Expert: Phil Nemy - 5/24/2008

Question
I'm a DGA director, with a script that is ready to go.  I don't have an a agent,
thus I am having trouble submitting.  Should I focus on getting an agent? How?
Or should I try to submit it myself?  To who?  In the mean time, how can I get
directing work?  Sorry for the run-on of questions-- please help...  Thanks

Answer
Tracy,

Thanks for writing. I'm surprised that as a DGA director member you don't have an agent! But that's okay. Harrison Ford worked for years with representation, so it's done all the time!

An agent, a good agent with connections, will be incredibly helpful to you. Agents can get you meetings that you often cannot get on your own. A manager can do the same thing, and sometimes, managers are easier to get than agents. The key is not take on just ANY representation - you want someone who agrees with your thinking about what you currently CAN and CANNOT do with respect to actual work. The two of you should be in sync on where and how you should be marketed. They should also share candidly their thoughts about your script. You may love but they may see it as a very tough sell.

No one hires a director just because they say they are a director. Your work has to speak for itself. Which means if you don't have a real of directing work, then you don't have anything to sell. As a director, you need to keep shooting stuff. Whether it's commercials, shorts, cable TV, you need to keep honing your skills. Offer to work on low-budget, non-union shoots for as little money as possible or even for free so you can build a reel. Yes, that goes against your union's rules, but the reality is that if no one's offering you union work, how else are you going to develop your directing chops?

You also need to get out and network. Go to every DGA meeting that you can meet people, especially other directors and line producers. If they like you and you build a relationship, it may lead to some work. Join some networking organizations like F.I.N. and start meeting writers and producers. Read the writers' work.  Find someone with whom you connect on stories ideas and style. Talk to producers about what projects you have and what you can do to help them. Don't look for big $$ right now, just starting working as a director to build your reel, build you contacts, and develop your skills. If you're good, really good, the $$ work will come later.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Phil