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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Screenwriting
Screenwriting agents (?) in UK...?
I would love nothing more than to fly to Los Angeles and try sending some of my screenplays to a handful of agents. Alas, I'm from a crappy little country that needs visas to be admitted to the US, and my chances of receiving one upon telling the consul "yeah, I'd like to pitch a couple of screenplays in Hollywood" obviously do not even equal zero but go into the negatives. And, as everyone writes, you have to be there personally to even start thinking of going with the screenplay somewhere - you can't do it over phone or e-mail...
As I considered the options, I thought there was one "other" (comparatively) big movie market that is realistically open to me - UK. Apart from India, it's probably the country with the second most important movie industry in the world. But are there any "maps" helpful in trying to pitch a screenplay in, presumably, London? Do screenwriting agents operate in the UK? If so, can their details be found, or are they the industry's best kept secret? Will they accept an outsider's script? If they do, is the US release form adequate? What requirements do they have? What quirks that make them different from US agents? And if there are no agents, whose door to try knocking on and where? Will, say, the BBC send an unsolicited screenplay straight into the dustbin? Etc., etc., etc... any information would be useful...
I've read a pile of screenwriting books, from Trottier to King, numerous guides, online tips, etc., but all were obviously targeted at someone who is in the US, either living or at least staying there, and is trying do find a way into Hollywood. Those that did mention other countries, specifically Britain, were very vague and basically said "well, if it doesn't work out, you could try UK, too".
Great, but... how?
As I considered the options, I thought there was one "other" (comparatively) big movie market that is realistically open to me - UK. Apart from India, it's probably the country with the second most important movie industry in the world. But are there any "maps" helpful in trying to pitch a screenplay in, presumably, London? Do screenwriting agents operate in the UK? If so, can their details be found, or are they the industry's best kept secret? Will they accept an outsider's script? If they do, is the US release form adequate? What requirements do they have? What quirks that make them different from US agents? And if there are no agents, whose door to try knocking on and where? Will, say, the BBC send an unsolicited screenplay straight into the dustbin? Etc., etc., etc... any information would be useful...
I've read a pile of screenwriting books, from Trottier to King, numerous guides, online tips, etc., but all were obviously targeted at someone who is in the US, either living or at least staying there, and is trying do find a way into Hollywood. Those that did mention other countries, specifically Britain, were very vague and basically said "well, if it doesn't work out, you could try UK, too".
Great, but... how?
Top answer
[nq:1]I would love nothing more than to fly to Los Angeles and try sending some of my screenplays to a ... [/nq] Not altogether true. You can do cold pitches by telephone, but the major trick is getting through to someome.
- [nq:1]I would love nothing more than to fly to Los Angeles and try sending some of my screenplays to a ...
- [/nq] Not altogether true.
- You can do cold pitches by telephone, but the major trick is getting through to someome.
- Having an agent is a major asset in this area.
- Soo...
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24 Answers
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[nq:1]I would love nothing more than to fly to Los Angeles and try sending some of my screenplays to a ... personally to even start thinking of going with the screenplay somewhere - you can't do it over phone or e-mail...[/nq]
Not altogether true. You can do cold pitches by telephone, but the major trick is getting through to someome. Having an agent is a major asset in this area. Soo... You'v
Not altogether true. You can do cold pitches by telephone, but the major trick is getting through to someome. Having an agent is a major asset in this area. Soo... You'v
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[nq:1]Good luck! I'm curious what country you're in? Your English is exceptional![/nq]
I believe you failed to observe the small but vital clue in the subject header, Watson.
Bert
www.bertcoules.co.uk
I believe you failed to observe the small but vital clue in the subject header, Watson.
Bert
www.bertcoules.co.uk
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OK, my profound apologies. I really should read the original posts and not just the replies...
Bert
www.bertcoules.co.uk
Bert
www.bertcoules.co.uk
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[nq:1]I would love nothing more than to fly to Los Angeles and try sending some of my screenplays to a ... personally to even start thinking of going with the screenplay somewhere - you can't do it over phone or e-mail...[/nq]
You're not entering the US to work (i.e. for money), just to meet a few people. So can you get a tourist visa without having to explain yourself to the consul?
You're not entering the US to work (i.e. for money), just to meet a few people. So can you get a tourist visa without having to explain yourself to the consul?
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[nq:1]OK, my profound apologies. I really should read the original posts and not just the replies... Bert www.bertcoules.co.uk[/nq]
'Sawright... '-)
'Sawright... '-)
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[nq:1]you failed to observe the small but vital clue in the subject header[/nq]Oh, I'm not British, English is not my first language (of course the screenplays arein English), and, in fact, I've only been to UK once so far (and not on any writing-related business, either
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[nq:1]But first and foremost, thanks for the tips and good luck wishes, everyone (I'm posting this as one combined reply to all your posts). I hope others will have some more, too - one can never have enough good tips...
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Is it a huige secret what country you live in?
If not, maybe you could fill in that blank.
[nq:1]The possibility of finding an agent via e-mail does sound intriguing, as all I've read so far suggested that everything, from a letter of inquiry, to a proposal, to a copy of the script, needs to be submitted either by snail mail or in person,[/nq]
Forget about "in person." That isn't going
If not, maybe you could fill in that blank.
[nq:1]The possibility of finding an agent via e-mail does sound intriguing, as all I've read so far suggested that everything, from a letter of inquiry, to a proposal, to a copy of the script, needs to be submitted either by snail mail or in person,[/nq]
Forget about "in person." That isn't going
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[nq:1]I would love nothing more than to fly to Los Angeles and try sending some of my screenplays to a ... were very vague and basically said "well, if it doesn't work out, you could try UK, too". Great, but... how?[/nq]
Quite a lot goes on in the UK but not enough to suit the writers there. That's what you get when you have an industry largely funded by the government.
That said, try this
Quite a lot goes on in the UK but not enough to suit the writers there. That's what you get when you have an industry largely funded by the government.
That said, try this
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[nq:1]Quite a lot goes on in the UK but not enough to suit the writers there. That's what you get when you have an industry largely funded by the government.[/nq]
Plenty of countries subsidize their industries for reasons that may not make sense to a right-wing ideologue from the USA, but without which there would be no indigenous industry at all.
I'm not saying the result is a constantly
Plenty of countries subsidize their industries for reasons that may not make sense to a right-wing ideologue from the USA, but without which there would be no indigenous industry at all.
I'm not saying the result is a constantly
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