Agency wants me to pay their “editor”
I sent a query letter online to an agency. They emailed me back within the week and said they’d be interested in representing me.
But they suggested I send my script to an editor (one they recommended for me, at a cost of $100 paid to the editor) to help polish it up before they submit it to potential buyers. They emailed me a contract to sign, saying they’d wait until the critique is done before they assign me an agent.
They said that they’re “sellers” by trade, and not “editors” and it would be in both our best interests to have a critique of my work done to ensure that my screenplay looks its best for potential buyers. Even though I wouldn’t be paying the agency directly, it seems shady to me that they are suggesting I pay money in order to have my screenplay get sold. Shouldn’t they know a good script when they see one? Is this a common practice among other agencies or should I run?
– Matt
via imdb
This feels super-shady. Run away.
Agents make a living by taking 10 percent of your screenwriting earnings. They get paid when you get paid. Any situation where they’re asking you for money up front is cause for concern.
If any readers out there have had good experiences with agencies like the one Matt describes, please write in. I don’t think the mailbox will be overflowing.
Articles
September 25th, 2006 at 10:51 am
but who is the agency? Can we name names?
September 25th, 2006 at 1:05 pm
Sounds like The Screenplay Agency. If so, STAY AWAY. Warren Leonard at The Screenwriting Life did a great 4-part expose on what scammers they are.
You can find it here: http://screenwritinglife.com/index.php?s=i+spy
September 25th, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Also, If they were a good agency, they’d be able to tell you themselves what you needed to do to spruce up your script.
These guys are on par with those bogus film schools that get people to pay to work for free on their projects.
What can we do to take them down, people?
September 25th, 2006 at 4:24 pm
yeah… i know a guy who did a documentary on something similar to this. They steal your money and sometimes the rights to your script if you haven’t registered with the writers guild. Stay away from them.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:04 pm
Warren beat me to it, but yeah, sounds like them.
September 25th, 2006 at 6:17 pm
Should offer to send your script to your own editor instead of theirs and see how they respond.
September 25th, 2006 at 7:44 pm
how about a service like Scriptshark? Any feedback on that?
September 26th, 2006 at 12:20 am
As well as being shady, isn’t this illegal if they’re a registered agency? Which, of course, they’re probably not if they’re so shady…
September 26th, 2006 at 2:47 am
This is definitely the longtime scam artists from The Screenplay Agency (aka Sydra Techniques, ST Literary, Children’s Literary Agency, Rapid Publishing, Christian Literary Agency, New York Literary Agency, myeditorisasaint.com and others).
It is owned and operated by a well known scam artist named Robert Fletcher. His many companies, listed above, all have/had nearly identical websites (content-wise) with no specifics, no real contact information and addresses for PO boxes rather than actual offices. He was convicted of Internet fraud in Washington state a few years ago and is once again on the loose. Run away as fast as you can.
September 26th, 2006 at 7:12 am
Just to be pedantic - I don’t think Robert M. Fletcher was “convicted of Internet Fraud”. Instead, it was a simpler “Cease and Desist” order - it would have only been technically criminal if he’d ignored the order.
Mind you, the Dept of Financial Institution’s press release announcing the end of this scam of Robert Fletcher was titled “Internet fraud, deceptive email targeted by Northwest law agencies” - so it is clearly not a selling point for his honesty!
Part of this correction is just because I’m a pedant at heart - but I’d also hate to see Mr Fletcher get even a minor win by pointing out that it might not technically be a fraud conviction.
Ref: http://www.dfi.wa.gov/sd/pdf/internetfraudnr.pdf & http://www.dfi.wa.gov/sd/orders/SDO-063-01.pdf
Mac
September 29th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
Yup, sounds like the Screenplay Agency pricks. Buddy of mine gota request from them, they told him the same thing (have it critiqued) and I told him to bolt. They should burn.
October 3rd, 2006 at 1:15 pm
i know im a little old on this, but FWIW I was offered the exact same “deal” while in college in Chicago. I told them I would send it to my own editor, at which point the guy went off on me, screaming about how i was passing up a once in a lifetime chance and that if i did send it to another editor i would have to resubmit it to his company and “hope” it got accepted again.
October 6th, 2006 at 8:06 am
I have an original screenplay about a Maya female hero. Very spiritual. Think Kung Fu in Mesoamerica.
March 4th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I’m convinced that The Screenplay Agency is a scam I recieved the same run around just as everyone else that has signed with them. Now after almost a year in the LFN data base “Looking for Now” they want me to pay up to 150$ to create a website so they can send e-mail pitches to potential buyers. Now with the critique 95$, I turned down the third party editor, that was almost 250$ now with the website 150$. This is almost 500$ we are talking about. I think I want to try a different approach. I won’t let this stop me some of the best in the business have run into a bump in the road at one time or another.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:19 am
I’m really stunned-catatonic.
