SCRIPT CONSULTING

I’ve been critiquing scripts for money for around twenty years.

In all that time, I’ve gotten one script that was remotely close to being agent-ready. Writing a screenplay is that difficult. Because finding a producer or agent to agree to read your work happens about as often as being struck by lighting while being eaten by a shark, you better not waste that chance. If you don’t have a team of friends who can give excellent notes, I don’t know what else you can do but pay someone.

I am not in the “encourage ’em and string ’em along and squeeze more money out of them” business. I’m in the business of giving masses of notes that will propel you into a helpful rewrite.

I charge $1,000.
It’s a ton of money, but you get plenty of bang for that buck.

You mail me 1.) a self-addressed, stamped envelope, 2.) a one line outline of your script (see Chapter 24 of my book for details), and 3.) a hard copy of the script with “End of Act I”, “Midpoint” and “End of Act II” written on the appropriate pages.

I read the screenplay and write notes all over it. I read it a second time and write on it in different color ink. It’s like having a writing partner go over your script with a fine toothed comb… a sea of red and blue ink.

Then I read it again. This time, I dictate notes to a digital recorder… generally 45+ minutes of thoughts and suggestions. One client transcribed them, and it was c. 20 single spaced pages.
I email you those files and snail-mail the script.
After you’ve digested all the notes, we’ll talk and I’ll answer questions.

Over the past twenty years, my clients have been thrilled with the level of detail and overall helpfulness of the notes.

The key to the process is to repeatedly do the Your Screenplay Sucks! checklist before sending me your script. Then, I can concentrate on character and story, not lower brain function hints like “don’t have character names that rhyme,” etc.

I look forward to helping you with your writing.

will at willakers dot com

My book goes to the Nicholl Award ceremony!