Re: Info on Ed Hansen, Inc./Atomic Hollywood
An Open Message From Paul Lawrence:
I have become aware that there is apparently postings of a negative nature about me and I just wanted to present my side of the story. I invite any person that I’ve actually done business with and feels unhappy or anyone that would just like to discuss this issue further to contact me at my e-mail:
[email protected] so I can speak with them in a direct manner rather than as postings.
I am very disturbed that anyone would think that I have in some way wronged them or didn’t deliver exactly what I promised and I hope that people will give my point of view fair consideration.
First, let me present the history as to my dealings with Ed Hansen.
I met Ed Hansen in a similar was as many other writers have. I did a blind query and he indicated he liked my script. In fact, he wanted to produce it, but when he couldn't get the funding he asked me if I'd let him represent it. Even though I had an agent I agreed. I was not asked for any money for a rewrite as it was a strong script. About ten months later he sold it for what was for me a nice piece of change and a chance at a back end. I still keep a photocopy of this check on a wall in my bedroom.
Ed later asked me if I wanted to co-write a script that he had a development deal with and that resulted in an offer for a domestic theatrical distribution deal.
Next, Ed let me know that he frequently received scripts that had good concepts and could be sellable if they were greatly improved. Since I had some other credentials from a couple of other options outside of deals with Ed, I was represented by a known LA agent and I'd like to think my quality writing skills, he asked me if I'd be interested in doing rewrites if they were referred to me which he would then represent and try to sell.
Based on my successful experience with him selling my script this sounded like a win-win situation for everyone involved and I agreed.
I've worked extremely hard on every rewrite I've done and I think I've done a good job. I have relationships with quite a few other producers who really like my writing so I know I'm not alone in the belief that I do a quality professional writing job. In fact at the moment of this writing I have several producers or directors that have already read my work and are at a close stage of maybe making an offer on several different scripts. In fact, one script actually has a producer who not only wants to produce but cast it as he’s a well known casting director to boot and has access to a lot of stars.
As for the representation Ed does, it seems to me that he does a terrific job of representing the scripts very aggressively. He provides regular feedback to the writers as to who's he's been presenting them to and he can prove his claims of who he's been contacting because while not all, but many send him back letters or e-mails with script requests or passes, etc. Naturally, he also has records of the many script submissions he’s done of scripts I’ve rewritten. I'm also really excited that this last week a rewrite I did and Ed has been representing has an offer on the table and I hope that a deal can be forthcoming. It is my understanding that Ed Hansen has averaged optioning or selling 4-6 scripts annually that he represents for a number of years. So far, this year he has optioned 2 and now it looks like he might have a third deal. I know he can prove this.
I really am mystified as to why anyone would be so upset. I certainly hope every writer I worked with thinks I did a great job. Certainly, a large number have sent me e-mails indicating so and now their scripts are being professionally represented by an LA based entity that regularly obtains deals and has a great deal of contacts and credits in the film business.
I know that not everyone can afford a rewrite and therefore I have also created a free newsletter group that offers screenwriting tips. I’ve had a lot of writers contact me from that and indicate that they were very happy about the information they received from me at no charge. I invite anyone that would like to check out the site to please do. It’s at:
groups.yahoo.com/group/Sc...rsFreeTips
I would appreciate if anyone who I've done business with and doesn't think I've done a good job and have delivered everything I promised in my agreement with them would contact me to discuss it. In fact, I would be glad to answer any individual that would contact me directly about any of this even if I haven't done business with them.
The bottom line is that I absolutely stand by that I've delivered everything I promised to anyone I’ve done business with. And I never made any promises that I could guarantee a sale, but that I could guarantee them that they’d get their script represented by an entity based in LA that can and does sell scripts.
I’m not an entity like Story Bay that aggressively calls people on the phone trying to sell the anything. At most, I’ve sent someone a promotional e-mail. I’ve never claimed to be some powerhouse writer that’s had big blockbusters produced. I have claimed and can prove that I’m represented by a known LA based agent that actually cuts quite a few deals a year, that I’ve had two scripts optioned, one sold, and one offer for a domestic theatrical distribution. I’ve had a few other informal things, but those are the ones I have contracts for. I do have relationships with at least a dozen or more producers that like my writing, know me by name and are always happy to hear about any new projects I have.
I worked hard for that. I wrote like 10 scripts for 7 years before I got my first agent. And believe me I’ve invested plenty of my own money in my screenwriting career. I spent $1000 twice on "Selling To Hollywood" plus my air fare and hotel which made each time a $2000 investment. I did learn some good things I didn’t know about the business end of screenwriting, and if you’re new to screenwriting and can afford it it’s not a bad thing to do. My first time I went I sold a baseball autograph collection my dad had left me to pay for it. But, at the end of the day, I really didn’t have too much to show for the money spent. The first year I met one agent who let me submit a script and he passed. The second year I met a lady who told me that if I gave her a couple of hundred bucks she’s put my script logline and synopsis in an expensive book she would distribute to all of her contacts. The book never came out and her phone became disconnected. I had a course that went for $1000 with a script doctor I met there who definitely made some good points about the script I had given her. Still, that really didn’t get me very far. I met another guy who claimed to have written like 20 big movies and maybe 15 television shows who I had another $1000 deal with. I had paid him most of the money and was pretty happy with his services when for some stupid reason I decided to check out some of his claims and couldn’t get any verification on them. I was actually still happy and had a check in my pocket to pay the final payment when I met with him. I just asked him about it and he flipped out and left. I was thinking about suing him, but then the script he was helping me with got an option, so I just dropped it. Anyway, I’ve paid a lot money to get help and I never found any opportunity where I could get my script professionally rewritten and then really represented. Whenever anyone tells me they’re thinking of spending their last buck on this, I pretty much tell them that it’s not a sure thing at all and to quote me, "I wouldn’t spend the rent money on this." Still, for someone that can afford it I think it’s a great way to shoot your writing career forward by hopefully learning a lot and getting someone who knows how to sell scripts to try and sell it. There are many people who pay for services to help their screenwriting careers. I don’t see why this has got so many people so upset. Anyone I have done business with has had the chance to carefully review and consider a contract which specifies exactly what the cost is and what services they will get. I have totally honored every one of those agreements.
The services I offer may not be for everyone, but for a lot of people I think it works pretty good. I know how frustrating it is to get representation. The truth is in my first years I was submitting scripts, they just weren’t good enough to get noticed, but I didn’t know it. I just didn’t have enough knowledge or craftsmanship yet. I think there are many people out there like that and if they can afford to pay to advance their career I don’t see what’s so wrong with it.
Thank you considering my point of view and again I welcome any clients of mine or anyone else who wants to discuss this matter to contact me at my e-mail I mentioned above.
Sincerely,
Paul Lawrence