What is a Coverage?

[mara_jade3]

I feel embarrassed to ask this, but I've missed my college screenwriting class the last two weeks due to medical issues... so I don't know what this assignment is that is due. It's called a coverage. Is there anyone out there who can explain what that entails to me, so I can at least show I tried??? Thanks!!

[small axe]

Broadly speaking, coverage (not "a" coverage) is what a professional script reader is hired to write up for a producer or development guy, an analysis/synopsis of your screenplay, so the producer needn't read it unless the coverage warrants its value.

Here's one or two differing examples, they read a little more "book reporty" or synopsis heavy than others you'd run across.

The first one points to the elements they'd be covering. Sometimes there will be a direct comparison to existing hit movies or flops too ...

The somber hurdle is that a reader can really screw your pooch if they do a lousy job analyzing your masterpiece. The fact is, no one could ever read your spec thing if they didn't hire readers to separate the wheat from the mountain of chaff.

If you have any incriminating photos you can blackmail a reader with, slip it into the screenplay before page five or ten ... some don't read farther than that. ;)

http://www.script-advisor.com/coverage.html (multi-page, and notice sidebar)

http://www.scriptologist.com/Store/Screenplay_Coverage_Services/Sample_Coverage/sample_coverage.html