Sorry, I don't mean to start a "war" here, just sharing my experiences with seeking free feedback.
From what I saw, even if someone asks online to read your screenplay and share opinions, there is no way you can be sure they will actually deliver it.
They say they will, but it takes time, and many times you never see that feedback.
I once sent a script to someone saying they will tell me what they think and still haven't received the feedback.
That was 3 years ago. I posted a read request on reddit and got zero feedback so far. On review sites you have to review other scripts first.
Then you can get reviews. Some are useful. Others just put you down and get personal like "what do you do for a living".
I got great reviews there, but I feel it's a bit of a matter of luck, of getting the right reader assigned,someone who likes doing this and gets you a few pages of great notes, that can really help you.
One of these sites is gone now(Trigger Street Labs).
I hope and pray that the people offering that free feedback are not just looking to boost their portfolio with other people's screenplays.. :(
That said, one of them shared great notes, though they tend to be pretty brief(1-2 pages at maximum). It's cool, and after all, they will be the future audience...:) Maybe others had better luck with this type of feedback seeking!:)
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You have to read a script once. Then make notes, read it again. Formulate the feedback etc. You are asking someone spend a few hours for free.
Perhaps do the opposite. Read and give notes on as many scripts as you can. You’ll learn from the experience and people may wish to return the favour.
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If I had a screenplay I wanted coverage for, I would also consider paying for coverage. I don't know what the going rates are but I assume even 50 bucks is better than nothing. Probably 75 to 99 dollars would be an average low rate, with those who are known for doing solid coverage probably getting 150 to 200. I am just ballparking it for you.
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Yes it can be a mixed bag, but you gotta put in before you take out. it is a LOT of time and sometimes people just can't find that spare time to spend on a stranger on the internet. So you gotta be sure you can put in time before putting your hand up to read someone's work. But at the end of the day, if you want really good feedback you gotta pay for it. I have been struggling to find the money for that myself so I get it. I haven't been able to afford pro feedback yet, but I definitely want it. It's probably a good idea to find a physical writer's group to attend monthly or online too and try that for a while. I host a RL wrier's group and it's been great for the past two years, but now i'm not getting enough good feedback. That's good in a way because it means i'm learning.
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You're asking about free feedback - why? If you want professional and worthy feedback - hire a professional.
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There are three kinds of notes.
The person that doesn’t know what they are doing, but thinks they do. These people give you notes like, “You didn’t have the protagonist refuse the call before going of the adventure and I was expecting a B story on page ...”
There is the person that knows nothing and knows they know nothing. These people are great. They are like an audience member. “I liked it. Steve is a bit of a dick and James is a pain in the butt, but the story is cool”.
Then there is the person that knows how to write. They give advice like, “You proved that he loved her on page 15 that means the scene in the tavern isn’t need. Plus what are you trying to get across in the train station scene? It didn’t move the story forward or tell us anything we didn’t already know”.
I am a big fan of the audience member giving me notes. After all that is who I am writing for.
Victor, perhaps post or re-post some of your work on your S32 profile page. I’ll look at the first 5 pages or so, or send them to me directly. I’m no “pro” but I’m happy to give you my general thoughts. Perhaps it would be of some help. ;)
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If paying a reputable script consultant is not an option, then form your own network with people who have earned your trust, and then work within your group.
It personally takes me around two-three hours to read a script properly, and at least another couple hours to think about it and discuss any issues regarding the content. Heck, you can spend a few hours analyzing and discussing any single element of a story's content - themes, conflicts, rising action, etc.
It's hard to find four-six hours in my life to do that for someone else, and I'm sure it's the same for others. So try to find some trustworthy folks who are willing to network if you can, and if paying a reputable script consultant isn't an option.
Best fortunes to you in your creative endeavors and in your free feedback search,, Victor!
Beth, thank you for your offer to help! :) I just posted a new screenplay called "The Slayer" on the logline section.. I use a mobile phone so I hope it works!:)
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I've provided notes for scripts and loglines for many folks at Stage 32. And, I've developed a few longstanding online friendships with several people over the years. I've also had luck with a few Facebook screenwriting groups where I met some excellent writers that I exchanged work with and trust.
It takes a lot of time to thoroughly read a screenplay, especially ones with dense narratives and long bits of dialogue. I write notes on the PDF file of the script and do a separate sheet with script summary, observations and recommendations. It's very time consuming to provide folks with a thoughtful evaluation of their script; so I don't have high expectations. This is the main reason I've provided far more feedback than I've received and have never sought the opinions of other writers. More recently, I've had a fair amount of folks that have asked to read certain scripts that have placed well at festivals and contests. At this stage, I've received some good tips that are helping me with some fine-tuning issues.
My two cents is to be super positive with other writers and develop some relationships where you build trust and exchange work with them. There are also a few contests like Bluecat, Fresh Voices and specialty contests like 13 Horror that offer free feedback included with their contest fees. This is still cheaper than parting with 200 to 300 dollars for professional feedback. If you use a professional script consultant, try to find some reviews of their work or ask them to provide a sample.
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Thanks, Victor, it did. I just left you comments on your profile page. Best wishes with your screenplay. ;)