• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Screenwriting.io

Screenwriting.io

Answering basic questions about screenwriting.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index
Generic filters
Exact matches only

What does a manager do?

Tagged: agents, film, managers

In brief, a manager manages your career.

This includes tangible acts, like setting up meetings, giving notes and feedback, and assisting with deal negotiation, as well as the more abstract, like helping steer your career’s direction.

Managers, unlike agents, are not required to be licensed by the state. They usually have fewer clients than agents, and often take more personal and less business-focused roles in their clients’ careers. Managers, are allowed to take producer credits on their clients movies, which agents are not.

Like agents, a manager typically receives 10% of a client’s earnings. A manager should never ask for an upfront or flat fee.

In his First Person post on johnaugust.com, Justin Marks discusses his experience and provides a detailed account of what a manager does.

### More from johnaugust.com
* [First Person: Get a manager](http://johnaugust.com/2011/get-a-manager “Get a manager”)
* [Working, but what’s the next step?](http://johnaugust.com/2004/working-but-whats-the-next-step “Working, but what’s the next step?”)
* [The one-month manager](http://johnaugust.com/2010/the-one-month-manager “The one-month manager”)
* [Producers, managers, and deals](http://johnaugust.com/2010/producers-managers-and-deals “Producers, managers, and deals”)

Answer Index

script scriptwriting screenwriting screenplay formatting terms film presentation structure business writing software TV WGA Final Draft guild characters length credits FDX FDR union scene headings dramatic theory outlines arbitration adaptations fountain pdf highland producers managers Celtx guru Movie Magic rights agents awards pitching short film festival iPhone iPad directors prelap

Primary Sidebar

Switching from Final Draft to Highland 2

Switching from Final Draft
to Highland 2 – Get the PDF

© 2025 Screenwriting.io — All Rights Reserved.

  • Answers
  • About
  • Ask
  • Index