Screenwriting : Cold call by Steven M. Cross

Once, early in my career, I cold called Jerry Weintraub and his assistant connected me. After the awkwardness, we bullshitted for about 15 minutes then said goodbye. He wouldn't listen to my pitch, of course, but he encouraged me to work hard, so I would be ready when luck reared its head.

I know actors and musicians. I wrote a pilot for one of them and they felt I was using them to better myself, so I put the pilot on the shelf.

Yes lots, but only with a serious offer which, by law, their agent has to pass on to their client. You get to know agents after a while so it becomes less of a cold-contact affair. Go for it but try not to get swept up too emotionally when it comes to negotiating. Overpaying for talent because you personally want the actor is a great way to make a project unprofitable. Aim high and make valuable deals.

I worked in a short film last January and was really surprised when I walked into the studio to see a known film and TV actor there. He was so kind, came over to everyone and introduce himself, shake hands. I wish I had asked Director how he got him, but it was out place for me. A friend of mind, a writer/Director of short film "PHOTO OP" now on Amazon, hired a pretty well known actor for the lead, I asked him how did he get him, he said, Randy Harris was looking to do something really dark and challenging like the script my friend Dave Solomon wrote, so through his agent both their agents. So, its hard, but not impossible. HOPE never quicks.

I've had very good success contacting stars through mutual friends or through a casting director who knows and is friends with a particular star. But if it's someone considered a major star, you'd better be prepared to respond to a Pay or Play demand from their agent, because in effect you're keeping them off the market for the shoot dates you're proposing.