HOW TO APPROACH A SALES AGENT

 

HOW TO APPROACH A SALES AGENT

You’re new to the industry – you’ve never met them before .. what do you do if you need to approach a sales agent?

Research … Who are you going to contact and why should they be interested in your movie?  If you have looked at their website / the types of movies that they sell, maybe that’s why – they love horror and so do you! Perfect.

However …. if they love horror and you have an arthouse title – that’s likely to be a problem (& they’re going to think you didn’t do your research and give it a straight pass).

Call or Email ?

If you don’t know who you are calling, a polite email works best – introduce yourself; explain why you are contacting their company and then request a conversation or permission to submit a script / project information.

Ask to whom you should direct your project – is it the Head of Sales or the Head of Acquisitions ..

When to Approach – Before or After a Market ?

• Right before a major film market right?  No … never a good idea.  They have scripts to read that they are committed to sell – yours will be left on a desk & fogotten.
• Right after a major film market ..?  Still a no – they have follow up from the market and are exhausted!
• So .. when do you approach a sales agent – with enough time for them to have gotten over the previous market (give it 10-14 days) and with enough time to read, love it, sign it up and get it ready to sell at the next market.
• However, what if you happen to be at the market / festival … wait until the first few days are over and then, politely, approach the office and ask if there is anyone there who has time to meet with you about your project.  Sales are made in the first few days – it’s likely they’ll have time / attention towards the end of their trip.