Screenwriting : Has Anyone Pitched Directly to an Actor/Actress? by Stephanie O'Leary

Yes, attached an Oscar nominee this way. The part was written with them in mind. Usually you have to go through their agent/manager/lawyer, and sometimes you have to be a little pushy about it.

Interesting. But how woulld pitching to an actor, lets assuming they love it, help it get produced? Would we hope the actor would forward it to a contact in a prod company?

Thanks for the reply, CJ. I figure I'll only have one shot at getting their interest, so I'm carefully crafting my pitch to highlight their role.

I wrote a main character in my planned animated series specifically with Eddie Deezen in mind. We are friends on Facebook. I wrote to him and he said he is all for it. Now I just have to somehow get the show off the ground.

Hi, Marie. Yes, I would hope that, if they love the role, they'd pass the script along ("up the food chain, per se) to those people who represent or work with them and it could lead to getting the movie made (a "six degrees of separation" kind of move.) I've been told a "you don't know until you try" attitude is useful in pitching, so I'm working on recognizing opportunities outside of conventional channels.

Wyman, that's great and encouraging news! Best of luck with your series!

Stephanie O'Leary, thank you so much. Things are moving forward slowly. I also had to well-known B movie directors ask for links to my music. I have written over 200 songs. Now I wait and see and then poke them if needed.

Yes.

You don't pitch scripts to actors in the hope they pass it upward. You do it in the hope they will attach themselves to the project and thus make it more valuable to a potential investor. It's called "packaging".

CJ Walley, my apologies if my phrasing was off. Yes, you do hope they'll choose to attach themselves, but their connections thereafter could be the next step to finding the right people to make the project happen.

Hey Stephanie O'Leary This is such a natural instinct - when you can vividly see a specific actor in the role and hear their voice in the dialogue, it feels like destiny! However, I'd strongly recommend proceeding with extreme caution when approaching actors directly.

Why Direct Actor Pitches Are Challenging

Legal Protection: Most established actors, even character actors, won't read unsolicited material due to liability concerns. Their representatives typically handle all script submissions to avoid potential legal issues around idea theft claims. In my experience, when you contact actors that you don't know personally directly, they will direct you to contact their reps.

Professional Protocol: The industry has established pathways for a reason. Bypassing representation can actually hurt your chances of being taken seriously by that actor's team later. Thus, going through the proper channels is a benefit to your credibility

Limited Authority: Even if an actor loves your script, they usually can't greenlight projects independently. They'd need to involve their reps, managers, and potentially producers anyway.

Better Strategic Approaches

Producer-First Strategy: Find producers who have worked with that actor before. They often have direct relationships and can approach the actor through proper channels.

Representation Pathway: If the actor has management or agency representation, query their reps about the project, mentioning the specific role. In my experience, cold calls work better than cold emails every time.

Industry Connections: Use Stage 32 or other networking platforms to find people who've worked with that actor and could facilitate a proper introduction.

Attachment Strategy: Sometimes having other elements attached (director, producer, or other cast) makes the project more attractive before approaching your dream actor.

The Exception:

If this actor is truly working at an independent/emerging level without major representation, direct contact might be appropriate - but even then, approach professionally with a query first, not the full script.

Bottom line: Your instinct about perfect casting could be valuable, but channel it through proper industry pathways for the best chance of success.

Pat, thanks so much for your helpful advice. The original short story that TUSK is based on and the script have been registered with WGAE and the Library of Congress. I do understand that this is no guarantee that unsavory sorts wouldn't try to steal the material, hence why I've only posted the log line and synopsis on my wall (much easier to keep tabs on who's reading my material.) Perhaps contacting this actors' reps or producers he's worked with would be the safer avenue to pursue. He's one of those "I love that guy, but I don't know his name" entities and has appeared in feature films and television series. Would it be appropriate for me to post a general query in a Stage 32 lounge to see if anyone on the site knows or has worked with him?

Hey Stephanie O'Leary I've worked with plenty of "that guy" actors in my day and i can tell you all of them prefer you go through their agents. calling or emailing their reps isn't something to be timid about. be bold and share your passion for what you've concocted. convince them that this project is worthy of their time. in my experience going direct to the sources, as opposed to maneuvering through workarounds, frequently leads to the desired outcomes. and if it doesn't, you know right away. however, i know it can be daunting and it's always nice to have extra muscle behind you. so feel free to post a general query on Stage 32 and see. can't hurt

Again, Pat, thanks for the insider info AND encouragement. I shine with written pitching, so crafting a killer e-mail seems to be my next step. Do I need to pray the query's not tossed in the trash, as it would come from an unknown address?

Hi Stephanie,

Love this question — and I totally relate! I’ve worked on both sides of the industry as a screenwriter and animation director, and I help coordinate pitch sessions here at Stage 32, where we regularly see writers tailor roles with specific actors in mind.

Personally, I’ve pitched directly to actors (or their reps) a few times, especially when a role was written with them in mind and the project had strong visual or thematic hooks. One of my most exciting moments was when a well-known actor’s team responded positively just based on the alignment of tone and character — it didn’t greenlight the project immediately, but it opened the door to conversations that helped shape it.

