Hiya, Stage 32 Screenwriter Community!
Over the last three months, I have been working on the birth of a small production service called: SOUND OF SCRIPTS. My business partner in this endeavor is an actor/writer close friend of mine (as in, very close... we met when we were 14!!), is a chap named T.J. Ramini.
We came up with this idea, when I was pulling together a filmed table read for a script of mine. While going through the process, it became clear to me that while there are tons and tons of advice and articles out there on how to piece together a theatric table read, there was no type of service that you could simply hire to do it for you.
From there, the idea evolved into audio. Specifically, taking a screenplay and transforming it into a radio-theater inspired audio experience.
Firstly, in an age where there is so much content out there, writers need to try various ways to stand out. Be it look books, pristine pitch decks, storyboards, etc. However, we felt that the best way to truly convey the tone and feel of a story is using audio. Something that is also beneficial to the respective audience the writer is trying to reach. It gives them a different way to 'read' a script. Rather, experience it instead.
When it comes to information retention, the general rule of thumb is that people tend to remember 10% of what they READ. 20% of what they HEAR. 40% of what they SEE. And 50% of what they SEE and HEAR.
So, from the most basic statistical standpoint, there is a greater chance an audience will potentially remember your work via both being able to listen to it, and read it.
We also soon discovered that this service doesn't just apply to writers. The audience (or, consumer) for this type of service can be applied across a variety of disciplines/businesses.
Here one such example: Film Festival organizers have expressed a strong interest in what we are doing. Especially those that are blended, mid-sized festivals with an unproduced screenplay category. They want to provide their winners and finalists with a tangible award. Something the writer will value.
All writers want to see/hear their work come to life. I for one, would pay the price of admission if that was the potential prize, versus a certificate of achievement.
Before posting this in the lounge, I did reach out to Jason Mirch for his blessing. Which he kindly granted. And if anyone is interested in hearing from a writer who has had a piece of their work used for demo purposes... look no further than our good friend Maurice Vaughan. Who very generously let us use a scene from one of his screenplays (ESCAPE THE HOUSE), when we assembled all of our demos.
We'd sincerely welcome feedback from this community, as we are still in 'soft launch' mode. If you want to learn more about who we are, and/or listen to examples of our work, please visit:
https://www.soundofscripts.com
or our YouTube Chanel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEAO8K5iMiuBrnvDDjveQvQ
All comments and questions are welcome. Unless they are intended to be patronizing and belittling. If so, keep that to yourself. As it's not constructive.
Thanks!
-JB Storey
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I checked one out on YouTube. Nice job.
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"Sound of Scripts" is a great tool for writers (as J.B. Storey said, "Firstly, in an age where there is so much content out there, writers need to try various ways to stand out.").
Thanks for the shoutout and for recording a scene from my script, J.B. It sounded terrific!
Writers (also producers, directors, business owners, etc.), check out the "Sound of Scripts" videos (especially "The Mailman's Son" by J.B.)! You'll be blown away!
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Maurice Vaughan that is very kind of you
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Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal" out of curiosity, which one did u listen to?
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Blueberry Special.
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I was just thinking about an app for something like this. Nice!
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This is an excellent idea. It's a surefire way to ascertain what works and what doesn't work in ones writing. What sounds great in our mind, doesn't always translate great out others' mouths.
I know one of the many Screenwriter's Discords used to do weekly live Table Reads years ago, but time delays, poor audio quality, and trolling performers kind of killed the spirit of it.
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I guess a good job should sound like War of the Worlds. There is someting to say for shared screenwriting authorship, and then all writers reading their own dialog part -- of course as far as that is possible.
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Cool idea, but I'd suggest to open a window for audio dramas as well....kinda text specifically written for audio (music cues, sound effects, etc)...unless ure airing "Glengarry Glen Ross" I'd say screenplay is more of an visual media text...
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Cool thing is, you can stick the YouTube video version on your listing on Script Revolution to give people a little listen. Check it out in action here.
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Thanks for the idea, CJ.
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B A Mason Thanks for your thoughts. Generally speaking, this service is specifically designed for scripts, manuscripts that are ready 'go to market'. Basically, it would be a very expensive table read, if you were using it to workshop a story!!!
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Kiril - yes, we do get inquiries of the audio book variety. As for your point about screenplays being a visual text. That's very true. However, if one starts a new business, they should probably do a little bit of market research to understand if there is 1) A need 2) A primary, secondary and tertiary audience 3) You have a structure for scale. RE, Number 2 - on this note, between myself and my business partner (who works very closely every day with agents, managers, directors and actors), the general consensus is that they see a lot of benefit to using a service such as this. They get sent a lot of scripts to read. Being able to have an option to listen, is something they welcome... enthusiastically. If their responses had been passive or indifferent, we wouldn't be doing this at all. As there would be no benefit to anyone in the ecosystem. The business would be DOA from day 1.