Big Agents vs Small Agents: which is better for screenwriters
Tips from a TV writer/showrunner
Over the course of my career, I’ve probably had a dozen agents. This is not unusual in Hollywood as screenwriters often jump around as the needs of their career change.
For example, early in my career it was all about getting me staffed on existing TV shows. Now that I’m well established, it’s about selling pilots and supervising other people’s shows.
I’ve been represented by all types:
big agents at small agencies
big agents at big agencies
small agents at small agencies
small agents at big agencies
So which is the best? And which is clearly the worst?
The worst scenario
In my opinion, the worst is being represented by a small agent at a small agency. They may be enthusiastic about taking you on as a client, and they say they can focus on you because they don’t have a big roster, but they just don’t have the juice to get your script read by the people who matter most.
Does that mean you shouldn’t sign with them? No. Take what you can get. Just be prepared to move on when the time is right.
But shouldn’t you be loyal to them? Let me ask you this: do you think they’d be loyal to you?
The best scenario
To me, the best scenario is to be repped by a big agent at a big agency. But that’s not going to happen. You need to be a megastar writer. Someone like Shonda Rhimes or Chuck Lorre. If you’re at my level or below, forget it. It’s not happening.