At the end of every coverage report (excluding Synopsis/Treatment coverage, Initial Assessment and Logline Analysis), you will receive an overall Script Recommendation reflects the grade this current draft would probably receive if it were sent out into the industry.
Here’s an overview of each:
”Development Needed.” This current draft would likely receive a pass from a manager, studio exec, producer, etc. Don’t give up hope, though, as it doesn’t necessarily mean the script is unsalvageable. It just means there’s still a great deal of work to be done. (Our pros give approximately 70 percent of scripts this rating.)
“Consider.” Congratulations, this draft would likely receive a favorable reaction from the industry. However, this isn’t guaranteed as there may be a couple of key weaknesses holding it back from people getting truly excited about it. Especially if the grade includes “w/ Reservations.” A “Strong Consider,” on the other hand, means that this draft is very close to a coveted “Recommend.” (Our pros give approximately 25 percent of scripts this rating.)
“Recommend.” Good job! You’ve hit writing gold. Even if the genre or subject matter isn’t the reader’s thing, there’s no denying your script’s quality and it’d no doubt be passed on up to the powers that be along with rave reviews. Contact us after receiving one of these bad boys to see if your chosen pro can pass your script onto their contacts. (Our pros give approximately 5 percent of scripts this rating.)
At the end of your coverage report, you’ll also receive a coverage Ratings Grid. These also reflect the kind of grades this draft would receive in the industry. The further to the right or left the “X” is within a column on the Ratings Grid, the closer your script is to that particular grade. Here’s a quick definition of each rating:
Concept: How strong is the overall core concept of the TV show or movie? Is there a clear conflict between protagonist, antagonist over something at stake?
Story: How well is the story told? Is it complex/surprising/original/interesting enough for the reader to want to keep turning the page?
Structure: Is the story anchored by clearly defined sequences and acts? Do these sequence and act breaks continually force the protagonist closer to, and further away from, their overall goal?
Protagonist: How active/interesting/original/believable is the lead character? Do they drive the narrative in their pursuit of a clear goal? Are their choices believable?
Antagonist: How active/interesting/original/believable is the character/force opposing the protagonist? Do they have the exact opposite goal to the protagonist? Are their actions believable because of their character?
Minor Characters: How do their goals and actions support or oppose the protagonist? Do they have clear and varied personalities?
Stakes: What’s at stake for the protagonist in the story? Are the stakes high enough to sustain a TV show or movie? Is what’s at stake apparent in every scene, sequence and act?
Dialogue: Does the dialogue always address what’s at stake and move the story forward? How well does the writer handle exposition? Does the dialogue avoid lengthy Q&A sessions between characters and inconsequential small-talk?
Scenes: How well does each scene claim its place in the script? Do the scenes have a clear structure that help move the narrative forward? Does each scene have something at stake and relate to the theme?
Pacing: Does the pace of the story suit its genre? i.e. slower for a character-study drama than a horror? Is the pace slow where needed and faster where appropriate, no matter the genre?
Theme: Is there a clear thematic argument at play in the story? Is the writer’s own personal opinion apparent through the protagonist’s choices? How well is the theme revealed throughout the script, via the characters’ actions, dialogue and symbolism?
Originality: How original are the story, characters, world, set-pieces, etc.? Does the script contain truly unique scenes, moments and personalities? Are new twists put on old formulas?
World: How convincing and vivid is the script’s setting? Does it compliment the story and characters and help the reader become immersed in it? Is it original?
Tone: Does the tone fit the genre and remain consistent throughout the story? Do the characters’ actions and the situations they find themselves in feel believable in relation to the world and genre?
Voice: Does the writer’s own individual personality shine through in the story, characters, dialogue, etc. Is it a unique voice, set apart from other writers?
Writing Style: How well-written is the scene description? Is it easy to follow the writer’s intentions for what’s happening in a scene? Do the words on the page effortlessly convey the right images in the reader’s mind?
Marketability: How suitable is the project for its intended place in the market? How well would it fare if it were made into a TV show or movie?
Formatting: Is the formatting not always necessarily “correct” but always clear and consistent? Does it successfully aide the reader’s understanding of what’s happening in a scene?
Grammar: How strong is the writer’s grasp of English grammar? Is the script largely written in the present tense, employing active grammar?
Title: Does the title suit the script? Is it appropriate for the genre? Is it original? Does it make a reader want to read the script?
(Please note: a Ratings Grid/Script Recommendation is NOT included with editing services such as Rewrites, Line Edits, Proofreads or Margin Notes. )
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