AmyLaurel.Com

Dear Sae Sae-

Hey there, was hoping I could get some quick advice. Long story short, I met a co-owner of ******* ******** pictures the other day having a smoke, we got to talking, he told me what he did, i told him i had a script. We really hit off based on our love of sports (his son is one of my favorite athletes), and he said if i got him a hat from my company (*** ******), he would have my script read.

He called me today and said, "well, i'm surprised, but my top reader really liked it. you'll have full coverage by tomorrow or monday. let's meet at 11 tomorrow to discuss further." He went on to say that 1 out of 250 scripts make it as far as mine, and he's looking fwd to talking tomorrow.

Anyway idea what to expect? He's sort of a crazy old guy, but knows what he's talking about and said he's going to read it this weekend. He did insist to me meet tomorrow.

Do you think this guy wants to option it, assuming he likes it? I have no idea what to do if he even brings that up.

I'm flattered obviously, but totally have no idea what to say to this guy. I guess I'll make whatever revisions the reader suggests, and hope he likes it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

BTW, I cleaned up the draft (the one you have) quite a bit before giving it to him. I made sure the sluglines were perfect, i used 'beat' instead of 'john (con'td)', etc.

He told me the day before: 'it's ALL about story, story story. without it, i don't make money.'

anyway, would love your thoughts.

Thanks!!!!

My Reply:

First off -WOW!! It doesn't sound like the man was BS-ing you. Very few screenplays make it that far. You've just experienced the "luck" and "timing" that everyone in this biz talks about.

Meet with him. Make sure you're showered and neatly dressed. Don't wear a suit. Arrive early and be prepared to wait should his other meetings go late. Don't grumble or look rushed during your meeting, even if you are pressed for time. Don't forget to bring him the hat. (Maybe bring him one for his son, too.)

Most meetings last anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Sometimes as little as 5 minutes. Keep your answers short but charismatic. Don't deviate from his questions. If he asks you "So what's your story about?" Tell him in 25 words or less what the gist of the plot is (include the genre) -don't launch into some screed about how you got the idea. Your inspirational experience isn't going to make him money, your script is.

Here's probably what to expect:

Shoot the breeze for a few minutes to break the ice. If you want to impress the pants off of him then stay up tonight and do some research on his company. See what they've recently bought, what's done well at the box office (be sure to mention their success!), what hasn't done well at the box office (do NOT mention their "non-successes"!). Ask him what he's currently working on ("what's on his slate"). What's his favorite movie line and why?

Best bet for research is the Hollywood Creative Directory. You can buy and download it online for around $200. Or you can pay $25 for a week's subscription. (their prices may change, double check on their website.) Get it and know your stuff.

He will probably ask you what else you're working on. Briefly tell him you've completed two other scripts and what genre they are. Do NOT pitch them unless he asks you for more details. (As a rule of thumb, it's best to leave the executive wanting, make him ask you the questions, rather than you sitting there talking his ear off and wasting his time. If he doesn't get all his information from you then he'll set up another meeting. Which is good.)

He'll talk to you about your script. Since he hasn't read your script yet, he may have an assistant (don't be surprised if there's a room full of people waiting to hear what you have to say!), who will take notes on your meeting and write up "on-the-spot" coverage. He'll want you to pitch it to him -in about five minutes, tell him charismatically what the story is about from beginning to end. It's okay to tell him the ending. Just make it focused and entertaining. And succinct.

Now, I've only read "****" so far -you've sent me three scripts; which one is he talking about? "****" showed me that you've got a wicked talent for dialogue, which (I think I said this before) studios love in writers. Even if your script doesn't sell, you very well may land a job "polishing" someone else's script.

He may mention concerns he has about your script or idea. LISTEN to what he has to say and ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, say, "I'll see what I can do to make that work." Every single script in the universe is changed -do not shoot yourself in the foot by clinging to your art. What he's really looking for isn't so much the solutions to his concerns as much as he's really wanting to see if you are someone that a studio/director/actor/producer could work with. A big part of the job is taking notes and making the necessary changes, and knowing when to stick to your guns and insists that things stay the same. (Hint: this first meeting is NOT the time to show your stubborn side!)

