Aiming high (and the result)

You know those stories you always hear about struggling artists trying to get attention by doing something outrageous that’s as far out of their league as it is unlikely to land, really aiming for the stars?

The kind of thing they talk about later that becomes part of their success story mythology, how a producer spotted them waiting tables in a diner or a studio head went to their underground poetry slam or stand-up comedy set?

I decided to do something like that. I emailed Falling to Netflix.

When you take notice of the entertainment press as much as I do you know who’s who at the top ranks of all these places and who can get things done, people who’ll sit on a stage with you in a few years during a Q&A while you both talk about how your crazy attempt landed a one in a million shot and paid off.

And after years as an entertainment reporter I know a lot of people’s email addresses at studios and production companies, which means you automatically know the email addresses of those powerful people (as in, you know it’s ‘firstname’.’lastname’@somehollywoodstudio.com, etc).

So I sent a short, sharp email to head of original films Scott Stuber and chief content office Ted Sarandos thusly…

You’re incredibly busy. I won’t keep you;

* I have an epic horror/sci fi novel for adults
* It’d make a fantastic 10-12 part global event Netflix series
* It’s set in Australia, which is a great place to film (plus COVID-19 restrictions are being lifted left and right)*

I’m emailing you direct because I’m aiming for the top, and it’s the kind of crazy/long shot/believe-in-yourself thing they all say to try. **

* This was before the second wave we’re seeing right now which has locked Victoria away from the rest of the world and continues to threaten NSW.

** I thought this might inspire them.

I aimed high and felt good about it, just ready for my phone to ring and the number to start with +1 323 or +1 213 (Los Angeles phone area codes).

When an email arrived back from a ‘NoReply’ address, I thought maybe a contract wasn’t in the mail after all;

Thank you for your interest in Netflix original programming. We appreciate it. And we appreciate you.

Unfortunately, we cannot and do not accept or review any unsolicited materials. Netflix only accepts submissions through a licensed literary agent, or from a producer, attorney, manager, or entertainment executive with whom we have a preexisting relationship. That means we’ve deleted your materials, just as we do with all creative submissions (whether manuscripts, treatments, scripts, ideas, headshots, pics of rainbow-colored unicorns, etc.) not specifically requested by Netflix. You should also be aware that Netflix is actively developing a number of projects, some of which may be similar to the material you are developing.

Thanks for your understanding.

Submissions Team

If I’d thought of it I might have sent a picture of a rainbow coloured unicorn, but they’re ahead of me there too, dammit.