GUIDE TO AGENTS FOR NEW SCREENWRITERS ......always want to read more. They will want to know that the first script wasn't a fluke, and they will want to know you are a creative person

1

GUIDE TO AGENTS FOR NEW

SCREENWRITERS

by Philip Gladwin

2

Stuff the Lawyers Insist On

The author has created this Screenwriting Goldmine

book using his best efforts. The author and

publishers give no guarantees or warranties as to the

fitness, applicability, or completeness of its contents.

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event be held liable for any damages or other

loss/damages resulting from following all or part of

the information contained herein. It should be read

for entertainment only.

There are no guarantees of earnings, or success

resulting from following the advice contained within

this book, nor any guarantees of the duration and

effectiveness of the strategies and information

included.

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under international and British copyright laws and

treaties and as such, any unauthorised copying,

distribution or reprinting of this material is strictly

forbidden.

Find out more about the Screenwriting Goldmine at

www.screenwritingggoldmine.com

https://www.screenwritingggoldmine.com/

3

ESSENTIAL AGENTS

Notes

This is our best list of agents who are of interest to the

new screenwriter here in the UK.

There are more agencies in the UK of course, but

some of them are very specialised, or essentially

closed to new writers – and some who are happy to

read new work don't really have the standing or

connections to seriously advance a new writer's

career.

The agents in this list are strongly recommended as

having both a reasonable open door policy to new

writers, and serious standing in the industry.

Which means:

You stand a reasonable chance of actually being read

by them in the end. (I say good chance - nothing is

guaranteed. Obviously things can change at any time,

and at any time an agent may decide that their list is

full and they are no longer looking for writers.)

They are real industry players who can properly

advance your career.

There are tens of thousands of new screenwriters in

the UK, all looking for representation, and perhaps in

the low hundreds of literary agents, so please that in

mind before you get frustrated.

Just because an agent is on this list does NOT mean

that you will definitely get your script read - every

single agent on this list will be already bombarded by

new writers, and will be working incredibly hard to

get through that pile of reading already.

Being an agent is more than a full time job, and that

means that it is standard not to hear back.

4

The converse of that is that if an agent IS interested

and they want to take things further, you will know

about it!

The best mind set is this:

Follow the instructions on how to submit here.

Chase gently with a short, polite email after eight

weeks.

One more short, polite email nudge after twelve

weeks, then after that consider the submission dead

and move on.

Are you ready?

If they like your first writing sample, an agent will

always want to read more. They will want to know

that the first script wasn't a fluke, and they will want

to know you are a creative person who has a lot of

ideas.

So please hold back from launching yourself on this

quest until you have at least two scripts written and

polished to a high standard, and make sure you have

a couple more ideas for more work you are passionate

about too. If you are called in for a meeting this will

be a key area of discussion, so make sure you are

ready for it.

Personal recommendation

Notice how many agents in this will only read work

that has been recommended to them by people in the

industry.

Even when agents don't specify this, you can be sure

that you will attract more attention if you have this

kind of recommendation. So a huge part of finding an

agent is finding supporters of your writing among

existing professionals.

Make it your business to get fans of your writing and

get these recommendations.

5

Covering Letters and CVs

Every time you write to one of these agents you will

have to write some kind of covering letter.

And there's a whole can of worms.

How DO you attract attention without going over the

top? Sell yourself without seeming arrogant? Sell

yourself if you have no writing experience?

It's a fine art.

There are no rules of course, and everyone will do this

differently - and that's as it should be. It's your

personality that needs to shine through, after all.

But if you DO want some guidance, I go into this

whole area in detail, and give some examples of how

to do it, in Open Door Issue 4, available from the

Open Door archive when you subscribe to Open Door

here: www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/open-door/

Multiple submissions

It's received wisdom that you don't approach multiple

agencies at the same time.

It’s my view that life is short, and approaching one

agency at a time and then waiting three months for

no reply will actually send you mad!

If you are truly ready, then I see nothing wrong with

approaching more than one agent at a time.

Just don't go on about it, or try to play one agent off

against another. That's a recipe for losing both of

them.