If he asks you about your other work then briefly pitch him your stories the same way you did with your first script.

Prepare yourself for positive feedback. People will "yes" you to death in this town.

Here's what NOT to expect:

An outright sale of your script. That is BEYOND rare, and most likely not what he's trying to meet you about. If the conversation turns to "potential" sale talk then kindly tell him you'd love to sell your script or work out a deal if you had an agent. This is where you say are "currently looking for representation" and does he know anyone that is taking on new clients?

Producers/executives will, as a rule, not make deals with writers. They will make deals with the writer's agent or attorney. Do not talk semantics or numbers or "deal" details with him. Your meeting tomorrow is a typical "meet-and-greet" meeting where the executive determines whether or not you could be a potential writer for his/her studio.

Thank him for his time, make sure to get his business card and drop him a note (handwritten) on Monday or Tuesday. We'll get to that later. Let's just get you through tomorrow. Don't be disappointed if he hasn't read your work yet -he'll probably get to it over "the weekend read" and have a meeting with his fellow executives on Monday if he likes it.

That's it, man. Keep it simple, keep it charismatic but real, and show him you have a flexible attitude towards rewriting. Don't be surprised if you don't make a huge score with this meeting. It's kind of like a first date.

And then, as Edna from "The Incredibles" said: "And call me when you get back, dahling. I love our little visits." Email me the second you get out of your meeting and tell me EVERYTHING!!

I am SO excited for you! It's a big step. Well done!

Sae Sae

oh btw, i used to work for IMDb.com so i still have my free subscription to imdb pro. I did a bunch of reading about his company the past couple days. they've made a TON of really big/good films.

here's the weird thing i forgot to mention. His name doesn't appear in imdb or in ANY google search. It's really weird, and what made me think he was full of BS. The guys knows EVERYTHING about movies, the process, etc -- and even had cameron crowe's phone number programmed (he's my idol) in his cell, so who knows (he loves bragging about his connections and successes....total name dropper, and a flat-out weird old dude)......I guess I'll know more tomorrow.

My reply:

Okay, so let's take a step back for a sec. Name-dropping is bad-form but everybody does it. imdb.pro is very informative, but it's not the last word on who's who. This past year I've met so many working professionals who don't give a rat's a** about imdb, most of them say they're too busy working to take care of stuff like that. And most of them were, in fact, working legit hollywood jobs.

If you can't find any info on him, get to know him in person. Go with the flow, stay professional, follow any leads. Trust your instinct! At the end of the day YOUR script is what's at the center of all this, so you can take the time to mull it over and decide what to do best.

If it were me, I would, at the very least, find out what the studio he says he co-owns has on its slate and if they're looking for something then I'd pitch any of my work that would fit the bill.

Either way, it's cool. You're on the right track. I'll call you tomorrow afternoon to see how it went,

Best of luck in the world!

Sae Sae

Hey, he just called me. We're meeting outside between our buildings at 10:30, just him and I. He said he probably won't have coverage until monday, but he wants to talk to me about it anyway.

I think this guy name-drops because it makes him feel good and youthful -- like I said, he's a bit.......nuts (honestly, he's f***ing bat-s*** crazy), and probably 75 years old, so I just listen, nod and smile.

He's the real deal. I met his 'reader' who picked **** up in a brand new Escalade after we talked for about 45 minutes outside of my building. The reader recommended to **** that they make the movie. $3-5M budget, and he compared it to Garden State.

**** asked me to give him names of 5 KNOWN actors and 5 actresses for each of the prinicpal cast (I suggested Zooey Deschanel -- "not big enough")....**** said he doesn't like casting agencies, he calls the talent himself if he knows them.

He said he's going to call me tomorrow after he reads it, and told me to call him 24/7.

I asked about an agent. **** said he'd like to 'manage' me, and once I am 'somebody', he'll get me a good agent. He said he can get me one now, but since I'm not a commodity, it would be a piece of shit agent at the bottom of the barrell.

The first thing he said was 'congratulations' and shook my hand.

My head is SPINNING!

My reply:

Get your game face on, boy! Splash some water on your face and get grounded. There are a million red flags with this meeting.

