The film my brother and I made, SMILING FISH AND GOAT ON FIRE, got into the Toronto Film Festival. At that point, when it was in the trades that it was in the festival, agents started hovering. I can’t imagine how I would have gotten an agent if that didn’t happen.
I would imagine it’s easier for an agent to watch a 10 minute short than read a 120 page script. So the agents get interested enough to actually read your script. But how do you guarantee they’ll watch your short? Submit the short to festivals, get a bunch of laurel leaves on it, then they’ll most definitely watch it…for better or for worse.
Once they’re interested based on the short, they’ll probably read your script. And on and on. Seems like a lot of work huh? Better than selling Amway.
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Derick Martini wrote SMILING FISH AND GOAT ON FIRE, along with his brother Steven. They are currently working on LYMELIFE, which will be their directoral debut.