Reading Fees

None of the agencies we list here should ever charge

you a reading fee.

That's because no legitimate agency works this way in

the UK.

https://www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/open-door/

6

Legitimate agencies get paid when you get paid, and

they take their commission (between 10% to 15% +

VAT) out of the fees paid on sale of your script.

Think twice, or three times before ever paying a

reading/consultancy fee, or a fee"to cover overheads".

It's a serious mark of a scam.

Play it straight

It's a small enough world that agents talk to each

other, so be aware of that if you are considering

unorthodox claims about yourself or your

background.

Notice how many of the agents in this document

share the same address. In particular the ones who

share a large, single roomed office at Screenworks.

The pool is VERY small, so behave with integrity and

don't foul it for yourself.

It's a dynamic industry

Things change and people move jobs all the time, so if

you find that this is so, please let us know.

And if you're an agent and you think we've left you

out then please write to

[email protected] to let us know.

Here's NOT to do it:

www.knighthallagency.com/submissions/how-not-

to-approach-us/

(And, sadly, Knight Hall are currently closed for

approaches via new writers at the moment!)

Finally, here are the agents.

Good luck with your hunt!

Phil Gladwin

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.knighthallagency.com/submissions/how-not-to-approach-us/

http://www.knighthallagency.com/submissions/how-not-to-approach-us/

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THE AGENTS

ALAN BRODIE REPRESENTATION LTD

Address: Paddock Suite, The Courtyard, 55 Charterhouse Street, London EC1M

6HA

Website: http://www.alanbrodie.com/

Contact email: [email protected]

Twitter: @abragency

Switchboard: 020 7253 6226

TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Yes

Notes: Send CV first before sending work. They will get in touch if they want to read

scripts.

Agent: Alan Brodie

Agent: Lisa Foster

YOUR NOTES:

Name of agent/assistant:

Date first contacted:

Materials sent:

Chased on this date (8 weeks after first submitted):

Chased for a second time (12 weeks after first submitted):

Results, meetings, followup notes:

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BERLIN ASSOCIATES

Address: Berlin Associates, 7 Tyers Gate, London SE1 3HX

Website: http://www.berlinassociates.com/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Send your CV and an example of your work to

[email protected]

They will get back to you if they are interested in taking things any further.

Agent: Marc Berlin

phone: 020 7632 5282

Agent: Matt Connell

phone 020 7632 5283

Agent: Alexandra Cory

phone 020 7632 5283

Agent: Rachel Daniels

phone 020 7632 5284

Agent: Julia Mills

phone 020 7632 5284

Agent: Fiona Williams

phone 020 7632 5281

Agent: Emily Wraith

phone 020 7632 5281

Agent: Julia Wyatt

phone 020 7632 5282

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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BLAKE FRIEDMANN LITERARY AGENCY LTD

Address: First floor, Selous House, 5-12 Mandela St, London NW1 0DU

Website: http://blakefriedmann.co.uk/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: You MUST have broadcast/production credits OR produced stage or radio

plays before they will consider you. They are particularly keen on finding playwrights

who are transitioning to film and TV. If that's you then send covering letter, writing

CV, one spec script feature length/TV hour, summary of that script to

[email protected] They will respond if they want to take it

forward.

Agent: Julian Friedmann

Agent: Conrad Williams

Agent: Dan Nixon

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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CECILY WARE LITERARY AGENTS

Address: 19c John Spencer Square, Canonbury, London, N1 2LZ

Website: http://www.cecilyware.com/

Contact email: Contact form on website

Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: No


Notes: Post you script with a covering letter, a CV and a stamped addressed

envelope to Submissions Department, Cecily Ware Literary Agents, 19c John Spencer

Square, Canonbury, London, N1 2LZ. Include SAE if you want script returning.

Agent: Gilly Schuster

Agent: Warren Sherman

Agent: Carol Reyes

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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CULVERHOUSE ASSOCIATES

Address: 15 Mill Lane, Churchtown,Southport, PR9 7PL

Website: http://culverhouseassociates.com/


Twitter:

Switchboard: 01704 224056

TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: If you are an established writer (at least 2 scripts commissioned/broadcast)

please contact Diane Culverhouse [email protected] If you are a new

writer, please email [email protected] before sending in any script

material.

