Querying Talent

"nice rejection letters" they're all nice

anyhoo - if you talent query it's best to query an actor who already has their own production company and many of them do. and while doing your research see if they only produce flicks where they are the star (or sometimes supporting) or if they produce flicks just to produce what they want even if there is no part for them.

It never hurts to try. Before 'The Office' was too big of a hit, I got Rainn Wilson to read a comedy script of mine because a friend of mine works at a college that Rainn's wife teaches at. I've also gotten lesser known actors to read my work by simply e-mailing them through Myspace. You just never know. If you can find a personal way to ask instead of going the query route, you may have better luck.

Even if an actor doesn't have their own prod co., I would still query them and see if they want to attach to the script.

This can work for your benefit, since many prod co's (especially those with studio shingles) like to see a package, including attachments from actors and directors.

This can also be a disadvantage for you, if the prod co who thinks of buying your script has someone else in mind, or if you attach "b" or "c" list actors that a prod co could care less about.

The important thing is to generate interest and get your work read. Enough people read it, it is bound to get interest or noticed-- law of averages.

If an actor likes your script, they tell two friends and they tell two friends...

I know a writer who queried and got an "A" list actor to attach to his script, who in turn got an agent because of the mention of that attachment in his query, who in turn got a director on board, who in turn got a producer (who incidentally was cold queried that same script a year earlier and didn't request the script) to option it. Last I heard, the script is close to getting greenlit.

Of course the script has to be good, otherwise, the actor, agent, director and producer will pass.

This is all good to know.

I've thought about trying this, but don't know how to go about it.

I have a screenplay that everyone says is perfect for Tobey McGuire, so I'd be pretty dumb to not at least try to get it to him.

All I've been able to find is that he's with Creative Artist Agency.

I know he's got a condo down on the strip here in Vegas, so I've thought about bribing a maid, but I'd never know if he got it.

Unless he called me.

I once chased Jerry Bruckheimer through a mall with a script in hand.

Okay, I didn't chase him, that would have got me arrested, but I was waiting in line as he walked past and I was yelling at him to read my script.

Does that count as a query?

That's funny, Rainy Night. It reminds me of that episode of King of Queens where Lou Ferigno moves in next door and Jerry Stiller's character spends the whole episode trying to get him to read his spec script "Reconsidering Sandy," which, come to find out, has five characters named Mike and none named Sandy.

Joe270 said:

I've thought about trying this, but don't know how to go about it.

I have a screenplay that everyone says is perfect for Tobey McGuire, so I'd be pretty dumb to not at least try to get it to him.

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try these...

Creative Artists Agency (CAA)
Richard Lovett
Talent Agent
2000 Avenue Of The Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
USA
Phone: 424-288-2000
http://www.caa.com/

Management 360
Eric Kranzler
Manager
9111 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
USA
Phone: 310-272-7000
Fax: 310-272-0084

ID Public Relations
Kelly Bush
Publicist
8409 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
USA
Phone: 323-822-4800
Fax: 323-822-4880
http://www.id-pr.com/
[email protected]

Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren & Richman
Steve Warren
Legal Representative
450 N. Roxbury Dr.
8th Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
USA

Thanks a bunch, Joe. How the heck. . . I better not ask your methods.

Seriously, thanks.

RainbowDragon said:

Out of curiosity, has anyone gotten any interest in scripts or nice rejections from well-known talent?

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I was writing a script for a filmmaker friend in GA; he sent it to Brinke Stevens and Debbie Rochon and they both said they'd do it if we got financed. Each would be playing way against type.

Still getting read requests for that one...but nobody's made any offers yet. Last I contacted them, Brinke and Debbie are still keen on it, though.

Does that count?

It does as far as I'm concerned. I hope it works out.