u/beer_run

If this question has been asked before, too bad deal with it.

I’m at a point in my career where I feel like I’ve made some of my best work to date, like truly excited about it. So i made it my mission to update websites, make a demo reel, which as most of you know, is a special form of self torture.

After spending the last couple of weeks putting it together, I’ve started sending it out to agencies in hopes of finally checking one of my biggest career goal off the list and thats getting representation. I know the pros and cons about getting an agent but i think this will be a great way to reach some of my dream clients.

I’m not just sending it to anyone. I’ve followed a lot of these agencies for years, admired their rosters, and been inspired by the cinematographers they represent and carefully have done my research and crafted emails my college professors would be proud of.

So far, my top two agencies have both replied…
…and both told me a big fat no. They said they weren’t looking for anyone at the moment. I think thats just a nice way to tell me to “fuck off”.

Which brings me to the obvious question
What the hell is the secret?

For those of you who have successfully found representation, how did you approach it? Was it cold emails? Referrals? Relationships? Sacrificing a goat under a full moon?
I’d seriously love to hear how you navigated this process, because I’d like to figure it out before I get rejected by everyone else on my list and go apply at my local Home Depot instead.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Curious how others would handle this.

Earlier this year my production company was hired by a large agency. The client was extremely difficult from day one. They completely rag dolled my contract from the start, constantly changed timelines, and treated me more like an in-house employee than an independent contractor with crazy mid night text with feedback and a lot of “we need this back ASAP” They just fully ignored my contract and all the different things nightmare clients do, they did to me in a single client package. Despite all of this, i stuck to my work and timelines, i keep delivering and after three months past my signed and agreed post production schedule I was able to finally send the finals we all agreed in the scope, i was paid in full.

Now, weeks later, the creative director emailed asking me to package up all of my working files and ship them over. This would include project files, timelines, presets, and other parts of my workflow that I normally never share.
Their contract has broad language about ownership of materials (i thought this was in regards to the raw footage which i gave to them in a HD at the end of the production) but my contract clearly states that anything outside the agreed scope requires a written agreement and additional fees may apply.

I’m not planning to outright refuse, but I also don’t want to hand over years of workflow and proprietary assets for free. Since I don’t really expect to work with them again after this project, I’m considering replying with a very substantial fee for preparing and transferring everything.

Would you negotiate, push back, or just send it?