Agent: Diane Culverhouse

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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CURTIS BROWN

(inc. ICM and Christopher Little)

Address: Haymarket House, 28 -29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4SP

Website: http://curtisbrown.co.uk/


Twitter: @CBTheatreFilmTV


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Unlikely, but possible. They prefer to get their

clients through recommendations

Notes: Read this page before submitting anything:

www.curtisbrown.co.uk/page/becoming-a-client

Agents: Kat Buckle, Hannah Clarke, Jessica Coleman, Jessica Cooper, Amanda

Davis, Sam Greenwood, Ben Hall, Alastair Lindsey-Renton, Nick Marston, Cynthia

Okoye, Nish Panchal, Joe Phillips, Charlie Weedon, Lily Williams, Camilla Young

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/page/becoming-a-client

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DAVID HIGHAM ASSOCIATES

Address: 7th Floor, Waverley House, 7–12 Noel Street, London W1F 8GQ

Website: http://www.davidhigham.co.uk


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Don't send your script in cold. You need a recommendation from a producer,

development exec, literary manager, course tutor, or an existing client of this agency.

Don't send your script even then, but write to one of the agents attaching a CV and

your referee.

Agent: Nicky Lund

Nicky's Assistant: Hannah Campbell

[email protected]

Agent/Director: Georgina Ruffhead

[email protected]

Georgina's Assistant: Gemma Addy

[email protected]

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




14

DENCH ARNOLD

Address: 10 Newburgh Street, London, W1F 7RN

Website: http://www.dencharnold.com/

Contact email:

Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Write to Fiona, and send a covering letter, CV and synopsis of one

screenplay, or director's showreel.

Agent: Elizabeth Dench

Agent: Matthew Dench

Agent's Assistant: Fiona Grant

[email protected]

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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JFL AGENCY

Address: 48 Charlotte Street, London W1T 2NS

Website: http://www.jflagency.com/


Twitter: @jflagency


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: You must be an established writer with production credits. First send a

preliminary letter or email, telling them about your writing and what scripts you

have available for them to read. If they think there’s a possible fit with the agency,

they’ll then request a script.

Agent: Alison Finch

Agent: Dominic Lord

Agent: Gary Wild

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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JANET FILLINGHAM ASSOCIATES

Address: 52 Lowther Road, London SW13 9NU

Website: http://www.janetfillingham.com/


Twitter: @jfa_litagency


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: On request only

Notes: Send your CV and your contact details. They will try to respond after six

weeks. If they want to read your scripts they will come back to you and let you know.

Agent: Janet Fillingham

Agent: Kate Weston

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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JULIA TYRELL MANAGEMENT LTD

Address: 57 Greenham Road, London, N10 1LN

Website: http://www.jtmanagement.co.uk/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Write including a full sample of writing, i.e. a complete play, screenplay or

television script. They will reply if they want to take things further.

Agent: Julia Tyrell

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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KI AGENCY

Address: Studio 315, Screenworks, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2ER

Website: http://www.ki-agency.co.uk/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Write including a full sample of writing, i.e. a complete play, screenplay or

television script in PDF format. They will reply if they want to take things further.

Agent: Meg Davis

[email protected]

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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KITSON PRESS

Address: Screenworks, Studio 315, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2ER

Website: http://www.ki-agency.co.uk/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Send a covering letter, a CV and a full length sample of your writing work to

[email protected]

Agent: Jean Kitson

[email protected]

Agent: Julie Press

[email protected]

Assistant: Jack Buckley

[email protected]

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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LISA RICHARDS AGENCY

Address (Ireland): 108 Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4, Ireland

Address (London): 1st Floor, 33 Old Compton Street, London W1D 5JU

Website (Ireland): http://lisarichards.ie/

Website (London): http://lisarichards.co.uk/


Twitter: @lisarichardsltd

Switchboard: + 353 1 637 5000

TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Send a covering letter, your CV and your contact details. They will try to

respond after six weeks.

Agent: Holly Carey

Agent: Jasmine Daines Pilgrem

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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MBA LITERARY AGENTS LTD

Address: MBA Literary Agents Ltd, 62 Grafton Way, London, W1T 5DW

Website: http://www.mbalit.co.uk/

Contact email: MBA Literary Agents Ltd

Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Unlikely, but possible

Notes: Send your CV and your contact details. They will try to respond after six

weeks.

Agent: Diana Tyler

Diana's Assistant: Annelies Bekes

[email protected].

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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MACFARLANE CHARD ASSOCIATES LIMITED

Address: 33 Percy Street London W1T 2DF

Website: http://www.macfarlane-chard.co.uk/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Possible

Notes: Suggest send covering letter, CV, and very short summary of your best script.

Agent: Peter MacFarlane

Agent: Louise Tamm

Assistant: Naomi Miller

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




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MICHELINE STEINBERG ASSOCIATES

Address: Screenworks, Studio 315, 22 Highbury Grove, London N5 2ER

Website: http://www.steinplays.com/

Contact email: Use the contact form at http://www.steinplays.com/submissions/

Twitter: @steinbergassocs


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Yes, but unlikely to sign you - they find bulk of

new writers via personal recommendations

Notes: Email your CV, together with a brief outline of the work you would like to

submit.

Agent: Micheline Steinberg

Assistant: Jack Buckley

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




24

MICHELLE KASS ASSOCIATES

Address: 85 Charing Cross Road, London, WC2H 0AA

Website: http://michellekass.co.uk/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Possibly

Notes: Please telephone them BEFORE sending any of your work

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




25

PETERS FRASER AND DUNLOP

Address: Drury House, 34-43 Russell Street, London, WC2B 5HA

Website: http://www.petersfraserdunlop.com/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Very occasionally

Notes: You MUST HAVE a referral to an agent here by a producer, development

executive or course tutor. Email that agent directly attaching details of who has

referred you, and they will take it from there.

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




26

ROCHELLE STEVENS & CO.

Address: 2 Terretts Place, Upper Street, London, N1 1QZ

Website: http://www.rochellestevens.com/


Twitter: @TerretsPlace


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Send a letter (rather than email, LinkedIn or Twitter!) telling them

something about yourself and what has brought you to your current work. Include a

current CV, plus a short synopsis and the opening 10 pages of the script you wish to

submit. Include an SAE if you want the script returning.

Agent: Rochelle Stevens

Agent: Frances Arnold

Assistant: Phoebe O'Donnell

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




27

SAYLE SCREEN LTD

Address: Sayle Screen Limited, 11 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TD

Website: http://saylescreen.com/


Twitter: @saylescreen


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes

Currently reading new work: Very occasionally


executive or course tutor. Email that agent directly attaching details of who has

referred you, and they will take it from there.

Agent: Matthew Bates

Agent: Tania Hurst-Brown

Agent: Kelly Knatchbull

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




28

SHEIL LAND ASSOCIATES LTD

Address: 52 Doughty Street, London, WC1N 2LS

Website: http://www.sheilland.com/


Twitter: @sheilland


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Send covering letter, CV and one page synopsis of the script you want them

to read. No full scripts!

Agent: Lucy Fawcett

Agent: Chloe Beeson

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




29

THE AGENCY (LONDON) LTD

Address: 24 Pottery Lane, Holland Park, London, W11 4LZ

Website: http://theagency.co.uk/


Twitter: @TALLAgent


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes



executive or course tutor. Email that agent directly or [email protected]

attaching details of who has referred you, and they will take it from there.

Agents: Stephen Durbridge, Bethan Evans, Julia Kreitman, Leah Schmidt, Nick

Quinn, Katie Haines, Ian Benson, Fay Davies, Tanya Tillett, Emily Hickman, Katie

Williams, Simon Blakey, Jonathan Kinnersley, Hannah Boulton

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




30

THE WRITERS COMPANY

Address: The Writers’ Company, 33 Oval Road, London NW1 7EA

Website: https://writerscompany.co.uk/


Twitter: @writerscompany


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Write and introduce yourself and tell them about your work, your credits and

achievements and the companies you have been working with. They will get back to

you as soon as possible and ask to see work if interested, they'll ask for examples of

your work. Don't send scripts, and no personal calls.

Agent: Nick Barron

[email protected]

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




31

UNITED AGENTS

Address: 12-26 Lexington Street, London W1F 0LE

Website: http://www.unitedagents.co.uk/


Twitter: @unitedagents


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes



executive or course tutor. Email that agent directly with details of who has referred

you, and they will take it from there.

Agents: Michelle Archer, Georgina Carrigan, Rose Cobbe, St John Donald, Alice

Dunne, Natasha Galloway, Sean Gascoine, Georgina Gordon-Smith, Duncan Hayes,

Anthony Jones, Kitty Laing, Silvia Llaguno, Lynda Mamy, Daniela Manunza, Camille

McCurry, Yasmin McDonald, Stephanie Moore, Andrew Naylor, Marnie Podos,

Madeleine Pudney, Giles Smart, Nicki Stoddart, Hannah Thornton, Lisa Toogood,

Dan Usztan, Maureen Vincent (with Carly Peters), Maureen Vincent (with Lorna

Fallowfield), Charles Walker

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




32

VALERIE HOSKINS ASSOCIATES

Address: 20 Charlotte Street, London, W1T 2NA

Website: http://www.vhassociates.co.uk/


Twitter:


TV: Yes

Movies: Yes


Notes: Call the switchboard, or write to [email protected] for more

information. We suggest in this email you include a note about yourself, a short CV,

and a summary of the script you want to pitch.

Agent: Valerie Hoskins

Agent: Rebecca Watson

Assistant: Sara Moore

YOUR NOTES:



Materials sent:




33

CONCLUSION

So that's it. Our choice of the serious agents out there

who are most likely to read your work.

But winning a meeting is only half the battle: you also

have to sell your screenplay once you are in there!

If you want reliable information on how to pitch a

screen story, then take a look at our professional

pitching guide The Fearless Pitcher

This book explains the basics of pitching your

screenplay to script execs and producers.

Learn simple techniques for handling a

pitching meeting - based on current industry

practice.

Learn effective mind tricks to calm your nerves

about pitching.

Find out about pitching as it really happens.

Written from years of experience, this book shows

you how to prepare for real world pitching meetings,

and includes many practical tips and tricks from

working screenwriters.

You can get your copy at:

www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/the-fearless-

pitcher

If you want more in-depth industry information, plus

regular guidance on how to build your career, then

you should definitely take a look at our monthly

newsletter Open Door.

Each issue of Open Door features:

Fresh interviews with script editors and/or

producers

Get to know the people behind the scenes, the people

who are actually hiring writers right now - and find

out what they are looking for.

https://www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/the-fearless-pitcher/

https://www.screenwritinggoldmine.com/the-fearless-pitcher/

34

Current opportunities for British

screenwriters

Find work with our monthly guide to job vacancies,

shadow schemes, and industry backed training

initiatives and competitions.

A profile of a drama production company

We profile the companies who are currently making

the drama that hits your screens. Find out what

they're looking for - and what turns them off.

The month's drama greenlights

Don't waste years of your life writing a project that is

already being made: find out what is actually being

put into production months long before it hits your

screen.

Commentary and career advice from

established screenwriters

Hear about the realities of selling scripts, how to

approach agents and producers, how to handle

meetings, and much more. It's like having a mentor to

guide you through your career.

Regular online webchats

Ask established industry figures your career and

writing questions in our monthly real-time webchat.

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Find out about events in your local area. Go along and

start filling your address book with people who are

currently engaged in the industry.

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Begin the journey into the industry from your own

home.

Subscriptions cost just £7.50 per month. Find

out more at:

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Documents

GUIDE TO AGENTS FOR NEW SCREENWRITERS ......always want to read more. They will want to know that the first script wasn't a fluke, and they will want to know you are a creative person