Close, but no cigar…

Greetings fellow scribes – hope you all are doing well and got some writing done this week.

If you read one of my recent posts – okay, the last post – you may recall I mentioned my quest for representation. Well, the quest has been in progress a week or two and the scorecard is somewhat encouraging. I have been concentrating on querying managers, waiting to approach production companies after Sundance. Here’s what has happened to date:

Sent out 36 queries. Had 3 emails bounce – invalid email addresses. Received 4 responses: 3 requests for scripts and 1 neutral pass – ‘…not taking on new clients at this time’. Needless to say I immediately sent scripts to those requesting managers. Of those three requests – one has already passed. But it was, in my mind, an encouraging pass. Here’s why:

This particular manager – well respected, and I think you would recognize the name – gave me the first real encouraging response I’ve yet to receive. Here is what this manager said about my screenplay, Cardinal Sin:

Had a chance to read CARDINAL SIN today and thought you did a great job.  Really well-written.  Though I really liked it, unfortunately it’s just not enough for me to champion.  I really appreciate you sending this my way.  Keep me in mind for any future projects.

Cool, huh?

I immediately replied asking the obvious question: What did you mean by ‘just not enough for me to champion’? I speculated in my email that the comment meant the story wasn’t BIG enough. The manager’s response: ‘I meant I just didn’t love it enough to champion.’

Okay, I can live with that. What I take away from this exchange is this: keep sending Cardinal Sin to managers and/or producers until I find that one person who does love it enough to champion.

Another takeaway from all this: the 3Ps will pay off. What are the 3Ps you might ask?

Perseverance. Perseverance. Perseverance.

You can also add to that,

Keep Writing!