How to Become a Screenwriting Agent

A screenwriting agent can make a very good living brokering deals between writers and studios. Agents, on average, get between 10 and 20 percent of a script sale. With sales on some screenplays in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the agent can bring in a six-figure salary on his own. Becoming an agent, however, is no easy task; you must work hard, be dedicated and, most challengingly, find a way to "get your foot in the door."

Instructions

1. Earn a college degree. This is not always necessary, but due to intense competition among screenwriting agents, any advantage increases your chances. The most useful major is communication with a concentration in film, video and television. Reputable schools among film industry insiders are New York University; University of California, Los Angeles; and the University of Southern California. Take as many writing and screenwriting classes as possible.

2. Read as many screenplays as you can. To be a successful agent, you need a working knowledge of screenplay structure, description and dialogue.

3. View as many movies as you can. Apply what you've learned from school and from reading screenplays to understand which movies work and which movies don't. If you like a movie, delve deeper into the story to pinpoint what made it exceptional. If you dislike a movie, do the same for what didn't work.

4. Read trade publications for the movie industry. The two biggest are "Variety" and "The Hollywood Reporter." Find out the current state of the industry and what types of screenplays are in demand. Hollywood goes through cycles: Westerns were big in the 1950s, but not so much in the 1980s when science fiction was the rage. Knowing what sells is the biggest asset you will have in representing a writer.

5. Apply for an entry-level position at a talent agency. The most useful position is that of a reader. Agents are inundated with so many scripts that they can't get to them all. To this end, an agent employs a reader. The reader reads the script and makes notes. He ultimately recommends that the agent "pass" on or "consider" the script.

6. Inquire about becoming a junior agent after you've gained a measure of experience. If you have been successful in recommending or rejecting the scripts you've read, the agency is likely to give you a shot. You will start out representing unknown writers. However, once you've gained a level of success, you will likely move up to representing higher-profile clients.

References

• Scriptologist.com: An Interview With Literary Agent Caren Bohrman
• Adler Books: FAQ on Literary Agents and Publishing
• Crafty Screenwriting: Frequently Asked Questions