Sending out to multiple agents
I’ve sent out 25 query letters to agents. To my surprise I’ve received three request to read my script. Do I send all three out or am I supposed to only send to one agent? My thought is to get my script in front of as many people as I can.
– Kenneth Dunlap
Yes, it’s okay to send out your script to multiple agents (or producers) at once. Advised, in fact. You don’t know which, if any, of these people will work out. And waiting around for magic to happen isn’t a viable strategy.
If multiple agents are interested, you’ll meet with each and decide which one best represents your interests and ambitions. Sure, you’ll leave one or more agents disappointed.
They’re grown-ups. They’ll get over it.
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November 14th, 2008 at 11:01 am
John, what about the failing economy? It seems like a really bad time to send out queries to agents, because well, we’re in a doomed economic time and I’ve been reading that studios and producers aren’t looking for new materials right now.
Should we keep sending out queries or maybe wait for a few more months to pass, where hopefully, things will start looking up?
November 14th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Sending out scripts to agents – is it the same process as querying agents for a novel? i.e. a cover letter with a hook and a bit about yourself and then wait? Or is it more involved than that?
November 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
James- I don’t know if you’ve sent queries out for a novel, but if you have that is good practice. There is one primary difference between the two: when you query agents with a screenplay you need to sell yourself as much or more than you sell your script in the letter. They are looking for good scripts, but they would rather represent a good client than just one good script. There are some great resources out there that post sample query letters to agents and to production companies.
November 17th, 2008 at 9:04 am
Thanks Joe, I got some googling to do.
November 17th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Does this really happen? You can query agents and they actually reply? Well, heck.
Fingers crossed for you, Kenneth Dunlap!