Chris Ridenhour – Literary Agent
Q: Who is Chris Ridenhour?
A: Chris Ridenhour is an agent at APA. He specializes in the full-service representation of theatrical motion picture and television writers, directors, producers, and production companies. He also negotiates deals for the sale of motion picture rights for novels, comic books, life stories, video games, remakes, and similar properties.
Q: What has Chris done?
A: Utilizing his keen eye for identifying up-and-coming talent, Chris Ridenhour represents a red-hot array of productive and creative clients, including Mike Flanagan & Jeff Howard, the director and co-writers, respectively, of Relativity’s Oculus, in theatres April 11th; Craig Gerber, the Creator and Executive Producer of The Walt Disney Company’s mega-hit Sofia The First; Michael Watkins, Executive Producer & Director of NBC’s hit series The Blacklist; Janet & Lee Batchler, writers of the recent film Pompeii; plus three emerging clients who appeared on the prestigious 2013 “BlackList” of best unproduced screenplays.
Before joining APA in 2011, Chris was a partner at Prolific Entertainment, where he established the west coast office of the New York based start-up management firm and production company. In addition to assuming an operational role, Chris also led a series of transactions involving such long-term clients as Darren Bousman (Saw franchise), Stephen Susco (The Grudge), Tobe Hooper (Texas Chainsaw 3D), and Clive Barker (Hellraiser).
Prior to his work at Prolific Entertainment, Chris spent seven years serving as a literary manager and producer at Evolution Entertainment/Twisted Pictures, where he represented some of the most unique and creative minds in the horror, thriller and suspense genres. During his tenure at Evolution/Twisted, he played an integral role in the deal-making and creative aspects of some of the most financially successful genre films in history, including seven films written or directed by his clients which opened to #1 at the domestic box-office – Darkness Falls, The Grudge, Saw II, When A Stranger Calls, The Grudge 2, Saw III and Saw IV. Also during this period, Ridenhour served as co-executive producer on Tennessee, an independent film starring Mariah Carey and produced by Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels. He also co-produced the independent suspense film Red, written by client Stephen Susco and starring Brian Cox.
Chris Ridenhour is consistently recognized by his peers and in the media as one of the best young agents working in the entertainment industry today. According to the insider industry online journal The Scoggins Report, Chris was among the top three elite agents closing the most transactions of original motion picture screenplay material in 2013.
Chris earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern California, where he focused on Critical Studies in the acclaimed School of Cinematic Arts.
Q: Where can I find Chris?
A: Check out Chris at his IMDb page.
Q&A INTERVIEW with Chris Ridenhour
Chris explains the importance of referrals, what his first script sale was, the difficulties of selling a screenplay with a first-time director attached, what he doesn’t like to see in screenplays and much more.
