[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As many of you may or may not know, I have been trying, for quite some time now, to become a writer for television. I have written a couple of spec scripts for the CBS comedy, The Big Bang Theory. What is a spec script? You may ask. It is a script of an existing television show, either sit-com or drama that is an original idea and done free of charge (on spec) to the production company. I have submitted one previously which had been turned down. One agency was kind enough to contact me about my script. I learned a couple of things.
Never send the entire script. No one will read it. Open it. Or give it any consideration. You might as well be sending them toilet paper through the mail. At least you know it will be treated the same way as your script and be better use to them.
For The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon speaks in long monologues filled with “techie” speak. Learn it and use it wisely.
A few years ago I was reunited through Facebook with someone I knew from my home town of Livingston, NJ. Danny Zuker. We went to the same Junior High and High School. Danny is now executive producer and writer for ABC’s Modern Family. I asked Danny for advice on how to become a writer for television. At the time he was writing for a police drama/comedy called The Unusuals. His resume includes The Arseneo Hall Show, Grace Under Fire, Roseanne, Just Shoot Me along with others. So I thought he would be a good source of advice.
He told me that I should write spec scripts for my favorite show. Ones that I enjoy and know very well. Once they are finished, carpet bomb the agencies listed in the Writer’s Guild website with letters of intent and treatment of the script. A treatment is a short form story of your script minus the dialogue. All it takes is one agency to agree to represent you. It’s like a lottery ticket. You cannot win if you don’t play. I thought I was playing big and sent my first script to twenty (all the postage I could afford) agencies. All were returned unopened except for one who I previously stated had contacted me. I chalked that up to a learning experience.
Fast forward to today. I have written another spec script for The Big Bang Theory. I made sure it had all the “Sheldon” required and this time I went all out and sent a letter of intent along with a treatment to all 88 of the agencies listed with the WGA. Since mailing them in November, ten of them had been returned immediately, unopened with “Return To Sender – Address Unknown” stamped on them. One came back with the most passive aggressive “No” I had ever seen.
There was a knock at my door and a mail carrier was there with a large envelope from one of the agencies on the list. My hands trembled with excitement as I signed the return receipt. I carefully opened the envelope to preserve it for posterity. I imagined getting it framed like restaurants do with their first dollar they get on opening day. Unfortunately, my opening day was not as exciting. Inside the envelope from the agency was my envelope carefully cut open with the contents still inside, apparently unread. Nothing else, not even a note. I felt like Charlie Brown on Halloween, “I Got a Rock” and on Valentine’s Day with the candy heart that read, “Forget it Kid.” I still had hope.
There were still 77 still out there. Then one day I got another envelope. This one was from the most prestigious agencies in Hollywood. It felt heavy. Once-again my heart was racing. I really should have that checked. I opened the large envelope and it contained a letter from the agency along with my letter and treatment. I wont go into its contents, but I will tell you that they do not accept unsolicited material and even though my treatment was opened it doesn’t mean that anyone read it and if by chance The Big Bang Theory uses any part or even all of my ideas it would be purely coincidental. My official, genuine, legitimate Hollywood rejection letter. Suitable for framing.
It has been more than a month since I mailed out the 88 letters. What is the fate of the remaining 76? Shredder? Trash? I am optimistic that some are still out there waiting to be opened until after the New Year. Until that happens I will wait patiently and I have begun writing another. Keep your fingers crossed. I’d appreciate it because it is difficult to type that way.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
