Do I need a producer or an Agent

[flexed1]

Trying to get on a major cable network and don't know how to proceed.

1. The talent is me, the idea is mine, and the product which will also appear is me. I am trying to sell me and my idea to this network.

2. I have a film producer here in Austin I met with today who used me for a pilot he is trying to sell to cable networks. We are both trying to accoplish the same goal though he is selling a concept I am selling me.

3. Not knowing is it best for me to put my pilot together with him and approach it as a team or find an agent to try to sell me and the pilot? This is fairly specialized and I am not sure what to do.

network is food network

 

[vinylgroover]

Put together a pilot on your own and do your own leg work. There are so many sharks in that game, everyone looking out for themselves. Unless this guy has some worthwhile contacts you could leverage from, ust trust yourself and no one else. If the idea has merit, the studio's will pick the pilot up and run with it. You will need to do alot of leg work though.

A good friend of mine has been trying to get an animated series produced but it's proving hard sell.

 

[gymtime]

Flexed1 IS the new Juice Man!!!!

What you need is a good slap right in the mush.

 

[flexed1]

 

[Code]

Use the guy who got your video deal.

The Fitness Made Simple series of videos you make are the best!!!

 

[flexed1]

i knew you would respond

 

[Code]

i knew you would respond

I'm your biggest fan Mr. Basedow!
Nothing but love.

 

[flexed1]

bwaaaaaa

 

[Code]

Am I now stalking your posts??

That's scarey.

 

[flexed1]

anything to get this bumped. Code I will pay you when I get the big contract.

 

[Code]

anything to get this bumped. Code I will pay you when I get the big contract.

Naw, no money needed. I just like playin' around on your threads.

 

[flexed1]

so do others who have no lives, and use web tv. My spelling sucks but my salary is well 6 digits. Life just ain't fair.

 

[SofaGeorge]

Flexed, I'm a writer/producer... mostly retired and doing infomercial stuff now... but originally entertainment tv (network and cable.) You are usually better off using all of the above... especially if you don't have a track record as a producer or lead talent. Persistence and determination win the game. Get your stuff out there any way you can... and then try to find more ways.

One of the great tricks of the trade is to make a dummy episode for $3-5000 that will acurately show the concept and execution... then shop it to the networks.

Sometimes agents work very hard for you - sometimes an agent does work that hard for you.

EXAMPLE:

My writing partner was on staff on Startrek TNG. He was a first year writer and signed with his agent AFTER he got hired on staff, not before. (It is very easy to get an agent when you have a job.) The agent was a lazy ass f-ck named CHRIS SILVERMAN. (Chris signed me as well - and we never met. He signed me at the time just because he was representing my partner.)

My partner and I got outside jobs by ourselves writing a pilot and stuff, but during the year he was at Startrek the agent got us NO work. Then after the year was up Startrek didn't renew my friend's contract. We figured no problem... our agent would find us quick work. WRONG. In the entire year he "represented" us he never sent out a single script. He just banked that we would find some work on our own and that my friend would roll back onto staff.

Had the agent been working for us my friend would have easily had multiple job offers after a year on Startrek. My friend sadly never worked again. I got a different agent and got more work within a month.

 

[Code]

so do others who have no lives, and use web tv. My spelling sucks but my salary is well 6 digits. Life just ain't fair.

Outside of my little girl. I have no life.
I'll be leaving work in a couple months, and still trying to figure out which direction to go.

My spelling is fair to good.

 

[bigguns7]

You pretty much have to have an agent. I'm assuming you already have headshots and a resume, because no agent worth a shit will see you without one.

Agents are one of those necessary evils. They know where the work (and the money) is. They know which networks have appetites for which programming, so you've got to use one of those or you'll sink before you even get started. Your producer friend will be an invaluable contact, but he shouldn't be your only teammate.