Screenwriting : Working On Television Pilots Now And Looking For Agents by Robert People

Hey Robert, Glad to see you're not averse to hard work and dedication. That's something a lot of new writers don't really consider. But that's neither here nor there. So, you're looking for representation. From your subject title: "Working On Television Pilots Now And Looking For Agents", I'll assume you're not "working" on your TV pilot, but actually have one completed. If you're still in the writing phase, it's WAY too early to begin the representation hunt. If you've just completed a pilot, it's probably also too early to begin the representation search as you should re-edit it, until it's amazing -- not good, not great, but really amazing. Let's say you've completed a really amazing pilot then and are seeking representation. A few things I would suggest -- since you're a TV writer -- is as follows. 1) Enter as many TV writing fellowships as you can. Disney/ABC, NBC Writers on the Verge, Fox Writers Intensive, Nickelodeon, CBS, WB Writers workshop, the Black List's TBS/TNT writer's initiative. They can be a great way to break into the TV industry but are very competitive. 2) Consider approaching managers instead of agents. Managers are simply more approachable than agents and spend more time reading and developing clients. Agents spend 95% of their time selling the clients they have. Generally speaking, most of their clients come from referrals. Here's a list of management companies you can start to query: http://www.scriptsandscribes.com/manager-list/ Also, if you're interested, here's some interviews with agents/managers that you can check out if you want to see what they're looking for in clients and such. http://www.scriptsandscribes.com/agentsmanagers/ 3) If you do decide to query agents, the best times are between July and January. During February through June, most TV agents are slammed preparing their clients or submitting them for staffing season, so their time is very limited. You can still approach them during staffing season, but you might not get much of a response. Since most managers rep both TV and feature writers, you can generally approach them at any time. 4) If you're interested in TV writing as a career, you will likely need to move to Los Angeles. Most TV writers do not start their career selling a spec TV pilot. You CAN sell them and they do, on occasion, sell. But a majority of spec TV pilots are used as writing samples. Once staffing season rolls around, and you've secured representation prior, then your spec TV pilot will be sent out as your writing sample and interested showrunners, producers and execs will meet with you. You may have dozens of meetings during staffing season and if hired, you will likely work in a writers' room in L.A., even if the show is filmed out of state. And if you don't get staffed, your manager or agent can still work to get your pilot sold (meaning more meetings) and/or staffed on the random mid-season or cable show that is staffed at different times. If you're outside of L.A., it will likely be more difficult for you. I'm not saying you can't get your start as a TV writer, living outside of L.A. (assuming you are willing and able to travel to LA a few times a year -- and stay a couple weeks at a time minimum), but it will be much harder. 5) The alternate route to getting on a writing staff -- if you're not hired during staffing season) -- is to try to get a job on a TV series. Any job really. It's very competitive and there aren't very many available at any given time, but many TV writers have gotten their first writing jobs while being a writers PA... which generally involves working on the show in another capacity before being offered a writers PA position. If you have any Q's, feel free to reach out. Best of luck to you!

Thanks, Kevin. When I said "working on..." that just means that I'm constantly writing. I've finished one pilot so far and I'm working on another, so my process is to continuously work on scripts until I'm able to break in. I know I can't do just one or two and call it a day. I've completed some movie scripts, but I'm taking a shot at the pilot now. I have heard about approaching managers rather than agents, so I will certainly give that a try. Thanks for the explanation on the difference, along with what the best times to contact them are. That makes sense. I also believe that moving to Los Angeles, while not essential, will definitely help and we are considering that. Traveling there a few times a year will definitely not be a problem. I'm in the Army now, so moving isn't an option, but I retire in three years and things open up a little more for me then. That at least allows me to leave more frequently if necessary. I'm using this remaining three years (as I've started this early last year) to improve my craft and have much more work completed by the time I'm done with the Army. Thanks a bunch for the link to the management companies and agent lists. Since you said July is a good time, I will continue on the pilot I'm working on now and maybe another before trying with an agency again (this will also give me time to receive feedback and do some re-writes). I may begin contacting managers now. Thanks again for all the help. Being in the Army for almost 17 years, I understand what it means to "pay your dues," and I understand that I need to write more than anything else at this point, which is my plan. I know that no matter what else is going on, that can't stop.