The Agents’ Corner

Rick Hess of the William Morris Agency recently served as co-executive producer for the film Normal Life.
Q: Can a filmmaker approach an agent for help in packaging a script, even if neither the script, producer or director who is attached are represented by the agency, and there’s no financing behind the movie?
A: “They (Normal Life’s team) came to us with a script that had zero financing, no elements and neither the producer nor director (John McNaughton) were William Morris clients. We attached two the two lead actors, Luke Perry and Ashly Judd, who are clients of the agency.
“We then went and financed the movie with New Line for Domestic and Spelling for foreign. Since the deal was a negative pick-up for both sides, we structured the completion bond and brought in the bank, Newmarket Capital Group, to make the loan.
“When it comes to ‘packaging’ a script with actors, the best approach is a common sense approach. If you like an actor, forget his creative abilities for a moment and ask yourself what he’s starred in. Put on your business hat.
“Actors have previous values assigned to them based on their visibility in various markets - including video, television and foreign. The companies you are approaching have to sell the movie by way of the elements.“
Source Daily Variety: July 25, 1995