Looking for an Agent: e-mail query letters

Question

I quote from Strategy 6 by http://scriptforsale.com (33 Ways to Break Into Hollywood).'One method that is growing in popularity is sending email query letters. There are services that send out a blast to agents, managers, and producers. In a single action, hundreds of Hollywood players will receive your query letter?and if it's well written, you may became the next Hollywood success story.'

Does it really make sense sending e-mail letters? Why do not take a walk to a post office?
Of course - I'm a beginning writers. In term of form the first trouble to me is query letters styles - what font do I use? what kind of paper? how should I print my letter? how to write a good query letter? It seemed to me a little bit strange writing e-mail letters. They can't be good-looking query letters!
For example I can send an e-mail that looks differently formatted. New paragraphs could begin in the centre of each lines of my page if Outlook is differently formatted in the receiver's computer. Of course I could attach a word text file. But how many receivers would be happy to open an attached file?
I'm thinking writing letters to agents. How many of you wrote query letters directly to managers and producers ? as ScriptForSale.com advice us - and why? I think: if I find a good agent, I do not need to search for a new producer when I'll complete my next screenplay.

Claudio,
Italy

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]I quote from Strategy 6 by http://scriptforsale.com (33 Ways to Break Into Hollywood).'One method that is growing in popularity is ... success story.' Does it really make sense sending e-mail letters? Why do not take a walk to a post office?[/nq]
Well, primarily because if you do it by snail mail, and you've decided to do a mass mailing that is, mail to several hundred people every one of those mailings involves postage, both the postage to send it and, if you're thinking ahead, you also are going to want to enclose a self-addressed postcard for a response to make it easier for the respondant to send his answer, whatever it might be and that can get pricey. E-mail, on the other hand, is free.
It's also easier for somebody perusing his e-mail to send an answer if you're reading something and it sounds interesting, all you have to do is hit, "reply", type "Sounds interesting. Send it." and hit "send." You don't even have to leave your desk.
With snail mail, even if there's a post card, it means having to fill out the post card and put it in the mail. That's a lot of effort for the average development person.
[nq:1]Of course - I'm a beginning writers. In term of form the firsttrouble to me is query letters styles - ... a good queryletter? It seemed to me a little bit strange writing e-mail letters. They can't be good-looking query letters![/nq]
I think with the average e-mail letter, the font is pretty much standard and the look of the letter is pretty much standard. Don't fool around with it. Just don't jam too much into a single paragraph and don't write too much. Keep it short and sweet. Beyond that, the basic rules of writing query letters apply.
Come off sounding like a professional writer and make them want to read your script. When you've done those two things, it's time to write, "Sincerely yours."
[nq:1]For example I can send an e-mail that looks differently formatted.New paragraphs could begin in the centre of each lines ... computer. Ofcourse I could attach a word text file. But how many receivers would behappy to open an attached file?[/nq]
None. Don't. No reason for it. Nobody is going to be impressed that you've made it more difficult for them to read your letter in order to make your letter look nicer aesthetically.
This is a business communication. E-mail comes automatically in a standard font and a standard format that everybody can read. No earthly reason to much around with it.
[nq:1]I'm thinking writing letters to agents. How many of you wrote query letters directly to managers and producers - as ... I find a good agent, I do not needto search for a new producer when I'll complete my next screenplay.[/nq]
Yeah, everybody thinks that but it doesn't always work out that way for beginning writers. What matters, ultimately is a big sale whether it happens by way of an agent or by way of you making contact with producers directly. Until that happens, you had better expect to be doing a significant amount of the work involved in marketing your material whether you have an agent or not.
NMS

Usenet · Answer

I have nothing to add on the subjects Neal addressed (since at least 3/4 of what I have to say on those subjects is what I learned from him, anyway) but I want to add tone thing in areas he didn't mention.

First:
[nq:1]There are services that send out a blast to agents, managers, and producers. In a single action, hundreds of Hollywood players will receive your query letterand if it's well written, you may became the next Hollywood success story.'[/nq]
I'm very skeptical about mass emailing people. There's another word for mass email, you know, and it's "Spam." The problem is that you need to TARGET your email queries.
There are services which will email your pitch to everyone in Hollywood for a fee but most people who get them will recognize that's exactly what it is, and so will probably ignore it. (How carefully do you read mass emails that you get? Do you read them at all?)

A personal email is a better choice. If you don't have a pre-existing relationship (they've read something of yours, you met them once, etc) with the query recipient, you need to find some way to communicate (concisely, clearly, and without seeming sycophantic or obsequious) why you're pitching them on this script.
-Ron

Looking for an Agent: e-mail query letters

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