Screenwriting : Who the heck is reading my scripts... by Curt Samlaska

At the end of the day, everything is subjective. Someone might find your script to be incredible and exciting, while someone else thinks he or she is know-it-all and tries to destroy your work for egotistical reasons. Only you know what to write, not the reviewer. However, feedback is more than encouraged. If you don't think it's helpful, ignore it.

That goes without say Marcel, and I agree with you completely. It is subjective...completely. I am making an argument to have reviewers report their credentials. Who are they and where does their experience come from that adds weight to their opinion?

You hinted at one of answers, Curt Samlaska . Film reviewers are a great example of this but even specifically, Rotten Tomatoes. They're a great example of how critics with credentials can be vastly different than the audience. Readers are no different. Apart from that, I started watching the video but had to stop because I agree with the one of the hosts. It's up to the writer to do the research, not a group that's going to police scripts. I think the important thing is to take your accolades and use those to submit to potential buyers. All the best to you.

The difference in evaluating Rotten Tomatoes critics is that...many believe their reviews are motivated by blowback from the studios and production companies. That's why they often are so discordant from the audience reviews. A critic may not be invited to the screenings and festivities from, let's say Disney, if they give a very negative review. This works both ways, either a positive or a negative review based on what company is behind the feature. A reviewer of a screenplay does not have any of these pressures and should be free to provide a legitimate review...much like an audience review. Thanks Leonardo for the comment.

That's a great point, Curt Samlaska and makes sense.

Curt Samlaska I was 19 years old interning at a film company and the boss told me to read scripts by repped writers and do coverage. I told him point blank I dont know what I'm doing and he whispered, "Me too." :)

As to your question- who are readers? Well they're either lucky or knew someone to get them a job on the inside, "how the sausage is made", and it's better to be inside than outside. GL!

Hey Dan! I always love your comments. It is great to have somebody that was inside. Thanks for the post...

It must be nice for money to not be an issue. Maybe some day I'll have enough to enter a contest.

Sorry Jed...I know very well that many writers are strapped for funds, and it can be very difficult to decide where investing your limited funds will give the best results. I came from nothing, and was fortunate to get advanced educations that allowed me to do well. I wish you much luck...

Curt what kind of stuff do you write? Any how many scripts?

If you click on my name it will take you to my profile on Stage 32. I have written 2 novels, 3 screenplays and a short film. I am forming a production company called Flipside Filmz to produce a short film I wrote titled Forgiving Retribution. I am purchasing equipment now and will be producing it this spring. I wrote and produced a short film, advertisement for a wart treatment product I was marketing. You can watch that video, I told Tyler we should have submitted it to contests...it came out really good. If you go to YouTube and search for The Warting Dead it should come right up. Had so much fun with it. The link is also on my profile. There is a video trailer for my second book, Terminal Cascade, the link is also on my profile. Probably more than you wanted to know... Ciao!

Curt I live in Reno. Are you in Lost Wages? I've written 24 features and 4 TV pilots. In 2022 I won 3 contests with 3 different scripts in 3 different genres. Just finished an AI thriller based on a book.

I clicked on your profile...yes, I live in Henderson, still practice medicine. Looks like you are super productive! Congratulations on all your successes! You gotta land one of those features...best of luck to you!!!

Mr Samlaska, make your own movie; a member here last week posted he made a movie for $78,000! That is probably the best post I ever read; the guy is a doer; he aint waiting for permission, $ & hustle to make movies.

Working on it Dan...thanks for the encouragement.

I know what you mean. I got lots of really good reviews from agents and managers with a site similar to Stage 32 but I didn't progress to the top level of their pitching course -where you get to pitch to managers in the hopes of getting signed. For the most part the very young employees at this place are highly sensitive snowflakes with little-to-no successful writing experience. Don't worry about a handful of poor reviews if lots of pros are saying it's a good script. But yes, I agree -why do some people feel that their opinion is THE opinion when they have no means to really help you achieve your goals and very little success of their own? Don't take it personally, just keep improving your work when the advice "gels" or review your work when you get the same criticisms/comments from multiple sources. All the best!

Keep in mind that most screenplay competitions have non-experienced readers who don't know a comma from a period. It is best to carefully research whatever competitions you want to enter. Find out who the judges are. And if you want great feedback, don't just trust your script to anybody!

True, Sean. Yet many writers flock to low level comps that will have no bearing on a career like lemmings to the sea. Many times it's an ego boost or validation that's sought from said punctuation-challenged readers.

Here's a tip: Stop entering crap competitions. It's a waste of time and money.

It's also to writers' advantage to not trust just anybody's spewn opinion. And there are lots of specious ones floating around.