I wrote some screenplays in my 20s and was shocked at the behavior of some of the so-called agents and independent production companies.

Only trust agencies that are signatory to the Writer's Guild. DO NOT send money!

With production companies, do a little research before sending your material. Politely ask them to send you some details about who they are and what they've got going on. Don't be a victimized novice. Respect yourself and your material.

I'm now in my 40s and I recently wrote an awesome script (if I do say so myself). I'm guy shy about sending it to anyone. I may just make the movie myself.

You know, I sent my script to TSA 3 years ago. I go the same response from Sherry Fine as some people on here. However I never sent any money to them. Instead I emailed back and forth to them how I didn't have the money to give them and I will work on it. I have a friend in the biz who did some coverage for me and was an entertainment lawyer as well. he tolf me the agency seemed okay but that I should protect myself further. i didn't because I never followed thru. My script has been re-written and updated as of this week and I still need to get it represented. But now I'm afraid that the version I submitted to TSA is in someones hands to do bad things with. How do go about finding out if that is true? What should I expect?

thank you all so much...I to, wrote a book, and it was published. the book is called. Miakoda: power of the moon. it is a great story, and fictional adventure for all ages. it is now available online with amazon.com and it truly would make for a great movie...here is the synopsis:

It all started on a cold night in January 2001. We had just landed in Anchorage, Alaska. My mother and father got off the plane first, followed by my little sisters, Jennifer and Devon, and then me carrying my 2 ½ month old Malamute puppy. Thus begins this first novel by Jon Parker inspired by his beloved malamute, Nayanna. The narrator is the Parker’s son named Jonathan who lives on a small ranch with his family. The Parkers live near an Indian man named Blackwolf, who teaches the children about surviving the wild, wolves, and the power of the moon. This inspiring tale describes the true bond between humans and their best friends, our beloved dogs. And an adventure that will never be forgotten.

anyway, i too sent my work to: the screenplay agency..and they accepted my work. i just got the email this morning about it. and was so excited that i called several friends and family members. i even thaught the $249.00 for the critique, and pitch was not a bad deal. however i have not sent them a dime yet. i am thinking however of telling them yes, and please send me the contract. this way i have there contract, and can have it looked over. and have them checked out. i have a friend who is a lawyer. i am so glad i found this site with all of your posts. i almost made the mistake...not only am i dissapointed. but now i have the pain staking task of telling my friends and family that i found out this company is nothing more than a scam artist, and my dream for my book has been crushed. However, i will not let this stop me. i know my book has movie potential. a good friend is a play producer and director in new york. he told me it is very good. so i will press on. if anyone know of a good screen play agent. please email me at jonrp069@comcast.net thanks alot.

Does anyone know anything about du Jour Films and Entertainment, and have you ever done business with them?

This article made me think twice. I am just about to post 30 pages of 120 pages of my screeplay to WLS screenplay agency (script@wlsscreenplayagency.com). Is this agency for rea? If not, I need help with my screenplay.

I got caught. I went the book to film route. I believed it because of the book to film angle. Anyway, why doesn't someone stop them! Who can we contact to stop this fraudulent company.

It sounds like a scram, it to smooth, and they want money up front. Then it is a scram. Stay away.

I made the $90 mistake of working with the Screenplay Agency. The critique that I paid for was absolutely bunk and useless and basically said that I needed to have the screenplay edited for a large fee. When I found out that the same company that "accepted" me had referred me to the same company who was supposed to edit the work, I knew it was a scam. If you've made this mistake, it's really easy to get out of the contract that they make you sign.

I SUBMITTED MY SYNOPSIS TO THEM AND TWO DAYS LATER THEY ASKED ME FOR MY SCRIPT. I THOUGHT I'D MADE IT. A COUPLE DAYS AFTER I SENT MY SCRIPT, I WAS TOLD I HAD A WINNER AND IF I WOULD PAY $90.00... THAT'S WHEN I WOKE UP. AFTER A LITTLE LOOKING AROUND, I FOUND LOTS OF INFO. ABOUT THEM. THEY ALMOST HAD ME. I HAD STARS IN MY EYES. BEWARE...JIM

I just read your bit on the screenplay agency. I wasn't too surprised but disappointed. I guess I was desperate and I had sent in my screenplay to them and got the same response. Thankfully i've not sent in any money.
Well, my question is, if established and real agents only take writers that are referred to them from someone in the business and most if not all of the contests and adds for new agents and new writers are crap, then how does a writer get their work seen and sold?

Hi, I came across this because a couple of friends of mine from the film industry had posted this in a ‘film group’ that I am a part of. It sounded a little suspicious and so I checked them out. No one in these networks had heard of them before, which is odd in itself. Anyway, I did a little checking and back when I first started out in my writing career and didn’t know anything about writing books (but was doing it anyway- go figure) I fell for a scam… ooops- I mean ‘literary agency’ called St. Literary Agency- Most of you now know them as Stylus. Stay away from them as well- you see, Sherry Fine and Robert Fletcher have been investigated numerous times on fraudulent behavior and are always scamming people out of money, and these two characters are the ones behind the Screenplay Agency and Stylus Literary Agency. They know nothing about being an agent and are only interested in how much money they can take from you to ‘launch your career’—It is pathetic that people have to resort to trashing someone’s dreams in order to make money. Most people are so hurt by this type of thing that they give up on their aspirations to succeed as a writer ---
Thankfully, I am now successful and did not need an agent or a ‘good’ publisher to get me here… just a lot of hard work and diligence. I hope you all heed this warning—the writer of this site/post (Solomon Rothman) knows what he is talking about, thanks to you for looking out for the unsuspecting writer.

~Manda