Dispatches from the Front Line: Matthew O-B’s story
The other day I posted this update on Mr. Justin Samuels, aspiring screenwriter who has sued CAA and WME for $8M he feels he’s owed for the scripts he’s written that haven’t, up to this point, gotten him represented, let alone sold. That spawned quite a few responses from the GITS community. One of them — from Matthew O-B — I thought especially worthy of reposting as Matthew states much better than I what I’m sure many of you are experiencing on the front lines of trying to break into Hollywood. Here is Matthew’s post in full:
Here’s my story on getting read. In my first few months after getting to Hollywood I got read by an agent at ICM after sending her a polite message via Facebook (back when you could message non-friends). She had written an interesting quote on her profile about not giving up and I spoke about how it relates to me. I provided a log-line for a supernatural horror script I had written at film school and politely asked if she’d be interested in reading it.
Within a few days, she replied saying her assistant would contact me to sign a release and send it over. A few weeks later she sent me a message via Facebook saying I was talented, scared her quite a bit at times, but overall the script was lacking what it needed to go to the next level. She gave me very thoughtful notes and told me to keep at it.
I got read. By an agent. After messaging via Facebook. And I had been in town for probably six months.
A few months ago I sent out query letters to various management companies. Probably half a dozen. I put my script title in the subject line and my log-line in the body. I closed with a simple, “I would love to send you this script for your consideration.”
I got 1 reply. From one of the bigger management companies. I sent them my script. Haven’t heard back. Yet.
How did I end up landing a manager? I got my hands on a spec that I loved — from a new writer. His e-mail address was on the cover. I composed a very polite and courteous e-mail saying what I loved about his script, and I asked him if his new/young manager was accepting queries. He contacted his manager, and his manager said I could send him all the log-lines I have for finished scripts.
He picked one. Read it. Didn’t care for it. He picked another. Read it. Liked it. He picked another. Read that one…and now he’s my manager.
I don’t buy this guy’s story one bit.
All I do is work and write. I have HARDLY ANY contacts — nowhere near how many I should have. But what I do have are a bunch of scripts. And I have two with a pretty catchy, high-concept log-line. They may not be perfectly executed, but the talent and story-telling ability is on the page. And only getting better.
Contests. Queries. Contacts. Repeat. Took me THREE years of living in LA…SEVEN years since I wrote my first screenplay and EIGHT more specs before I landed a manager.
It’s F$#@ING HARD.
And that’s after an alumnus (of my film school) had two of my scripts read by his manager — he didn’t like them enough to rep me but said I have talent. Another alumnus had two of my scripts read by his manager and she didn’t want to rep me either.
I was happy just to be REJECTED. It’s hard enough just to get read. Eventually, if the talent and writing is there, you’re going to find the right person to work with.
And now I’m close to having one of my scripts optioned. Not a sale…but it’s progress. SLOW…but steady progress. 7 years. 9 specs. $100K in student loans. It. Ain’t. Easy.
I was so inspired by Matthew’s comment, it gave me an idea for another GITS series: “Dispatches from the Front Line.” First person accounts from members of the GITS community about your experience trying to break into Hollywood as a screenwriter, TV writer or filmmaker. If you feel so moved to comment, email me what you would like to see posted. Obviously I can’t promise everyone I will post their entries, but if I think they slot into the spirit of what we do here and provide some insight into the process, I will post them.
Thanks, Matthew. And good luck!
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