First off, if he's such a big shot that works in the same building as you then why didn't you have the meeting in his office? Many meetings don't go down in offices, I know, but that's just weird to me since I thought you said he works near you.

Second, nice cars mean jack in LA. Don't be fooled just cos someone has a nice ride. It could also mean that those guys earn a great living, but consider all options before coming to any conclusions.

Third, and here's my greatest worry. Let's say this dude is completely legit with all the resources in the world. It was VERY odd that he didn't even recommend an agency, let alone a particular person to represent you. Here's the primary difference between an "agent" and a "manager":

An agent handles all contracts FOR you, and doesn't get paid until you get paid. All agents (commonly known as ten percenters) receive 10% of whatever they can get for you, which is why they work so darn hard. All agents also have to be certified to work in California, and that certification isn't as easy as buying an online diploma.

Any agent worth his/her salt is also a signatory of the Writer's Guild, which means that agent is bound BY LAW to get you the Minimum Basic Agreement (known as the MBA 2004, look on the wga website) from whoever you are working with. The MBA usually pays more than independents.

A manager can technically perform the same duties as an agent, but they aren't certified and will usually charge more than the 10% commission (15% is about standard). But the positive thing about a manager is that they will champion your career for you -they'll help you meet your deadlines, get you meetings, give you pep talks on your bad days...agents usually just handle the contracts and solidify your work. "Smaller" agents are actually not bad to have because they will oftentimes take an a managerial role -it serves both of you.

The fact that **** wants to manage you himself tells me that maybe he doesn't know anybody worth knowing. Although, many managers are former agents/producers with contacts galore. Again, it comes down to instincts. How do you feel when talking to this guy?

Dude, I could punch in any number on my cell phone and save it under Cameron Crowe. (BTW, if the man does know Cameron Crowe, then Crowe would have the know-how who to cast for his films -and Crowe does work with agencies.) And managers call their clients 24/7, not the other way around.

I have been where you are. It's beyond exciting. It's also very frustrating if things don't work out -sometimes it's just the timing of things -one minute you could be in the works for a million-dollar deal, then next minute the film could be put in turnaround. The film industry is full of amazing, accomplished people, but it is still a fickle industry.

I want you to succeed! But success is the result of hard-work, talent, timing, and knowledge.

Cover your butt. Get an agent. Don't let this guy rep you. If you do let **** become your manager, get yourself a damn good entertainment lawyer who will cover your butt for you.

I would recommend getting the NAME of the agent or reader from your friend at Endeavor, phone the agency up, ask for the person by name. When you get a hold of him/her, tell him your situation. Ask if he's taking new clients, if not, does he know someone that does? If not, does he have any advice for you on how to handle the situation? Has he ever heard of ****?

I really want the best for you! Making sure you're not getting screwed is not going to hurt this guy's feelings. Do your homework and don't sign anything without an agent or lawyer.

Hope this doesn't take the wind out of your sails. You're a big boy, trust your instincts, do your homework, and make the call. Let me know if I can answer any more questions. I'm finishing up an In-Depth Analysis for another client today, so once I finish that (which will be this evening) I'll email you my coverage on "****".

Have a fabulous day, and don't give up!! If this is the real thing, then I can't wait to tell the world that I know you. If it's not...well, we'll find out soon enough!

Best of luck!

Sae Sae

Here's the thing: i'm actually not excited at all because I smell tons of rats. Since when does a nobody writer choose actors and actresses?

I think the dude is just totally crazy, but the guy that picked him up seemed normal. he mentioned something like, "i finished coverage on the first one, still working on the one by ***** (me)."

over the course of the 3 converstaions i've had with this dude, he's always giving me 'life lessons' and bullshit like that. One of which was, "never negotiate anything yourself." So, I said, "to the effect of what you said about negotiating, I'd like to find an agent to represent me." he basically brushed me aside -- sort of sounded like a used car salesman.

like i said, the man is insane. my hopes are not up at all. since he is my 'faux manager', i may call him later and say "look, find me an agent from a reputable place. thanks' and see what he says. more double-talk, i'm sure.

I feel like buying you a gift. You are so helpful it's nuts, and you don't even know me. Thank you.