About 98% of the time, producers and agents will NOT read screenplays unless they are covered by a reader. Who is this reader and what does he/she/it do? A reader, in essence, works as an assistant to an agent, executive, or producer. The job involves reading a submitted script and writing coverage, which is a fancy word for "Hollywood book report". Coverage provides the basic contact information, logine, synopsis, and analysis for the potential project. If the script is good, it moves along to the more important people. If it's bad, it gets thrown into the recycling bin (remember that Hollywood is going green.)
I've worked as a reader for several companies and have assisted development execs. Based on the thousands of scripts that have poured into the office, the ones that didn't make it had these similar characteristics:
- Story is so high-concept that it lacks believability and detracts from potentially interesting characters.
- Overall idea isn't marketable; Consider demographics.
- Dialogue is overwritten; Here's some advice for comedy writers: Dr. Phil and Oprah jokes are dead!
- Characters are one-dimensional.
- Camera direction is included.
- Improper formatting.
Good luck!
2 comments:
i didnt know about readers so im happy i read this blog. it is interesting to know how this has become a job because of how many people now want to write scripts. i like how you gave guidelines about what scripts had that made you want to toss them. it seems there are so many more jobs for random things now because people cant be bothered to have their own opinions anymore!
It's funny to think that some college kid is the so-called gatekeeper of a screenplay's fate. I've known a few kids who have been readers and just couldn't believe that anyone would place such a responsibility upon them. But i'm glad you've posted your guidelines for tossing a script, it gives you credibility and I'm happy trusting that some great movies may have gotten their start because of you (especially JUNO 2).
Post a Comment