How do screenwriters get representation?
Advice from a TV writer/showrunner
Ethan Hawkins asks:
What would you recommend writers do when looking for representation? Should we bother looking for managers or agents?
I get this question a lot. Emerging screenwriters are anxious to launch their careers, and think that managers and agents are the ones to do it. They’ll spend hours and hours querying agents, sending out cold emails, reaching out on social media, etc.
All that time and effort, and usually, they’ll have nothing to show for it.
They wonder, “How am I supposed to get past the gatekeepers?”
If you want an agent or manager, it’s crucial to understand how Hollywood works.
Agents and managers are middlemen
They connect artists (writers) with buyers (studios). But like all middleman, they don’t actually produce anything. They facilitate. The service they provide can be very valuable, but it’s not necessary.
Agents and managers are like supermarkets.
Supermarkets are middlemen. They connect farmers with customers. But if you eliminate supermarkets, farmers can still sell their crops. All they need to do is wake up early, drive into town, and set up a table at a farmers market.
Yes, it requires a lot more effort on their part. But they can still get it done, and make a much higher margin in the process.
In today’s online world, screenwriters can do this too. I’ve already written about this in some of my previous posts. Poke around my archive, you’ll find them.
But for those of you who insist on having a manager or agent do the work for you, here’s what you need to know: