I am increasingly hearing from even top agents they're worried that their tenpercenteries could go under if there's a long strike. Seriously, panic is starting to set in. Then there's the morale factor. It's awful, and not just because their phone calls have decreased from 500 a day to 7. I hear they're arguing with each other -- that is, those who bother still coming into the office. "You know how they say we eat our young?' an agent told me last week. "Now we're eating each other." I tell you, the world will spin off its axis with all that pent-up testosterone from these alpha males. The other day, a top tenpercenter called me and began to chat for 15 minutes. "Have I ever spoken to you for this long?" he asked me. "You see how bored I am?" (Hey, Entourage writers, hope you're taking notes here.)
If the agencies go out of business, they deserve it.
My bitch of an agent hasn’t contacted me since August 14.
If she bothered to respond to an email or a phone call or basically acted as if I wasn’t dead, I might have told her how I’d sold a script on my own since August (and got a director attached).
Guess who isn’t getting her ten percent.
Comment by Sherilyn — December 2, 2007 @ 7:57 pm
Maybe if the agents actually fought harder with the studios on each deal, rather than accepting that “that’s how the studios do business,” this strike would have a different narrative…or perhaps could even have been avoided. When it comes to writers - and other clients - why not refuse to accept the system of quotes and standard deal terms each time around? Because it takes too much work.
Comment by Anonymous — December 2, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Clearly these guys need a pep talk. Listen up you guys. This is no time for losing hope. You should all get into telemarketing. You could sell office supplies and time-share condos and “free vacations” to Florida. There’s a lot of money to be made in telemarketing. And with so few incoming calls each day you’ll have lots of time for outgoing calls. Or you could do telephone fundraising for Hillary or Barack or even Rudy or Romney. There’s lots of phone work to be done so let’s get cracking!
Comment by Anonymous — December 2, 2007 @ 8:12 pm
That would be a nice, unexpected benefit of the strike: a creative revival of Entourage!
Comment by Tony — December 2, 2007 @ 8:56 pm
agents have WAY more power than they deserve in this town. writers should all have managers who take 5% and outsource lawyers on a deal by deal basis.
Comment by good — December 2, 2007 @ 11:01 pm
I bet most of you writers’ first question upon entering Hollywood, even if your first contact in Hollywood was at the Northwestern or Harvard Alum mixer, was “do you know an agent or manager?”.
Comment by realworldperson — December 3, 2007 @ 5:17 am
Please God let the agencies all collapse on themselves.
Otherwise, our work has been for naught!
Comment by bron — December 3, 2007 @ 6:04 am
Who gives a flying “F” about the squeeze on the agencies… Instead of Deifying them, let them, like JC, suffer along with the people… so maybe they’ll understand and remember this when they go back to hammering out deals for us writer/producers. D.
Comment by David G. — December 3, 2007 @ 6:11 am
They need to put you on as a regular on Entourage, Nikki!
Comment by sam — December 3, 2007 @ 8:15 am
I hardly think the world shed rivers of tears because there are LESS agents out there. A strike (or similar catastrophic event) is a shakedown of a stubborn, all-powerful system. EVERY system checks itself and relieves itself of dead weight in order to survive. Many of these agents are dead weight in a system that will not need them NEARLY as much once new media takes hold (who needs an agent to produce a show for the internet?). It’s a system of elitists whose time is coming to pass (like they all do). It is a foreshadowing of what’s to come. They had better get hobbies, find new jobs or find god. LoL.
Comment by ChuckT — December 3, 2007 @ 8:48 am
Wahhhhh…wahhhhh…wahhhhh. Sounds like all of you need new representation, if you even have it.
Without agents, you guys would be getting even more royally screwed than you are already are.
And to Sherilyn, getting your best friend’s brother out of film school to direct a film isn’t getting a director attached.
Comment by Agentatanotheragency — December 3, 2007 @ 9:31 am
Wow, you guys are hurting our feelings… wait a minute - we don’t have feelings.
Comment by tenpercenter — December 3, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
If you are so unhappy with your agent…get a new one. If you want your agent to negotiate for you, then be man enough to say NO to an offer. Say NO to a certain contract term. Agents can only do what their client tells them to do.
Comment by agentman — December 3, 2007 @ 2:21 pm
hey, Agentatanotheragency
why don’t you post your name and agency?
according to the all-knowing gavin polone, you are gutless
remember that — should you, or anyone, ever do business with him
Comment by agentatthisagency — December 3, 2007 @ 2:35 pm
Ah yes a life in this town without an agent. Honestly, how many writers out there have the contacts and relationships in this town like agents. How many writers can actually consturct there own deals when it comes movies, television, or even internet content? You should be agents only take 10% instead of 15% like a manager takes.
Comment by Yaz — December 3, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
It’s true - we writers sometimes whine so much that I want to bitch slap myself and the rest of you. I for one am grateful for my agents. They work hard for me, they get me in the room with good people, and I work.
I have to agree, in this particular case, with the tenpercenters and agents who have commented.
Just one writer’s perspective.
Comment by WORKINGWRITERSTRIKER — December 3, 2007 @ 4:10 pm
In times like these, is it really necessary to start the writers vs. agents battle? I mean, really? Is is not enough to be fighting the studios?
I just cannot resist, but can’t we all just get along?
Comment by AuditGirl — December 3, 2007 @ 4:23 pm
>>And to Sherilyn, getting your best friend’s brother out of film school to direct a film isn’t getting a director attached.<<
No, honey. That’s nowhere near my situation. Though it’s probably the only way any of your dipshit clients can land a sale in this town. Not all of need nepotism to get ahead. I know that comes as a news flash to you.
Comment by Sherilyn — December 4, 2007 @ 1:09 pm
Face it. Agents have no talent. So why do they work in Hollywood?
Comment by Francine Fishpaw — December 4, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
Haha … overheard from two agents today:
“This would be the best job in the world if wasn’t for the clients.”
“Tell me about it — those schmucks take 90% of my money.”
Comment by agency peon — December 4, 2007 @ 3:07 pm
The Entourage writers can’t take note and turn this into fodder for Season 5, because Season 5 of Entourage may not exist.
Adrian Grenier has hinted that Entourage may not return to HBO if the strike goes on much longer.
So, now, not only will we have to wait until 2009 for some of our favorite shows, some may not be returning at all.
The writers and the studio heads are bitting the hand that feeds them at this time- the audience.
We are fickle bunch, and we will turn our attentions elsewhere if you don’t straighten this out soon.
If Entourage does not return to HBO, expect an influx of fan support akin to the Jericho peanut event.
There are loyal loyal Entourage addicts out there that will go mad without the return of their favorite show!
Take note, HBO!
Comment by Entourage may be done due to strike — December 20, 2007 @ 4:47 am