I have a Scathingly Brilliant Proposal, but am having a terrible time locating the right execs at MGM, Paramount and Fox. I wrote to the HR departments and E-mailed their Web sites, to no avail as yet.
Anyone have any friends at these studios, so I can get my foot in the door and find the right person to attack with my idea?
Thanks!
Unfortunately, Eve, if someone asked me who’s the most well connected person I know in the movie making business, I’d have to say Eve Golden.
Is your proposal a script, or a business proposal? I know that legally (supposedly, at least) movie production companies cannot accept your script if you just send it to them. You would ened to get an agent, but thats all I know about the process (I believe this is both to keep people from flooding them with scripts and to appease the screenwriter’s union/guild).
I would think that Cervaise might know a thing or two. Check out the profile or moviegeek.homestead.com.
No, it is NOT a movie script! I have NO desire to be a screenwriter–I am miserable enough as a magazine editor and biographer.
It’s more of a promotional, PR scheme.
It’s off-topic, but there is nothing the slightest bit illegal or unethical about a movie studio accepting a screenplay. They do it all the time.
There is, technically, no rule that forces you to be represented by any particular agent. You’d be a dope not to be represented but you could appoint your lawyer in that capacity if you wanted to.
The Writer’s Guild of America does require, via their bargain, that the studios use WGA members; that said, membership can come AFTER a deal is reached around a new screenplay. The WGA usually won’t even let you join until you have some work bought by someone.
Movie studios usually do not accept scripts (or at least, they don’t usually do anything with them) because they get zillions of them every year and most of them suck really bad. It’s obviously a lot more efficient for the studios to allow professional agents to screen the terrible from the good and then go through them to find new scripts and new writing talent.
That said, if you have an “in” like the producer’s your uncle or Tom Hanks is an old school chum, by all means use it. If you have a decent script and can get a studio person to read it there’s no reason they can’t start negotiating a deal with you.
I don’t know much about the movie business, but I think your initial contacts were to the wrong places. Also, even in this electronic age, you are probably better off using the telephone. Call the main number and ask for the name of the VP of Marketing or Business Development, or whatever may be relevant to your idea. Then try to contact that person directly. Be persistant; leave many messages, even if you don’t get responses. Sooner or later you’ll get a human. Be sure to be ready for when you do get through to them: understand exactly why they should like your idea and be able to express it to them quickly.
You’re also right on the money asking everyone you know if they know someone in the industry. Sorry I can’t help there.