Reader Question: Is it necessary to get an agent in order to sell a screenplay?
Question from Ursa:
I’m a Canadian woman, and a new screenwriter. I am working on my first script, and am wondering about agents. When trying to sell one’s first screenplay, is getting an agent first necessary.
Ursa, I can’t speak to the situation with Canadian film and TV production companies, but in terms of the U.S., as frenzied as writers are about signing with an agent and/or manager, the fact is you do not need one to sell a script.
How do I know this? Because it happened to me.
The spec script K-9 got slipped to some executives at Twentieth Century Fox where it ended up on their weekend read. The following Monday at the weekly meeting of development execs, Scott Rudin, who was then President of Production, allegedly said of K-9, “I love this script,” and that’s how the whole thing started — all without an agent.
Now I’m the first to admit that was not your typical spec script deal (in fact, there were lots of twists and turns with Universal Pictures ending up buying K-9). Nor am I saying it — being unrepresented — is the best way to go. But even as stout as Hollywood’s defenses are against unsolicited manuscripts, each year some slip through the cracks and get bought sans representation.
How and why can that happen? Two things. First despite the requirement for waivers from writers, the insane amount of manuscripts submitted each year, the fundamental cynicism that pervades the script acquisition process (based largely on the fact that 99% of the scripts that funnel through the system are not good), a great script will find its way into the process because the studios are always looking for great stories. Second the film community — and especially the people involved in script acquisition and development — is actually quite small. If you know somebody who knows somebody who knows somebody within that circle, then you can if you’re smart, savvy, and persistent get your manuscript to somebody who will read it.
That said you should query managers and agents. They know what’s selling, they have relationship with the buyers, they can help you shape your script (rewrite) to maximize its market viability, and once you sell something guide your career.
So it is absolutely necessary to get an agent to sell a script? No. Is it helpful? Yes. Is it easier? Yes. But the single best thing you can do to help you sell a script is something you control: Write a great script. First and last, that is where your focus should be. If you write a great script, everything else will take care of itself.