How to Sign with a Film & TV Literary Manager: Your Questions Answered Live!
As a literary manager, I am constantly fielding questions from writers about how to get representation. In this 2-Part Webinar, I walk you step-by-step through the process.
EDIT: Registrations for this webinar are now closed, but it is now available as a downloadable course on How to Sign with a Literary Manager! Click the button below to access the course:
Are you a screenwriter who wants a literary manager?
I am a working film/TV literary manager at Cartel Entertainment.
Since 2018, I have regularly spoken on panels, podcasts, and roundtables, answering screenwriters’ questions about how to sign with a literary manager like me.
As someone who receives tons of queries from hopeful writers every day, I can tell you everything about the process from this side of the table, over the course of two webinar sessions:
Part 1: Saturday March 16, 2024 at 10amPT - Querying, Pitching, & Networking
Part 2: Saturday March 23, 2024 at 10amPT - Meeting, Following Up, & Signing
During each live Zoom meeting, I will lecture for 45 minutes, then open up the floor to 45 minutes of questions from the audience.
Afterwards, everyone who attended will receive a recording of the webinar to keep. Re-watch this for reference in the future as you continue your journey towards finding a literary manager of your own.
Who am I?
My name is Audrey Knox. Since 2018, I have signed dozens of writers as clients and rejected thousands more. The writers I signed have gone on to staff on shows including Reasonable Doubt, Ginny & Georgia, P-Valley, The Upshaws, and grown-ish. They have written feature films that were produced by Lionsgate, Tubi, Lifetime, and Hallmark and been hired to write scripts for Wayfarer, Mar Vista, TKO Pictures, and ABC.
Why is finding a manager so difficult?
Whenever I talk to writers who are trying to break into this industry, the biggest problem, they tell me, is their inability to get access to managers like me.
It’s actually pretty easy to get in front of managers these days. You can find email addresses and contact information all over the internet.
So why aren’t managers responding?
I field queries and outreach from hopeful clients every single day. There is a high bar for attracting the attention of a rep.
But there is a formula, and there are specific things we look for in queries, materials, and potential clients.
The entertainment industry can feel impossible to break into because it’s so secretive and unresponsive.
If you are tired of throwing yourself and your scripts into the abyss without making any progress or getting any feedback, what you need is someone to peel back the curtain and give you actionable information about what we are looking for.
This two-part webinar series will walk you through the querying, meeting, and signing processes step-by-step.
I will explicitly lay out exactly what agents and managers want to see from a writer that will make us want to represent you.
Armed with this knowledge, you can tailor your material and strategy to maximize your chances at finding the person who will get you hired as a professional screenwriter.
Who is this for?
You will benefit from this webinar if any of these describe the current stage of your writing career:
You are confident in your craft and want to learn what concepts and scripts will capture a manager’s attention.
You have won some competitions and are thinking, “Now what?”
You are ready for representation and want to get your work out there, but you don’t know where to start.
You have spent months (or even years!) sending out queries, but you haven’t gotten any responses.
You keep getting told, “We don’t accept unsolicited submissions.”
You briefly engage with agents and managers, but they keep ghosting you, and you don’t know why.
You have had interest from managers, but you have been unable to get them to commit after a meeting.
You have signed with reps in the past who didn’t do anything for you, and you don’t want to make that mistake again.
Testimonials
“Audrey's an integral part of my creative process and possesses two rare qualities: impeccable taste and a deep understanding of the TV and Film marketplace. Her guidance at critical moments have elevated my work, and helped my stories resonate with buyers. Scripts Audrey helped me hone consistently receive enthusiastic responses from Producers. Equally important, she's helped me focus on properties that can sell, and spared me from years of writing and re-writing projects that aren't right for the marketplace. Audrey's my creative comrade, and I guess she's yours now too!” - Zen Freese (Staff Writer, How We Roll)
“Audrey is phenomenal to work with: full of great advice, provides actionable feedback, and is a brainstorming machine. Not to mention concise and honest without ever talking down. Highly recommend!” - Lisa Garvey
“Audrey is a unique un-gatekeeper who lets us peek behind the curtain of the juggernaut that is the Hollywood machine. I have been an admirer of her candid LinkedIn posts, where she encourages and guides screenwriters with actionable advice. Ever since I took her webinar, I became a fan. Audrey’s examples are current, practical, and concise. She is giving us live information on what is actually going on in the market. You will not get this anywhere else. I can’t wait to see what she does next!” - Wahid Ibn Reza
“I signed up for Audrey's webinar hoping I'd learn a thing or two. I walked away with copious notes, new connections and renewed inspiration to double down on my writing career. If you follow Audrey's newsletter you already know she offers advice that people can put into action NOW, for both working and aspiring writers. Her webinar provides even more actionable tips plus the opportunity to get specific questions answered by industry professionals. Highly recommend!” - Natalie DeJohn
Writers searching for reps struggle with these 3 key problems:
Problem #1: Knowing where to find reps that are open to reading.
I wish there was an easy-to-access directory of literary managers who are open to unsolicited submissions.
Unfortunately, nothing like that is currently in place, which can make the process of hunting down and reaching out to reps feel daunting. I will give you actionable suggestions for specific places to find agents and managers who will consider you, as well as tips and recommendations for making sure that you’re querying the right reps for your level.
With a plan in place, you’ll create a list of outreach options and have a blueprint for getting to work.
Problem #2: Getting reps to seriously consider you if you don’t have any industry connections.
This is one of the most common complaints I hear from writers trying to break into film & TV.
