I recently posted two screenplays o mine, "After the End" and "The Darkness Below Paradise", on this site. They both fit into the sci-fi/horror genre. I sent a message about the second one, which was originally entitled "Stone's Throw From Hell" to a screenwriting agent who's a Stage 32 member (I won't mention their name). In the message, I mentioned the fact that the original version of the script got really good coverage from www.screenplaycoverage.com, an average of 8.5 out of 10, and it was the second-highest rated script covered of all the scripts they covered in September 2011 plus it was featured on "Acting Up", a radio talk show about the movie industry. The agent said I shouldn't mention this fact and that there must have been good reasons that no one has bought the script. I don't see the correlation between the fantastic coverage and the fact no one has decided to make a movie from the script. The person who did the coverage noted that the cost of the movie would be pretty high (lot of special effects and elaborate landscapes due to the spectacular golf course that winds throughout entire urban utopia) but I shouldn't let that discourage me. So what am I missing here? Why should I not mention the fact the script originally received really, really, really good coverage? I don't see how that hurts me when I'm promoting the script. I'd love if someone can enlighten me as to what I don't understand about this situation. Thanks.
Screenwriting : A Screenplay I've Written, "After the End" by L.A. Eide
A Screenplay I've Written, "After the End"
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I could only speculate here, but since you asked... I remember being in a meeting with a producer once and mentioning how the film I wrote had just won Best Feature at Shriekfest, The producer's response was basically "congratulations." It was only thinking about it later that I realized that "congratulations" meant, "dude, I get pitched by writers on major network shows. I get pitched by writers who have sold to major studios. Do you really think Best Feature at Shriekfest is going to impress me?" So... that would be my guess. While your screenplay is presumably pretty good to have gotten such solid coverage, touting paid coverage might just mark you as minor-league. (Speaking as a minor-league writer myself.) But, again, I'm only speculating. One other possibility: the agent in question was wrong, and mentioning that in a query letter might help you get read. Maybe there are development executives in the audience who can weigh in.
Ha, great article. I remember seeing those guys pitching their wares all the time on some other board I've long since forgotten. Fascinating to see them called out as scam-artists.
I haven't spent anything near $7000. I almost understand the motivation. But the deal should have been suspect in the very beginning.
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I agree with Kerry (not so much with Alle), but the reason is two fold. One, you said it was covered in 2011. That's THREE years ago - and NOTHING has happened with it since? It hasn't won any contests or been optioned? All that happened is ONE guy at ONE company in 2011 said it was good? That means nothing. It's a huge red flag that it probably wasn't good enough or commercial enough. Also, to be honest, no one gives a shit about Screenplay Coverage. Most people in Hollywood have never heard of them and I couldn't tell you who runs it. And their readers are anonymous, which means no one knows who they are. Getting good COVERAGE means very little unless that coverage came from a major agency or production company. And Alle is right - if that company thought it was good enough to sell, they would have tried to help you do that. That's what I do for my clients when they have projects that truly are strong enough.
Probably best not to mention past events when marketing a script. As Danny said, if the coverage had any value it would have resulted in a sale. Best to let the script sell itself. If you have had other work produced then you could make reference to that... but then you'd probably have an agent who can represent you.
Thanks for the feedback and comments. Well, since I did get impatient (my fault, I realize) and make some changes to the script, those changes could be part of the reason nothing has happened in THREE years. Also, as noted by the person who did the coverage, because of the high costs of doing the movie (lotts of FX), that's going to deter some people from taking on the project. So to me, it doesn't make sense to assume the coverage has little or not value simply because nothing has happened with the script. There's lot of possible explanations for the script not being made into a movie. That's like getting a really high grade and glowing comments from a professor on a school project and then saying it doesn't mean anything just because the project hasn't achieved all of your project goals.
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Hell yeah you use the good coverage if you have it. It your screenplay date stamped? If not, then who gives a shit? Did you hit every producer and studio in the industry and were you turned down? Did you hear the one about “The Dallas Buyer’s Club” taking twenty years to come to the screen and “Unforgiven” about eleven years? Then forge ahead my son and pitch your script until the wheels fall off or write another one. Damn the cost, you're creating art! God bless you and go forth my son!