The Query Letter Hoax, WME Injects Itself Into CAA-UTA Brouhaha, ABC Rebooting ‘Muppet Show’, Exec Shuffle For 4/3/15

SSN ORIGINALS

Screenwriters Guide: The Great Query Letter Hoax

Let’s say you plan to write a query letter to get a screenplay agent. Here’s my advice – don’t. Query letters can work for novels but not for screenplays. The notion that you can get a screenplay agent, find a producer, sell a screenplay, or launch your career with a query letter is a hoax. (SSN)

Exec Shuffle For 4/3/15: The CAA-UTA Shakeup, De Luca Leaving Sony, Anne Sweeney To Netflix

Plenty of company launches, comings and goings this week, as usual, but the big news is obviously the CAA-UTA kerfuffle, which has now turned into a legal issue. When Sony’s president of production leaves his post to return to full-time producing, and it’s not even close to the biggest news of the week, you know there’s a lot happening. (SSN)

TODAY’S HEADLINES

Another Country Heard From: WME Decides To Inject Some Humor Into the CAA-UTA Mess

An old prank has resurfaced just in time for the newly-minted UTA vs. CAA agency war. Five of the veteran comedy agents who defected to UTA from CAA were delivered framed posters with the logo "CAAN'T" at UTA’s Beverly Hills offices yesterday. UTA CEO Jeremy Zimmer also received the CAAN'T gift. Rival agency William Morris Endeavor and its co-CEOs Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell are said to be the culprits. This prank dates back to June, 2013. (THR)

The Reboot Train Has Hit ABC, Which Is Working With Bill Prady To Bring Back ‘The Muppet Show’

The Big Bang Theory co-creator will executive produce the new series, working with co-writer Bob Kushell, who will serve as show runner. The network shoot a pilot presentation for The Muppet Show reboot this month with the working title Muppets 2015, after which they’ll make a final decision about whether to order it to series. (COL)

George R.R. Martin Might Be Busy With His Books, but He’s also Developing His Own HBO Show

The Game Of Thrones author is working on Captain Cosmos with Z Nation writer Michael Cassutt. The description of the show explains, “At the dawn of the age of TV in 1949, a visionary young writer creates a science fiction series that tells stories no one else will dare to tell.” (UR)

Chris Hardwick Is Already On TV, but Now His Nerdist Podcast Might Be Joining Him

Syfy is developing a weekly half-hour series based on the popular podcast. Nerdist News would cover the latest trends and updates in the worlds of science fiction and fantasy media, tech, and science, and will aim to have “the same tone and feel” as the podcast. Hardwick would executive produce the show, but would not host it. (EW)

It’s Promotion Day At Paramount! The Big Winner Is Bob Buchi, the New Worldwide Home Media Distribution Head

Buchi previously was the studio’s executive VP of worldwide marketing. He will report to Megan Colligan, president of worldwide distribution and marketing. He takes over for Dennis Maguire, who exited last month amidst a broader Viacom restructuring. Buchi joined the studio in 2006. He was responsible for the strategic product marketing and management of franchises like Transformers, Star Trek, and Paranormal Activity franchises. (VAR)

A Week After It Made a Deal With Gene Simmons, WWE Studios Is Making Another One

The company has joined forces with British financing and production outfit Richter Films for a deal in which the companies will share funding and production on two upcoming action films. The partnership’s first film is the upcoming Eliminators, a Taken-riff about a former federal agent who, after his home is invaded and his daughter’s life imperiled, leaves witness protection and finds himself pursued across Europe by deadly assassins. (DH)

‘SNL” Fans Looking Forward To the Feature Documentary About the Show Will Be Able To See It On the Big Screen

The movie, which will open this month’s Tribeca Film Festival, will get a theatrical release on June 12th, with strong support from the Landmark Theater chain, including their flagship venues in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. Tugg, the web platform that allows people to request screenings at their local theaters, will complement the nationwide U.S. theatrical release. (IW)

Trailer Buzz: ‘Fantastic Four’

Twentieth Century Fox has released a new, International trailer for the upcoming superhero reboot, starring Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Bell and Toby Kebbell, and directed by Josh Trank. It hits theaters August 7th. (CS)