1. Script Reading

2. What is a script reader? It’s someone… …who reads scripts.

3. Terminology: Script Reader / Screen Reader –one who reads a script to evaluate it Script Reading / Screen Reading –the act of evaluating a script Script Coverage / Screen Coverage –the report a script reader compiles

4. Why have them? Screenplays can be expensive to buy and film. Many people write screenplays. Many screenplays are shockingly bad. Producers are busy people… …so they use screen readers – people who read scripts and evaluate them so that they don’t have to. It’s a process that focuses the attention on “the good stuff”.

5. Pros Sorts out the good scripts Allows the producer to concentrate on their job Identifies new writers Puts every screenplay author on an equal footing Is objective Is transparent Produces surprises from unlikely places Saves money in the long run Prevents rubbish being made (right…)

6. Cons Kills creativity stone dead Relies too much on genre Relies on familiarity Is done by people on low wages who don’t care for your script Removes quirky or left-field films Is unfair and factory like Favours simplicity over complexity Favours definitive outcomes over ambiguity Formulaic

7. Terry Rossio “ The reader is commonly characterized as a creatively bankrupt imbecile whose job it is to keep wonderful screenplays from getting into the hands of those powerful people who would surely buy them if they had the chance. ”

8. Coverage The script reader produces a simple report that indicates what a script is about and if it is any good This is called “coverage” The format of coverage differs depending on the studio/company who are reading the script but they all include certain things

9. What’s in coverage? Cover page/section Synopsis Criticism Grading

11. Elements Title – name of the script Author – who wrote the script Coverage date – date of reading Reader – the person reading the script

12. Logline A one line summary of the script Think of it like our “prime concept”: –“It’s about a ______ who ______”

13. Synopsis The story of what the script is about Written in the present tense No opinions

14. Coverage What is the script like? Consider this like a review – what works in the script, what doesn’t.

15. Evaluation Summary A simple grid that looks at various parts of the script like the storyline, the characters or the dialogue.

16. Recommendation The final and most important part of the report. Often this is the only thing a producer will look at. Consists of one word. This will determine if anyone else even bothers to read the script again.

17. Recommendation Pass (don’t bother) Consider (has merits) Recommend (would make a good film)

18. Most screenplays are graded pass (that’s not good – it’s not like pass and fail, it’s more like pass on by)

19. A script reader needs to be objective. Just because you like a genre doesn’t mean you should recommend it. Just because you dislike a genre doesn’t mean you should pass on it.