Randy McWilson's Blog, page 4

Talk to My Agent...

It's funny how certain phrases can evoke such professional satisfaction.

You know, statements like:

"Let's do lunch..."
"Your people will have to get with my people..."
"Linda? Would you have security bring my Ferrari out front?"

(OK, that last one was a bit...well, you know)

But today I was able to say (actually TEXT) something that I never imagined I would be able to do. A good friend had shared Back to Normal with a producer contact she knew, and they showed some interest. She asked me about how she should respond. I was able to say "Have them talk to my agent."

Wait???? Hold on one minute there, Mr. Randy McWilson! (See--I am pretending to be a voice inside your head...isn't it creepy?)

Agent? AGENT? Randy McWilson has official Hollywood representation? 

I will give you a few hints about the answer: (1) it rhymes with LESS (2) it is the opposite of NO (3) it is three letters long. Here is one more hint: YES.


As of 4:55pm on August 15, 2014, I verbally accepted an offer from Tom Klassen of Credence Talent in West Hollywood to be my talent manager. (We are planning a formal "signing party" early next week.) This is the culmination of a journey that is over 6 months in the making.

I had sent a query letter to them way back in February (a query letter is a formal request that you send to talent agents/managers in which you provide a short summary of your literary work (a LOGLINE) in order to get them to request a copy of your script. You cannot just send out your scripts to talent agencies....that is a big no no...it will end up being returned or dumped in the trash)

After I sent the query letter, they responded on May 6th by requesting to read the pilot episode script (these are busy people, they get flooded with requests, sometimes it takes awhile!). Three months later, on August 6th, I received this email:

Hey Randy,We read your pilot and we are interested. Could you send us episodes 2 and 3 as well as the show bible?
Best Regards,     Tom Klassen

In fishing terms, each query letter you send is like the casting out of your bait from a fishing pole. A positive response to your bait (a little nibble) is the requesting of your script. When they ask to read more, this is where the bobber goes under and the line starts to sing as it flies off your spool. They might be hooked!

Two days later, on August 8th, I received a voice mail from Tom Klassen, and he said that he had just finished reading episode 2, and that he was thrilled with the concept of Back to Normal. He said that he was going to read episode 3 over the weekend. He then proceeded to leave me a voice mail each day---Saturday, Sunday, and Monday! Each one grew more excited and more urgent. Grab the net!

I called him Monday, August 11th (read about that call by CLICKING HERE) and we agreed to talk again on Friday, August 15th. He wanted me to "meet" several of his staff, and to hear a more formal presentation of which networks, production companies, and showrunners that they thought Back to Normal would be a good "fit" for. He said that they were ready to sign me as their newest writer! I contacted Jeremy J. Ford and asked him to be present as my adviser in such matters.

Right on cue, at 4pm today, Tom and his staff called. Tom began by asking me to share a bit of the genesis of Back to Normal, how it came about, my strategy in writing it, and then on to my personal feelings about which companies and showrunners I was interested in contacting. He then shared quite a list of contacts they had, and the types of shows (LOST, The 4400, Under the Dome, Eureka) that had similar elements (which might indicate a willingness to do similar content).

I was thrilled that the actual staff member (that originally read my query and asked for my script back in May) was on the phone. He shared his thoughts, and was very excited about the whole universe known as Back to Normal.

About 45 minutes into the conversation I was convinced that this new, small agency had the desire, the passion, and the vision to see Back to Normal reach its highest potential. I looked over silently at Jeremy Ford and gave him a thumbs up or a thumbs down signal. He returned it with a very enthusiastic thumbs up.

At that moment I announced to Credence Talent that I had made my decision to sign with them as a screenwriter. You should have heard the clapping and the cheering on the other end of the phone in California! Also present at this "historic" moment were my good friends Danny Janisse and his mother Debbie Franklin. There were hugs, handshakes, and tears all around.

Within a few hours, Tom had already emailed me a PDF contract, ready to be signed and FedEx'd back to them! We are planning a formal "signing party" soon.

It is only a step, but it is an important, no, no, rather a crucial step in the process of getting Back to Normal before the eyes and pocketbooks of the decision-makers in tinsel town.

So, the next time you see me--no, I won't be driving a Ferrari, and no, I won't tell you to "have your people get with my people"---no, not yet. But if you ask about Back to Normal, you may, if you listen close enough, hear me whisper "You'll have to talk to my manager."

I am blessed by God to have so many that have encouraged, supported, and been my cheerleaders to see this thing through. We ain't there yet...but where we ARE...it is awesome.