a point to get your script read--she might even read it herself!! (Even if she's "just" the receptionist.)

And to be honest, one ICM exec told me: do not EVER settle for a silent pass. She said that after the standard period of 6-8 weeks has passed, to keep on e-mailing them (but no more frequently than once a month or you look like a psycho) asking them with the ut most politeness and professionalism if they've read it yet. And she said do NOT stop until they reply. She said a silent pass is unacceptable --she doesn't stand for it, nor does she let her clients get swept aside by it.




Meanwhile, the absolute worst case scenario for you here is that they are falling to pieces from a professional (and possibly financial) standpoint and ready to close shop (which happens all the time in Hollywood, especially with little tiny companies). But that's no REAL skin off your nose if that happens UNLESS you signed some really funky, unorthodox, and suicidal release form of the sort that will cause your script to irretrievably get sucked right down the drain with them. (But I'm sure you didn't do THAT ..... right??????)


But don't let their procrastination (or possibly their looming self-destruction) stop you. Just keep sending out those queries --don't EVER stop sending out queries. And the fact that you've placed in various contests is a super good thing to include in those queries.

you're certainly still alive; they wouldn't hesitate to tell you that they'd passed if they had no interest in it or weren't genuinely unable to read it yet.

congrats on the contest placements and best wishes with the biggies.

I tend to forget how many submissions I've sent out and when. For example I just recieved a reply from a query and script submission I sent out in September. They were telling me that I am on the top of their list and are about to make a decision and that they'll contact me soon. Go figure, I'd forgotten I'd sent it out. Five months is a long time, I don't sweat over queries I've sent out, otherwise I'd be drenched all the time. Keep working, it helps take the sting out of the wait.

What else should I be doing?

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if you've gotten feedback from those contests then you can still tweak your script for the more prized competitions like Nicholl. you can also try marketing through http://www.scriptpimp.com and http://www.inktip.com

and keep working on your next best script b/c if they do like your writing style but your story is not what they're looking for they may come back with a "what else have you got?" and you'll want to have something ready. and if they do make sure you ask them what are they looking for... esp if you have a few choices of your own to present.

icerose said:

I tend to forget how many submissions I've sent out and when. For example I just recieved a reply from a query and script submission I sent out in September. They were telling me that I am on the top of their list and are about to make a decision and that they'll contact me soon. Go figure, I'd forgotten I'd sent it out. Five months is a long time, I don't sweat over queries I've sent out, otherwise I'd be drenched all the time. Keep working, it helps take the sting out of the wait.

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You really need to keep detailed submission records on all of this stuff -- what was sent out, to whom, when, what it's status is, *contact name* -- all of that information should be kept in a continually up-dated list so that you know what's going on with your material -- where it is, out in the world.

As you've noted yourself, it's really easy to loose track of your stuff if you don't do this -- and then six months later you're asking yourself -- did I send a script to this place? Who do I send it to? Did I keep a copy of the submission letter? Where did I put it? Did they turn me down? Did I call? Who did I talk to? Who remembers?

NMS

I also rec Inktip.com. The great thing about listing your scripts there, is you get a log of everyone who looks at your logline, synopsis, resume or downloads a script. Name, contact, date/time of download. Great for keeping a paper trail of who looked at what/when.

It sounds like you're doing a lot of the right things. I think I would recommend getting an agent (and/or using inktip) AND keep querying. You can't make a judgement call about the industry based on a few queiries you've done. Contests are well and good, but if you're not making contacts and getting to know gatekeepers, you're only going to get so far. There's a story available on one of the many writing blogs about a Nichol winner who went on to sign a deal and then got dropped. He was back at square one...and the Nichol is one of the most prestigious competitions out there. The point is, don't put all your eggs in one basket (ironically appropriate given that tomorrow is Easter, ha!). Really market yourself and your script and you do that by getting your name out there with different prodcos in addition to the contests.

Are they backlogged from the strike do you think? There was a sudden rush of new stuff? Old stuff had to be restarted so new stuff slush pile gets bigger?