Screenwriting : Script Scores by Nicholas Schmidt

Nicholas Schmidt

Script Scores

My first of three completed screenplays, "SETTLE," has scored an 8/10 (97th percentile) on blacklist, a 7/10 on blacklist (83.3%), and an 8.6 on Greenlight Coverage (98th percentile) - In everyone's experience, when does it make sense to stop chasing scores/rewrites (and spending $$) and stick with the draft?

Darrell Pennington

I think it is time to Settle, Nicholas.....

Nicholas Schmidt

If there were a laughing + crying emoji I could figure out how to use here, I would.

Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Nicholas Schmidt. Congratulations! I'm a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know I moved your post from the Introduce Yourself Lounge to the Screenwriting Lounge. Let me know if you have any questions.

When I'm just changing small things in my script, and it's a gut feeling.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Nicholas Schmidt. Hope you sell your scripts!

Jim Cushinery

When the. film is released. Not joking. I’ve worked on films that had locked picture (the edit), only to have an executive order changes.

Nicholas Schmidt

Jim Cushinery for sure! I'm more asking when does it make sense to stop paying for evaluations/scores - does fine-tuning to get more 8s or a 9 really move the needle?

Jim Cushinery

Nicholas Schmidt I think if you're getting 8+/10 scores across the board, you're doing great! Stop and go in search of the person who gets you and your writing. At the end of the day those scores wouldn't have meant shit to Samuel Goldwyn, who famously picked the stories that made his sphincter twitch. Too bad that's not a quantifier on Greenlight. ;)

Nicholas Schmidt

I really need that emoji.

Robin Gregory

That's the million-dollar question Nicholas. Because every reviewer will want to change something. Since, you're getting super scores, I think the best thing to do is stop with the coverage, and start sharing pitching to people looking for new material--those who have an interest in your genre and subject. Congratulations!

Debbie Seagle

Congratulations Nicholas Schmidt ! It sounds like time to stop chasing scores and start chasing a film crew!

Does anyone REALLY stop editing a script?

Sometimes I get up in the middle of the night to add, delete, or change something in the script that awakened me. I have a feeling I'll still be "improving" my script a few hours before we start shooting.

Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations, Nicholas Schmidt!

CJ Walley

When to stop chasing scores? You should never start in the first place.

Nicholas Schmidt

Well ok then :)

J. Austin Gentry

Maybe it's time for a POC?

J. Austin Gentry

Proof of concept.

Robin Gregory

Might be a good thing.

Mario Riportella

I like the POC idea.

At worst, the scores you listed make for a solid query letter You have a portfolio, some credible evidence to suggest your writing voice translates, now seems a good time for representation? Also, have you built any supporting media for your scripts? i.e posters, look and feel mood boards, treatments, etc to include in a pitch deck? I mean what if you landed a meeting tomorrow, are you ready to pitch these 3 scripts? Are you ready if someone asks "what else have you got?" Congrats and continued good luck

Other topics in Screenwriting:

register for stage 32 Register / Log In