Screenwriting : Script Coverage by Tammy Hunt

Hi, Tammy Hunt. The best experience I've had with notes is the first time I ever got feedback. The notes were for one of my first scripts. There was one note that stuck out. My protagonist wasn't making his own choices. Other characters told him what to do and where to go. That note changed how I approached writing scripts.

Hi Tammy Hunt, for me it was the first coverage notes I got from a producer in the beginning of my screenwriting career. I wrote a Pilot ( In my heart, I wanted to write all the story and not only the pilot , but my mind didn’t know that) and the producer told me it was an amazing story, but if I change it for a Feature, will be impactful! He gave me the answer that my mind was waiting from my heart :)) I began to write the feature and yes, I wrote all the story! Thanks to him, I am on my right track! The coverage notes are so important!

I hate to say this but I have NEVER got good free notes. For some reason a lot of people think because they are offering you their notes for free its somehow worth more than the ones paid for and so they tend to be super wonderful with butterflies and rainbows or they tear your script a new one and are ultra critical on every aspect of your writing. Case of point: I had my script read by someone working in the industry and was also an aspiring writer. (A friend of a client of mine. Didn't know him personally.) But he offered to read the script for free. At the same time I paid for notes with a working screenwriter. Also WeSCreenplay and submitted the scrpit for an OWA. The free read sent his notes within 24 hours and ripped the story apart. He called it a cartoon filled with unbelievavle scenarios and some of the worst dialogue he's ever read. His notes were pretty nasty. But they were free so I thanked him and deleted his email. Honestly, I knew the script was good so his notes did'n't hurt. A week later I got glowing notes from the working writer, a consider from WeScreenplay and was selected for the OWA by Stage32. I'd much rather pay for notes. For my script Crimson Jugle, I paid for notes. I got a PASS rating but the reader was able to articulate all the problems. I spent 2 weeks rewriting, resubmitted to te same reader and got a consider.

Hi Tammy. An Exec told me I needed to change my Title once, shocking me, as I had a double-meaning, damn fine title. During an online class the next day, all students said they had their titles dismissed. Turns out it was from the exact same Exec. This was great, as I learned about 'outliers'.

don’t get friends or outsider to tell you you’re wrong on your ideas, instead get someone into the film industry and they are usually more keen to give you better hints and direction to bring your script into the light to be produced !

I’ve received excellent notes and have a trusted team of not givers - for a fee. I have one or two friends who are great with notes but try not to overplay that favor card. Experienced, produced, award-winning writers. At a certain point you have to know what notes help and be able to tune out the noise.

"Always getting professional coverage and development notes on your scripts is the best process to continue doing for your work as a writer."

Hell of a statement.

I've probably received more notes that are less than helpful and seem like they come from an immature reviewer who passed screenwriting 101 with a C-. Having said that, a stranger is more likely to be more critical (a good thing) than friends or family. The trick, IMO, is coming across a critical stranger offering strong, helpful feedback; and I have discovered a couple and now use them exclusively.

My Bio-screenplay, JAMES DEAN: CROSSING THE FINISH LINE, won the top prize consisting of an engraved award plaque and $600 from the 2021 Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards. The win also included invaluable coverage by producer Robert McCollough. I learned a great deal from his stellar experience and wisdom.

It's not the notes, it's how you use them that counts. Every note starts neutral, regardless of the source. If it inspires you and improves your work, it's a good note. If it doesn't, then it's a steamer. Obviously, it's better to get more of the former for free. But you can also pay good money and still receive the latter. Really careful selection of the pro you employ to review the work seems to make a lot of difference. Random readers from festivals get a lot of criticism.

The best coverage I got was for Finding Elpis courtesy of Wildsound, got both written and Zoom notes and I could tell the reader spent a lot of time absorbing the material and genuinely enjoyed it in addition to being critical enough to find what needed work. She even gave a suggestion that blew me away in that "why didn't I think of that?!" kind of way which is always fun.

The best notes I have received have been those which told me exactly what to change, to improve upon my script. Several members have given me such notes.

Agree with Goran. Detail! Specifics!And members are often better than "script doctors". Because they have worked with "script doctors" and gotten frustrated with generalities!

What a great question! I received "feedback" on my writing when I started (10 years ago) and quickly learned of all the ways I could NOT write. However, my best experience in getting "coverage" and getting "notes" was when I had a feature (true story) returned to me. The reader was, instead, focused on asking me questions as to HOW? WHY? What was my thought process when writing "x"- This perspective was so different for me because it (the reader) taught me to focus more on the emotion I'm striving to stir up, and that viewpoint is paying dividends to this day. It helped me go from writing scripts attempting to tell a story TO now writing material containing something I HAVE TO SAY. Since then, I've been getting "Recommends" and "Requested," and I owe it all to the coverage I received.

Steve Jobs on consulting. Even the tech field is littered with consultants. I think many here want to do writing for a living/make ideas to movies & tv shows with other craftsppl.

Basically, Jobs is saying one has to have skin in the game to see an idea through entirely- success or failure. Otherwise there is no value to growth in whatever occupation ppl are pursuing.

https://youtube.com/shorts/XusxNkz2gc8?si=Kp_F09pxH2orwT8w