I just sign a contract with the Screenplay Agency.
The contract is great. They ask for the standard 10%.
Are they legit? Or are they just wasting my time?
I need to know, fast. Please, contact me as soon as possible.
March 19th, 2007 at 9:26 am
Please, let me know who Robert Fletcher is.
If the agency is a scam, there will be hell to pay. I would make it my mission to shut them down.
May 1st, 2007 at 4:25 pm
CL22V8: CLAVICAL
Hey, guys. J, here. After everything I’ve read about the screenplay agency, I’ve decided to terminate the contract. I believe in my project. Soon CLAVICAL will rock the world.
To all my fellow writers out there: Believe in yourself & create your own destiny. Write your ass off, I know that great scripts always find an audience. Be confident. Determination is the key of success.
May 11th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
I almost became the latest victim of the screenplay agency. Thanks to the all the quotes, I’ve save a lot of money. Hey, John. Thanks for your kind words. Never give up. That Clavical title really sounds cool. It rocks. I wish you the best.
SQ
May 20th, 2007 at 8:35 am
Like most people who write, when some one tells you they like your work you are elated. I never have looked for an agent before I was in the dark and the request for a small sum of money to read didn’t sound to off base to me. What did I know. I spoke to my son-in-law (a lawyer) he directed me to this sight among others. I now believe that the WL Children’s Agency falls into the above mentioned group.
My question is this where does one find an honest agency to represent you? Can you help?
Thank you for taking the time to address my question.
Sincerely,
J. Hammond
July 22nd, 2007 at 11:28 am
Funny how on my first google none of this came up, but now I find bad press all over about this Fletcher guy and WL. I submitted a query and of course they accepted. I think to test them out I will send a query for a horrible script that hasnt gotten coverage and see what happens under a false name? John Fiol your name stood out the most, bc I’m in the same competition(Flatshoe) as you with my script COLD (the one I pitched to them) and agree with you and back you 100% on your feelings about them! I was elated, but now I’m not…although I know my script is good. I will post if they try to charge me a fee as well and if they do I intend on sending them a query as to what they have to say about all the bad press!
October 1st, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Saved by the bell…er, posts. I cannot believe this! I was so excited this morning when I got the email that they wanted to work with me. (WL Children’s Literary Agency) My letter said the same as most - I have to get a formal critique, blah, blah… I was “this” close to forking over money that I really don’t have. They had me hook, line and almost manuscript. Thanks to all that have posted about this agency. I am grateful to those who have stepped up, and now I’m joining the force. I am officially pissed. Best of luck to all the talent out there!
~ Ang.
October 9th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Another sucker here!!!!! The EXACT same treatment. They loved my idea and wanted to represent me. They wanted a “third party” critique. The flags went up and I went running, first to the New York BBB, which they were NOT a member of, and have an “unsatisfactory” status with, then just far away. Thank KATE JACKSON I didn’t send them any money. All it cost me was embarrassment! LOVE ALL YOU GUYS!!!! KEEP THE FAITH!!!!
October 16th, 2007 at 6:37 pm
The complaints are all more than obviously from unprofessional writters who have not sold anything. I’m not defending WL, but anything they are asking is not unreasonalbe at all. I have been represented by 3 different agencies, I can tell you they all want money from unproven writters for various reasons like distributiton costs, etc, and they want it upfront accompanying the signed contract. an agent or agency pays a reader 50 to 75$ to read a script. if they want to market it, they will spend hundreds of dollars on copying and mailing out your script (most producers and Prod. companies want hard copies, not emails). IF you have sold something, and are a proven writter, they will absorb the cost because they assume you know what you’re doing and they will get a commission soon enough. NO one will invest money out of their pocket to gamble on a writter that may or may not be talented. the new writter himself will absorb at least some of the cost. the problem with WL is they don’t have much, if any of a track record with script sales and being repped by them in that area may most likely lead to zero. want to be repped by a wga signatory agency that really moves scripts along? good luck! most have one page websites that simply say they do not take on new writters, they are not taking on clients at this time, yada yada, buh-bye newbe. Want to have your script critqued by a reputable screenwriter/service. be prepared to pay at least $300 to $550 for advice that will come strait out of somebody’s book or off a writer web-site.
WL clearly states that if you are an optioned writer, you can bypass critique and editing and move strait to marketing, and they will obide by it and not ask for a dime. you can create your own site for a nominal 7-10bucks a month and they will use that. some web hosters want up to $900 for a website and $1000-2500 to make it appear in a google search. Scam companies usually go for the jugular with outrageous amounts. THE WL has the most reasonable, if not the lowest prices anywhere on their script services. don’t belive all the untalented disgruntled writers who slam the WL. there is no pressure to pay them a dime and you don’t have to and they will still rep you. but go elsewhere and you will really get reamed. hope this helps some decide for themself.
