So you have the perfect idea for a new movie. It’s unique and interesting and you’ve already finished writing the script. All you have to do is hand it over to a studio, right? Not exactly. Pitching your idea is challenging because studios receive hundreds of scripts from screenwriters every month.
To be able to pitch your movie or show ideas to a production company, your first hurdle is to reach those executives. This is where a well-connected screenwriting agent comes in. They match the right script to the right production company. Below are ten of the best literary agents for screenwriters.
Dorian Karchmar from the William Morris Endeavor
Operating since 1898, the William Morris Endeavor can be considered the longest-running agency in Hollywood. It was formed when the Endeavor and William Moris Agency merged in 2009. With its 273 agents, it is also the largest agency out there.
Submitting your work to an agent of WME can be intimidating because of its roster of clients. It includes Allan Loeb (21), Michael Dougherty (Superman Returns), Mark Boal (The Hurt Locker), and Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire). If you believe that your idea can match their past projects, then go ahead and submit your work.
One of their more experienced literary agents is Dorian Karchmar. She has been an agent for twenty years. She represents numerous award-winning narrative non-fiction and fiction authors. Her client list includes Daniel James Brown (The Boys in the Boat) and Helene Cooper (The House at Sugar Beach) among others.
Submission Guidelines
Submit your query letter to Dorian through her email. Do not attach anything to the email because it will be erased automatically. Instead, paste a synopsis of your project and parts of your script to the body of your email. Talk about yourself as well as your publishing credentials.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.wmeagency.com/
Email Address: dkar@wmeentertainment.com
Paradigm Talent Agency
Paradigm has been around for three decades and is known to have influenced the global film and television industry. Its people were also in charge of bringing in so many talents in theater, digital content, and music. Based in California, this agency has always been known for finding the right materials for its clients.
The agency has over 200 agents representing clients in theatre, book publishing, media rights, motion picture, television, music performances, and more. Their client list includes Antonio Banderas(actor), Malcolm D. Lee (director), Coldplay (musician), Stephen King (author), and many more.
If you are a writer who is interested in writing for television shows or movies, working with Paradigm Talent Agency is a great way to get the exposure that you need. You can be included in a team of writers, actors, and directors for projects on various platforms. Once you’re part of the team, you can start pitching your own scripts.
Submission Guidelines
You can submit your query letter via email. In the body of your email, you need to paste the first 10 pages of your work. Don’t forget to include your contact information so that the agency’s representative will know how to contact you if they are interested in your material.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.paradigmagency.com/
Email address: books@paradigmagency.com.
Telephone 212-897-6400:
Curtis Brown Ltd.
Curtis Brown is undeniably one of the most prestigious literary agencies out there. It was founded by Albert Curtis Brown in 1905 and has offices in New York and London. Among its big-name clients are Ayn Rand (Atlas Shrugged and Fountainhead) and C.S. Lewis (The Chronicles of Narnia).
This agency is not just home to literary giants. It is also involved in film and television. It represents authors and screenwriters who are looking to get their work adapted into plays, television series, or movies.
Submission Guideline
The agency’s website has a submission portal. You will find there a form to fill up regarding your personal details and writing history. You can also type in there the synopsis of your work as well as paste the first ten pages of the project you want to submit.
However, the agents prefer submissions to be done via email. You can find the individual email of the agents on the website’s agents page. Do not send your physical manuscript as it will just be rejected immediately. Send your query letter along with a 1,500 -word synopsis and 10,000 words of your sample material.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/
Jill Foster Ltd.
Jill Foster Ltd. has been around since 2011 and represents writers working across film, television, and radio. This agency is associated with numerous successful comedies, original dramas, and entertainment shows. It is also involved in continuing series and television soaps.
JFL represents writers such as Adam Bostock-Smith (The Royal Variety Show, Ninja Warrior, and X-Factor), Jonathan Morris (Dead Ringers, Swinging, BBC Radio audio drama Doctor Who), and Paul Smith (One Night, ROY live-action/animation series, Desperados drama series) among others.
Submission Guidelines
This agency does not accept query letters for novels and short stories. It is only interested in film, TV, or radio comedy and drama works. Note that they are currently not taking on new writers.
If you are an established writer with some broadcast experience, you can connect with any of their agents by sending a preliminary email. Describe your writing history and the scripts that you want the agent to read. If he or she finds that it fits the needs of one of the agency’s clients, you will be asked to provide a copy of the script.
Contact Information
Website:
Email address: representation@jflagency.com
Telephone number: 020 3137 8182
Kerry Ball from Meridian Artists
Screenwriters who reside in Ontario and California should check out Meridian Artists for representation. This agency was founded in 2005 and has represented award-winning creative professionals and artists. It has a Primetime Division that actively looks for screenwriters for digital streaming platforms, film, or TV.
One of its top agents is Kerry Ball. She, along with the other agents, is looking for writers in both drama and comedy across North America. Kerry has been with Meridian since 2010 but only became an agent in 2014. She represents clients for animation, youth, and primetime production and development.
Submission Guidelines
You can submit your application to Meridian via their submission portal on its website. Fill out all the pertinent information and attach your project’s script in PDF format. Note that the script must be written using professional software for screenwriting. Make sure that the file is no larger than 2MB.
