Question: “How to work with a manager / agent?”
An open forum question from Ted Nussbaum:
I was curious about the etiquette and “rules” of submitting work to industry contacts when one already has representation. My situation is this: I have a manager and while he’s been diligent about submitting my work, there are times when he’s so busy he barely gets around to reading my latest script. So, at the risk of sounding impatient, is it:
a) Cool to submit to other folks — if even for feedback? And -
b) Should I notify my manager about these submissions, ask his permission, or just do it without his knowledge?
I ask only because I’d hate to make him angry or distrust me, but from what I’ve heard and read, writers need to constantly “hawk their wares” despite having representation.
I’ll fold your question into a bigger one: A screenwriter’s relationship with an agent and/or manager. As the joke goes in Hwood, the writer-agent dynamic can oftentimes best be summed up by the country song “If the Phone Don’t Ring Then You Know It’s Me.” You can guess who is not calling whom, and who is waiting by the phone.
A writer-rep relationship can run the gamut — from fantastic to frustrating, fun to futile. And I think it’s fair to say that in most cases, it all boils down to one thing: Whether the writer is making the representative money or not. An agent makes 10%. Manager typically 15%. But if the writer isn’t hot, then 10% or 15% of nothing is still nothing.
If you’ve recently sold something, are going out to meetings, are writing on assignment, on staff with a TV show, etc, then the issue you pose, Ted, is unlikely to arise. Because when a writer is generating income, agents and managers will pay attention to you.
Observant readers will no doubt pick up on the irony straightaway:
When you are working — and don’t need your agent as much — that’s when they’re good about staying in touch.
When you’re not working — and you really do need your agent’s help — that’s when the phone doesn’t ring.
Now every writer-rep relationship is different. And some reps are much better about communicating. Plus agencies go through shifts in personnel, revenue, philosophy all the time, so there are a ton of variables. So in order to give you concrete advice, Ted, I’d need more information. Feel free to email me.
But per your specific question — can you submit your material to “other folks” (and by other folks I assume you mean talent, producers, studio execs) — I’d say be careful. If you’ve signed with a manager or agent, there is an assumption of trust. Your first responsibility is to talk with them. Express your concern. Ask them if there’s something — in their professional opinion — you can be doing to jump-start things. (They will invariably tell you to write a great spec script they can try to sell).
However if you start going out with your material — and certainly without telling your manager beforehand — they may well see that as a breach of protocol. And more personally, take that as a slap in the face.
Another irony: A writer oftentimes feels like they work for their agent when in fact, they are working for you. But in Hwood, where it’s critical to be repped by someone, just in terms of access, and your agent / manager is your conduit to buyers and talent, it can easily feel like they (reps) ‘own’ the relationship.
But don’t let that be a deterrent. Again my generic advice is to ask for a meeting with your manager. Talk to them frankly about your concerns. Show that you’re willing to meet them halfway by asking what you can be doing. Those type of conversations can lead to an uptick in your rep paying attention to you. And if those lead to meetings, hopefully you can land a writing gig.
BTW, if you live in LA, there’s nothing wrong with going to parties and doing your best to network with producers, execs, talent, etc. Be sure to keep your rep advised about who you met — if the meeting went well. And if someone asks for a script you wrote, go through your rep to get the material to them.
That’s just my take. Any managers or agents out there who might be dropping by, or writers who are repped, if you have another take, please feel free to chime in.
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