January 15th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Hi, I just received an acceptance to be represented by the WL screenplay agency…but, all I have seen has been negative reviews all over the internet…are this writers upset because they got nowhere ? or is this a scam ? I am really hurt, I thought I finally nailed it…I have not signed their contract, nor I have send any money to have my worked looked over….I am still thinking about what to do and test them…tell them to pay for it …and see if they really believe in my work as they say…what do you think ?
January 26th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I have been investigating WL as I also have written a book I wish to have published. I must say that all of the information I have found concerning this company and Publish America’s company have proven to be a scam. First they tell you they are interested in your writing and invite you to send them your manuscript. Then they want you to pay for editing, then they want you to buy your own book. What’s more they want you to submit a list of family and friends they will later bombard to guilt them into purchasing your books. This is a good way to make enemies out of your friends and family. Any agency who wants you to pay them for ANY part of the process is illegitimate and should be avoided at all costs. There is not really a way to be legitimately published on-line. You can go to the library and use the current copy of Their “Writer’s and Illustrator’s Market” to get the information to do a proper inquiry also you can get information for getting started by many legitimate writer’s and illustrator’s on-line.
I hope this helps some
February 16th, 2008 at 6:45 am
In the songwriting world, we call ‘em Sharks…Illegal? No. Luring you in with high hopes before asking for cash? Yes!…I sent them an inquiry at 6:a.m. on a Saturday morning…Googled around for a couple of hours, and then found an e-mail from them saying they were very interested…The e-mail said nothing specific about what I’d sent, and who the heck is actually paying attention that early on a Saturday?
There are legitimate companies…Inktip, Scriptshark, and a lot of other avenues…..Let the buyer beware.
Midnite
February 21st, 2008 at 11:11 am
Wow, it’s sad but funny. “Michael J,” who can neither spell nor write grammatically correct sentences, has been conned three times and has learned nothing from the experience. I’m sorry to tell you this, Michael, but none of your “reps” were legit. None.
February 21st, 2008 at 11:12 am
By the way, you might at least want to learn how to spell WRITER.
February 22nd, 2008 at 1:54 am
I was this….close to sending these WLA people a cheque, to one of their recommended script editors, for a critique. Thank you everyone who has taken time to subscribe to this thread, if we all “look out” for each other we stand a better chance of not being led by the nose by cyber thieves! Not that I’m saying that WLA are cyber thieves.
However, I couldn’t agree more with Cyberian Exile, about the grammar, and syntax, used by Michael J; and,it occurred to me that you Mickey J just might be on the payroll at the W L A, are you?
I am going to have my critique carried out by a U K industry professional script editor; and, like WLA are asking me to do, I’m then going to e-mail my manuscript to the person with whom I’ve been communicating, a lady called Sherry Fine. Up to now, she has sounded very professional, and indeed, she may be the real deal, (or not), as the case may be. Either way I’ll let you all know what happens!
February 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
Kingfisher, The Screenplay Agency is not a legitimate agency. They will not sell your script. They will not try to sell your script. They never sell scripts to producers–ever. They make ALL their money through kickbacks from the editing service they recommend. (Technically this service is a “third party,” thus The Screenplay Agency can claim they don’t charge any fees.) This infamous con has been around for decades under various different names. Yes, this “Sherry Fine” woman may seem very nice and on the level — that’s how con artists lure their marks. My suggestion is that you save your money and find a good writers’ group — if possible, a group of writers who have some level of professional experience — and get feedback for free.
March 18th, 2008 at 3:38 am
cyberian exile, How do you know what you say is fact?
March 18th, 2008 at 8:48 am
Hey All -
Please don’t be tricked…I just sent a manuscript to WL that wasn’t even finished…they LOVED IT….All I had to do was pay a fee….RUN AWAY…RUN AWAY…
March 30th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Kingfisher…I was talking with the same “Sherry Fine”. They are NOT a real agency. Please don’t be fool. I’m not even 18 and they LOVED it and all I had to do was get good ol’ dad to sign and send 95 bucks.
Puh-lease. In the words of Dianne:
RUN AWAY!
April 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
I too just received a request for my material. And, after the initial excitement, of course, I went investigating. Thank God I did. It’s just horrible that these people prey on our hopes and dreams.
And for you who are defending them: all you have to do is type in the name of the agency in Google and the scams pop up all over the place!
Thank you guys for posting the information for us gullible and hungry writers. You are appreciated.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:38 am
I thought about using WL too, but decided to check them out. It appears they suck pretty hard. The question becomes, “How does someone living outside LA find an agent to rep them and their work?”