Reaching out directly — especially when the actor isn’t A-list and has a contact form or rep info listed — can absolutely be a smart and strategic move, especially when done respectfully and with a clear vision. If your pitch is passionate, professional, and shows you’ve thought about how they fit into the story, it can resonate in a powerful way.

Excited to see where this takes you — and if you need help refining your pitch materials, feel free to reach out!

Thanks for your take on this, Laquan. It's so helpful to hear of others' experiences, and what a rush to see an actor light up when your material resonates with them! I also appreciate your offer to help me with my pitch. I took a fantastic class that walked me through the essential elements, and I've fine-tuned it over time, so I think I'm good on that front. Again, I appreciate your kind words and encouragement. Best of luck to you on your writing and animation projects!

Stephanie O'Leary you've already gotten really solid feedback from our colleagues on this thread. I'll just add two 'encouragement' points. About 7 years ago I wanted Alberto Ammann (Narcos, Mars) in a SHORT film I had written and which I wished to then turn into a feature. He is one of Spain's most known actors while I was... the proverbial 'nobody.' Found his agent's phone number, checked the time zone difference to Spain, called her, presented myself truthfully and she politely accepted to receive the short script by email. Nothing happened with the project but I learned two lessons: 1) the worst that can happen is the agent and manager will decline and 2) good agents and managers, especially of non-Alist actors, are looking for work opportunities for their clients as much as we are looking to write screenplays that will potentially employ them. It's truly a team market dynamic and the only thing to stop us from being part of it is deciding that we are part of it - PLUS you're on Stage32! :) where you're already 'mingling' with industry pros. The rest is just getting down to business, preferably through the appropriate industry channels. The only time I would speak to an actor before the agent or manager is if I know the actor personally. Good luck! You got this :)

Thanks for your support and additional words of encouragement, Sebastian. I'm trying to gain more confidence with verbal pitching (the saying "Many things are lost for want of asking" is posted on the wall in my office :) It makes sense to query an actor's rep directly, sparking curiosity and increasing your chances for a script request. But anxiety usually ties me up in knots before anyone answers the phone (I, too, am a 'nobody'), hence written pitches are my "go-to." I was THRILLED to receive notice of Stage 32's Summer Horror Pitchfest this week; written pitches are accepted, and seven of the nineteen participating industry pros sound like they might be receptive to my material (fingers crossed!) Again, thank you for weighing in and sharing your experiences. And best of luck with all YOUR creative endeavors!

Stephanie O'Leary, I learned years ago to just go for it. The worst that can happen is somebody says no. An example is when I founded the Vilnius Jewish Public Library in Lithuania. The Prime Minister of Lithuania was scheduled to speak at the grand opening. The day before and his assistant wrote to me saying that the prime minister would not be able to attend. I wrote back saying that he needed to be there and I explained why. The prime minister showed up and gave a speech.

Thanks very much Stephanie O'Leary for the wishes AND for likely an addition to MY office wall - "Many things are lost for want of asking" :) cheers

You're welcome, Sebastian! I rotate sayings as needed. Here are two more that jolt me into writing mode: 1) "Dreams don't work unless you do", and 2) "Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures!" :D

If you don't ask the answer is always no. Throw caution to the wind and go for it, Stephanie!! Good Luck!!

Stephanie O'Leary, I like that about being curious. I have visited or lived in 25 nations. I am definitely curious.

Thanks, Wyman! I read your profile, and your accomplishments are impressive - your Synesthesia serves you well! Best of luck with your many projects!

Thank you, Christina!

Hi Stephanie..Thanks for connecting. Funny you should ask this question. I'm working with an A-List Actor repped by Joel Lubin-CAA on an unrelated project. Random unrelated conversation lead to this actor asking what i'm working on ..any upcoming on-camera projects..etc. I mentioned my script I've been working on for years and he wanted to read it for the lead. I sent it to his Mgr. via my Mgr a few months ago . Since that time I built my EPK, did a ton a research, built the $50 million+ budget. We are under NDA and shopping it around town trying to find producers/$/director. A total unplanned project I honestly thought would never happen or get pitched. Now I'm trying to find a literary agent for representation and an entertainment attorney to work the deal . I'll keep you updated..Good Luck out there!

Daniel

CJ Walley I thought about doing this, but always hesitant. It might be worth re-investing my money into an IMDB pro subscription. Are there any other words to get a hold of them?

Thanks for weighing in on this, Daniel, and CONGRATS on your script getting traction! Are you thinking of participating as a Line Producer (because you crunched the 50 million + budget) if you land other investors? I'm still very green on how deals get made, but it sounds like you could be wearing multiple hats on the Development end. Also, is an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) the same thing as a Pitch Deck? I have marketing and promotional ideas for my script, but don't know if it's presumptuous to share any of that when I pitch until genuine interest is expressed in optioning the material. Please keep us updated on your project, Daniel, and best of luck to you!!!

I'll DM you Stephanie..