If you submit a co-written script, you must seek representation as a team. The agency does not accept adaptations. Limit your submission to one sample. If Kerry or any other agent is interested in your material, she will follow up to request additional materials.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.meridianartists.com/
Email address: info@meridianartists.com
Toronto telephone number: 416.961.2777
Los Angeles telephone number: 310.479.2777
The Warden Group
The Warden Group was established by David Warden in 1989. It evolved into a full-service company that represents and manages writers for the entertainment industry. The writers represented by this agency are exceptionally skilled, producing original screenplays worth millions of dollars.
This agency’s writers are officially credited on some of the biggest films and television shows like The Lion King, Batman Returns, Outbreak, Revenge of the Nerds, Pet Sematary 2, and Joan of Arc.
Among its top clients are Sam Hamm and Darin Morgan. The former is one of Tim Burton’s co-writer for Batman. The latter is the screenwriter of several episodes of X-Files and Fringe. If you want to work with the geniuses who helped shape those shows, consider submitting your work to The Warden Group.
Submission Guidelines
The literary agency is currently not accepting unsolicited manuscripts. However, it would pay to keep its contact details on record in case it starts accepting submissions again. Also, if you try to work in any capacity at this agency, you’d have a better relationship with the agents.
Note that should they begin accepting query letters, they only accept ones sent as standard mail. No electronic query letters. Make sure your script is polished and ready to be submitted at any time.
Contact Information
Website: https://thewardengroup.com/
Address: P.O. Box 159, Beverly Hills, CA 90213
Telephone number: (323) 852-1028
Independent Talent Group Ltd.
Formerly known as Duncan Heath & Associates, the Independent Talent Group has been around since 1973. It was temporarily owned by ICM but went back to being independent back in 2002. This agency represents many of the world's most renowned writers working in theatre, television, and film.
Its clients include Richard Ayoade (Submarine, The Double), Matt Charman (Suite Francaise) Edgar Wright (Baby Driver), Jane Goldman (Kingsman), Stephen Fingleton (The Survivalist), and Jamie Brittain (Skins). If you want to work alongside these big names, make sure that you submit your projects to Independent Talent.
Submission guidelines
The agency is not accepting unsolicited submissions at this time. Pitches, screenplays, and outlines that are sent to their office email will not be read. What they will accept though are ones coming from referrals by any course tutor, development executive, or producer.
This is why it is important to grow your network. If you know some people that can refer you to any of the agents of Independent Talent, they would take the time to check out your material. If you do get referred, you need to email the agent and send him or her a copy of your CV with the description of the project you are pitching.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.independenttalent.com/
Address: 40 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 2RH
Telephone number: +44 (0)20 7636 6565
The Rohm Literary Agency
Founded in 2002, The Rohm Literary Agency has worked with a number of emerging authors of screenplays. It has taken an innovative approach to cultivate talent and developing collaborations between authors and television and film producers across various platforms.
This agency represented projects like film, tv, podcasts, and video incarnations for Dragonfly TV, Netflix, and Glass Entertainment. It manages all types of writers including novel authors, journalists, playwrights, and screenwriters. One of their most prominent screenwriters is Kate Warren (Messy).
Submission Guidelines
Rohm is currently looking for writers of all types of materials, scripts included. If you want to find an agent from a well-connected agency, you should try this one. It takes exclusive submissions only. To start the process, send your query letter through the website’s contact page. You may also email it to the agency’s administrative assistants.
If any of the agents would like to take you on as a talent, he or she will send you a request for your manuscript. Make sure your script is polished and ready to be presented at any time.
Contact Information
Website: https://www.therohmliteraryagency.com/
Email addresses: Margaret@RohmLiterary.com
Wendy@RohmLiterary.com
Gersh Agency
When it comes to agents, whether for a novelist or a screenwriter, experience is one of the most important things to look for. You need to work with an agent that has cultivated a long and fruitful relationship with the right people in the industry. And when it comes to experience and contacts, Gersh is without a doubt a top agency.
With over 70 years of experience, Gersh manages everybody from directors to writers. It was founded in 1949 by the legendary Phil Gersh, who represented Humphrey Bogart. Its clients have reaped numerous awards in the field of theater, television, film, and digital media.
This agency has multiple full-service departments but the most relevant ones to writers are the Books and Literary departments. Not only does the agent help the authors get published, but they also endorse their clients’ projects to television and movie companies.
Submission guidelines
As of the moment, only solicited submissions are entertained by the Gersh Agency. It is still beneficial for you to keep the agency’s contact information on hand so that you can immediately send your material should they begin accepting submissions again.
Contact Information
Website: https://gersh.com/
Address: 9465 Wilshire Boulevard, 6th Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Telephone: (310) 274-6611
Above the Line Agency
Above the Line is an agency based in Beverly Hills, California. It has risen above most of its competition by focusing solely on representing writers for motion pictures. Its people have cultivated strong ties with numerous screenwriters, actors, directors, and producers in Hollywood.
ATLA is headed by Rima Greer. She also provides personal consultation for anyone who wants to make it big in the TV and film industry. Besides handling negotiations for their writers, ATLA also helps in developing and restructuring businesses.
Submission Guidelines
If you want to be represented by an agent from Above the Line Agency, you just need to submit a query. You will find the submission link on their official website. The questionnaire has a section where you can type in the description of your project. Make sure that your description is short but compelling.
If an agent finds your proposal interesting and fits their clients’ needs, he or she will contact you for additional information. Do not send your query letter via the agency’s email address as it will only be deleted.
Contact Information
Website: http://www.atlpublishing.com/above_the_line_agency/index.html
Address: 468 N. Camden Drive #200, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Telephone number: 310-859-6115