It’s true. Many agents and managers don’t accept unsolicited submissions. And for those of us that do, the bar for cutting through the clutter is incredibly high. As someone who receives dozens of query letters every day, I can tell you exactly what we are looking for.
I will tell you what information you should include in your query email and what information you should leave out.
Problem #3: Not knowing why no one is responding to your query letter.
Sending out email after email without getting a response can be devastating.
It’s especially difficult to know how to adjust your approach when you aren’t getting any real feedback. I will tell you which words work in a subject line and which ones don’t. I will tell you common mistakes writers make in their query emails, so you can avoid them. I will give you examples of strong queries so you can compare yours to emails that have gotten responses.
And if you still have questions, you can ask them to me directly during the Q&A.
Problem #4: Reps keep saying “this isn’t what we’re looking for.”
It can be frustrating to receive what feels like canned, ambiguous responses to the passion project you have spent years of your life working on.
What do managers mean, exactly, when they say things like this? What does it mean when they “didn’t connect with” a script or a concept? When they say, “it’s not for us,” how do you know what they’re looking for? The trick isn’t to match what they’re searching for. It’s to deliver something so intriguing that they need to read more.
I will tell you what a script and a concept needs to make it what a manager is looking for right now.
Problem #5: Not knowing whether a manager is right for you.
The initial meeting process can be fun and exciting, but signing with an agent or manager is a big commitment.
How do you know if you’re getting into a professional relationship with someone who will actually help your career? I will walk you through the different types of managers, different specialties a manager can have, and different management styles that you will come across. I will tell you exactly what to look for in a rep based on your goals, needs, and wants as a writer.
I will tell you what questions to ask them to get this information, and I will tell you what their answers really mean.
Spots are limited! Sign up now to reserve your front row seat to an exclusive inside look into a literary manager’s brain.
Benefits Unlocked
Know exactly what literary managers are looking for: in a script and in a writer.
A winning subject line formula that will make managers open your email.
A template for your query email that will make managers actually read it.
Real world examples of query emails that work.
An actionable strategy for finding opportunity in your own personal network—even if you don’t think you have any entertainment industry connections.
A step-by-step action plan for reaching out to managers in a strategic way.
A blueprint for understanding the meeting and signing process, so that you’ll never feel confused about where you stand with a rep.
A list of questions you can and should ask potential managers.
A list of questions managers will ask you—so you can prepare your answers ahead of time.
Guidelines for following up and staying in touch that will keep you on a manager’s radar without coming across desperate or unprofessional.
An action plan for becoming your manager’s favorite client.
Answers to any questions you have about the process of finding and signing with a manager.
How it Works
Click the button below to sign up. There will be two sessions to this webinar:
Saturday 3/16 at 10amPT - Part 1: Querying, Pitching, & Networking
Saturday 3/23 at 10amPT - Part 2: Meeting, Following Up, & Signing
Everyone who signs up will receive a recording of each session to keep!
So, don’t worry if you can’t make it to one or both of the sessions. You will still be able to view all the material. You can even submit your question(s) for me to answer in the Q&A if you can’t make it to the live event. Just email them to audrey@audreyknox.com.
There will be 45 minutes of lecture and 45 minutes of Q&A in each session.
You will also receive fun homework in Part 1 that I will be checking in about when we reconvene for Part 2.
To recap, over the course of two weeks, you will receive:
90 minutes of lecture material directly tailored to your manager search.
90 minutes of Q&A with a film/TV literary manager.
Template for writing a query email that will maximize your chances of getting a response.
A homework assignment designed to keep you on track with your manager search.
An action plan for reaching out to the right managers for your goals.
A strategy for using your querying efforts as data to inform your strategy.
A list of meeting questions and answers to prepare.
If you’re make a mistake in your manager search strategy, you will waste years of your career spinning your wheels without any traction.
The knowledge I’m giving you will help you move forward—for three hours of meeting, all it will cost you is $99.
You only get one chance at a first impression with a manager. Don’t mess yours up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cost?
A consultation with me costs $275/hour, but you will receive all my insights on the manager search process and get the opportunity to ask your questions one-on-one for just $99 (that’s $49.50 for each 90 minute session).
Will this be recorded?
Yes! I want everyone to be able to access this information, no matter their schedule or time zone. After each webinar, a recording of the event will be sent to everyone who purchased a ticket.
Can I attend this Zoom if I live outside the US?
Yes! Now that I am using a new meeting registration website + Zoom, I can open this event to any writer who wants to attend, no matter where they live.
Will this information be helpful to directors?
My webinar will be tailored to writers looking for a literary manager to help them with screenwriting, but there are overlaps in the signing process for directors and filmmakers. Directors and Writer/Directors are absolutely encouraged to attend, and they will learn valuable information about engaging with reps in the entertainment industry.
Will this information be helpful to authors?
If you are an author looking to find a manager to help you transition to screenwriting, this webinar is for you. I do not have any experience working in the publishing industry as a book literary manager. The process for finding and signing with literary agents in the book world is much different than the screenwriting world. This webinar will not help you find a lit agent for your book manuscript.
Will you be my manager?
Attending my webinar will not result in me considering you as a client. Additionally, purchasing a webinar ticket will not improve your chances of being represented by me. If you are interested in representation, you may send your query email to audrey@cartelent.com for consideration.
If you put the lessons from my webinar into action, you will have a better chance of catching my attention. Writers reach out to me all the time, but many of them make the same mistakes over and over again, and they keep getting ignored.
After this two-part series, you won’t make those mistakes. You’ll navigate the manager search with confidence.
I guess I missed the first part. I'd like to purchase it after the fact, is it not possible to access/purchase the previous recording and the upcoming one now? I don't see a purchase option when I click the link.