Screenwriting : Austin Film Festival Coverage Program - does it relate to the festival placings? by Timothy Buck

No one from Austin has contacted you? Or anyone in the industry? Look for an agent. If you got a recommend from someone over at Austin, you may have something great on your hands.

I just got the AFF Coverage a couple of days ago. They still have not announced who has made it to the second level. Not sure if the "recommend" will correlate to a placing in the competition, but hopeful. The festival is not until the end of October, so lots could happen between now and then. I just started the process of seeking an agent.

Timothy: I think that is unusual, so you should be happy about it. I've been a second round finalist with two first drafts in 2013 and 2014 and got some good coverage last year. However, I haven't heard of that before and I was hanging out with several second rounders at the S32 party in Austin. So I'd say at very least, you may be headed for a quarter finalist spot. Also, they don't do notifications until mid-September and by hard copy letter in the mail. Hope that helps and congrats on your good feedback and recommendation. Did you get this recommendation by snail or by email?

I suspect that the two entities are separate -- the coverage program versus the competition. There may be overlap in readers (the same reader might theoretically do coverage throughout the year, and also be a competition reader), but it's more likely that you will likely get a different reader for the competition, who may or may not agree with your coverage reader. That said, if your script was a joy for the first reader, that bodes well for another reader also enjoying it and sending it up through the contest ranks. Congrats on your wonderful coverage result.

Lisa: I actually got free coverage last year; but I seem to remember that came after they announced first round of finalists.

As far as I know, all scripts get free notes - sort of a short version of coverage. To get a complete coverage (mine was 7 pages), as noted by Lisa, you have to pay separately. So, Lisa is correct that I need to hope that another reader also likes the script well enough to advance it. Thanks for the congrats. It will be interesting. Also, I got the Coverage results by email with an attachment. I believe that in the competition, you get notes from every reader as you advance through the rounds.

You stated “Recommend” means guaranteed financial and critical success." So why are you caring about anything else? Who cares about placing in the competition, you received a recommend! That's like being picked for the NFL and worrying about your college records. I would be drunk without drinking at that success.

Kent, I didn't state that - I was quoting the AFF letter. I guess, I've had enough options and starts and stops that I'll probably not get excited until a deal is done (I had one script contracted by a well known producer and watched it hit all the studios, and evolve to a pilot for a TV series, do twelve drafts, and watch it stop dead because a production company fired our guy -then on to Paramount Television, where it was a hot commodity for about 2 weeks, and more). So, thanks for the encouragement...I should be more excited about the "recommend". We'll see how things evolve.

They are two separate things. The idea of the coverage program is to get your script in the best shape possible for the contest (or elsewhere). When you enter the contest your script will go with over 8,000 others for 2, first round reads, and given it got a recommend it will likely go to the second round (but the 1st round readers are not the same readers who do coverage) you may get a 2nd round read from someone who provides coverage also but the chances that they are the one that read your script for coverage are slim. Depending on the score given by the 2nd round reader will determine if it moves beyond that round. All rounds of readers provide notes, you get them all if you advance. This year they have added a summary paragraph that all entrants will receive.

Thank you, Laurie, that's what I wanted to know.

You're welcome, good luck!

Hello Timothy, I was researching the AFF Coverage Program before submitting and saw your post. I was just curious if you would share how the experience was for you and how your screenplay fared in the festival. Cheers

Hi John, The coverage was very substantive and appreciated. The screenplay did make it to the second round, however not beyond that. I was left wondering if the coverage reader was a little older (as he/she got a reference that was a line of dialogue that could be taken two ways - he got the way that referred to the 1980's). Another producer, Howard Kazanjian (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Return of the Jedi, etc) read it and loved it too, but thought it might not be edgy enough for younger producers/readers. Alas, that may have been the case. I did get a nice handwritten note added to the "Second Rounder" form letter, indicating that all the AFF readers were very impressed by my characterizations and writing style. Would I do it again (the coverage program)? Certainly. Hope that helps.