When Should I Follow Up On a Script Submission?

Question: I’m an aspiring screenwriter trying to break in. I recently finished a script that I hope to use as my calling card. Paid for professional coverage. Got a recommend. Decided it was finally time to approach some agents. So I called in a few favors and sent out a ton of emails. And within a couple of weeks I got script requests from CAA, WMA, Paradigm, and APA. When and how should I touch base with the people who are currently “reading” my script? What should I say, exactly? I don’t want to seem pushy. But I also don’t want to be lost and forgotten after all the effort I went to to get my script in their hands. And also, should I mention that other agents are currently reading my script?

Screenwriting Compass:

First off, congratulations on these agencies asking for your script. You are ahead of most people. Here’s the first thing I would do. Check to see who requested your screenplay. You will notice that for the larger agencies, it was probably an assistant. That’s ok, they are great gatekeepers in this world. The reason it’s good to know, is that assistants are going to be a little more proactive than the actual agents, so just know this when writing to them.

So how long should you wait? IF the agency requested the script, then it was their intention to read it. If they didn’t want to read it, they just wouldn’t have requested that. This means, that you will get a response. I’m sure other agents will have their own timeline, but I would give it 2 weekends. If you have not heard anything, wait until Friday of that week, and just send a simple email. Save the email that they sent to you where it shows they requested the script, and REPLY from that email. If you don’t keep it, we will forget who you were and you may have to start from scratch.

The reason a Friday email reminder is the best, is because we probably didn’t read it. By sending us an email on Friday, it will remind us to read it over the weekend. This is when the majority of our reading is done.

If they still have not read it by that Monday, send another email on Friday… and continue EVERY Friday sending these emails. Believe me, by this time, we are feeling bad that we have not read your script yet, and will try and get you a response so that we don’t have to continue getting your weekly email.

 Just remember what I wrote above, we requested the script, that means we wanted to read it. I didn’t have to request it in the first place.

 The second part to this question is if you should say other agents are reading it. YES. We react to heat. If I know another agent is reading, I want to make sure I am not left behind. However, remember to not exagerrate on anything. It has happened in the past, when someone said another agent liked their script, and I called that agent and he laughed and denied it. It’s a small world, we probably know each other. If you are lucky enough for an agency to like that script, then you need to let everybody else reading that they liked it. You’ll see how quickly they get back to you.