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SCRIPT COACHES -- PUSH FOR THAT FINAL POLISH

Writing a great screenplay is only the first step to breaking into the screenwriting business. Aspiring screenwriters need to put the same passion, talent and heroic effort into polishing that screenplay.

Marketing Original Screenplays

How does an unproduced screenwriter find that enthusiastic agent, manager, producer, or film executive who can help them penetrate the film community's inner circle of power?

Script Coach Michael Hauge says, I believe writers place far too much emphasis on getting an agent and far too little on writing a script that won't need an agent."

What Are Script Coaches?

Working screenwriters get professional feedback from their agents, managers, other writers and producers before they go to market with a new script.

What's an unproduced screenwriter to do -- especially the scriptwriters who do not live near a film production center or who have no agency representation. Those who want professional industry feedback before they go to market with their spec script, sometimes use a Script Coach.

Typically, unsold writers only get one chance to impress an individual agent or film executive. To make sure these opportunities are not wasted, some screenwriters use an experienced script coach to help them polish their script for the marketplace.

Script coaches take workshop techniques to the next level - the marketplace. Services vary among the different companies, but most include extensive script notes, phone conferences, and personal industry referrals.

Caution: Some online coaches charge a lot for their services, but the best of them have heavyweight industry credentials. They can become the professional referral all screenwriters need.

Some script coaches to check out on the Web:

Write Movies: http://www.writemovies.com

The consultants for this site are well-known industry insiders: manager Alex Ross, screenwriter David Newman, and film exec/producer Peter Saphier. These industry pros provide expert script consultation and screenwriting workshops. Writers choose the staff member they want to read their script - there is a sliding pay scale.

Scripts that receive a high recommendation are then managed and marketed by Alex Ross, who discovered screenwriter Andrew Niccol (“The Truman Show”). Here is Ross’ point of view, “Managers take more of a long term perspective. For instance, when I discovered Andrew Niccol, I had to work with him for nine months to get his first script up to speed. No agent would have done that.”

The Screenwriters Room: http://www.screenwritersroom.com

Experienced film executives, Kathleen Hannon and Ann Zalid, help screenwriters break into the business. They offer script notes, phone conferences, face-to-face meetings and industry referrals if they recommend your script. The Screenwriters Room provides one of the most comprehensive recommended reading lists for screenwriters that I’ve seen.

The Writer's Guild Mentors Program: http://www.wga.org/mentors

This is a completely free service provided by experienced, credited Writer's Guild members who have signed up to be mentors. Aspiring writers visit the Guild’s website and choose from the mentors who have volunteered. The mentors are listed by writing genre and work experience. The aspiring writer corresponds privately with the chosen mentor to discuss writing and script marketing issues.

The Screenwriting Center: http://www.davetrottier.com

Dave Trottier has decades of experience as a screenwriter and screenplay coach. Many writers he's coached have gone on to win major script contests and establish successful screenwriting careers. Dave is the author of “The Screenwriters Bible” - one of the best-selling guides to writing and selling a script.

Screenplay Solutions: http://www.screenplaysolutions.com

Experienced teacher and screenwriter Robert Stitzel offers coaching services. He is expensive, but check out his impressive recommendations.

How to Choose a Script Coach

Check their credentials thoroughly. To be of help, script coaches need extensive industry experience and current contacts. Advice from an anonymous reader without solid industry connections won't help you much.
Get references from other screenwriters. Most sites list personal recommendations from clients - check them out. Some even post email contacts - make use of them. If you belong to a screenwriters networking group (and you should!) ask your peers about their experiences with online script brokers or screenplay coaches.
Before your sign up for these services, be clear which services you are choosing and how much each service will cost.

Investigate their success stories. Find out how many scripts they actually 'Recommend' and circulate to their industry contacts.
To get value for your money, don't send them a first draft screenplay. This is not a writer's workshop. Send them a polished script you believe is ready for market.
Most services offer reduced fees for scripts that you re-submit after polishing them. This can be worthwhile; but be sure your draft is significantly improved before sending it back to them.

If you follow the guidelines for choosing a script coach, you will get a clear idea of the services available to you. Whether you choose to take advantage of these services is a very personal decision, one only you can make.

These new online marketing services spark healthy controversy among screenwriters. Younger writers are more open-minded toward these marketing tools; they are Web-savvy and see the advantages. Aspiring writers are keenly aware of the depth of competition in the marketplace. Many older, veteran screenwriters claim they would never pay anyone to read their script or even for professional feedback; and they would never consider paying for a consultation that might or might not lead to an industry referral.

Years ago, I would have sided with the veteran screenwriters; but I no longer do. The spec script marketplace grows more competitive each year. When I joined the Writers Guild there were 2,400 members; now there are more than 11,000 current Guild members. The movie market continues to expand worldwide. Perhaps it's time for a more global style marketplace for screenplays.

Marketing a spec screenplay is a proactive endeavor; screenwriters need to create opportunities for themselves. Even if you don’t use these new online services, perhaps while researching them you will discover other ways the power of the Web can help you get your script into the right hands – those who can help you make that all-important first script sale.

Please let me know what happens as you take your spec script to market. This is a cliffhanger; I plan to stick around till the last reel.

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