Meeting With an Agent

Whenever we are taking meetings with agents I google "screenwriter agent meeting" and nothing useful comes up. I just want a play by play because I forget how it went last time (or don't remember specifics or whatever).

We just met with Noah Jones at Gersh a couple days ago and he's our new agent now. I'm gonna run down how it went. Actually I'll start with the phone call we had with him. 

Info on the next page...

He read us. 

He said he wanted to talk on the phone.

He called us.

He gave us his spiel. How he got into being an agent. He told us how he works. He told us that his strategy is to get to staff through development b/c it's too hard otherwise.

He asked us our story. We gave him our brief spiel. 

He asked what our goals are. We said we want to create a show and have it go on for many seasons, something like that. 

He concluded the phone call by saying something like:

"I want to lean into this. I would like to work with you. I am going to put you on the Weekend Read so the rest of the team can read you. I want to meet you in a couple weeks."

We said something like, "That sounds great."

Fast forward to a couple weeks later: 

We went to Gersh to meet him. It was a 2 PM meeting. We got there at five minutes until 2 PM.

I would have rather been 15 minutes early but we were running late ish. 

We also hit E on the gas tank right when we got to Coldwater Canyon.

Coasted all the way down the hill. Rolled into valet. Warned them not to park too far away b/c I had no gas. 

Checked in at the lobby. Went up to the sixth floor.

Dark paneled walls. Sleek furniture. Mid century modern. Lots of contemporary art. 

Told the girl who we were there to see. Asked where the bathroom was and went.

Sat and waited in the lobby maybe five minutes while looking at art. That guy who draws ballerinas I forget who.

Assistant came out. Complimented my hawaiian shirt. I complimented his whole get up. 

Went to conference room in the middle with the fish bowl vibe.

Waited another three minutes. 

Agent came in. We asked what he made of the art we had been looking at. What did he see? He said: "Rich people."

Noah told us the Gersh family has the largest collection of contemporary art.
The missus held onto a Lichtenstein rather than selling it for 100K. Years later sold it for 35 mil.
    Was that a purposeful anecdote?
Transitioned to a discussion of how he wanted to meet to make sure we’re normal. Make eye contact etc.
Said only 1/3 agents read us on Weekend Read b/c of staffing season.
Said staffing season is when everyone re-evaluates these relationships. Agents and writers both. Also call it “firing season.”
    Was THAT a purposeful anecdote?
Circled back to say “To be clear, I absolutely want to work with you guys. I dont care what comes back on the weekend read. You’re great. I love your material. The only thing that could possibly stop it is if a partner saw you on the weekend read and said he hates you.”
He asked if we had any questions.
I said, “Team or solo Noah work flow?”
He said, “Your level, it’s every man for himself.” He wants the whole team to sign off so they don’t block anything spitefully, but will go it alone if we want it.
He asked how we make money.
We said Nick.
We said matchmaking.
    we talked about matchmaking
    he said something like “how is that not a show”
    we said we have the life rights.
He talked about how he can’t get the Sharknado guy work b/c Sharknado guy is in a box.
I asked about the Nick box
He said that can be a great life, 200/300K a year. But if you want out, then you have to be very diligent about pursuing broadcast.
    He said Nick animation has 50 guaranteed weeks vs. 20 in live action.
He wrapped it up.
Said he doesn’t do the hard sell. To let him know.