Question about coverage?

[scriptwriter74]

I recently sent a query to yellowsand pictures to submit my script for production consideration.

They responded with "I would love for you to submit your script to my office for coverage"

I have had 13 prodco's respond back with a yeah send your script and sign this release. Would you think the above response means she wants me to pay her for coverage?
I was not asking for coverage, I've already received excellent coverage and analysis from other sources.

Anyone else have an an interpretation.

[WriteKnight]

Well, did they ask you to pay for coverage? Is paid coverage a service they offer? If so - I'd pass on them.

[mario_c]

First of all, congrats on so many full script requests. Second, that's strange they would put it that way - usually a prodco / agent will say send for 'review', not 'coverage'. Coverage is a totally internal process - sending the author notes is a different issue altogether.
Maybe prodcos and agents have higher expectations nowadays, in regard to what script writers are supposed to know about the biz?

[scriptwriter74]

i thought coverage was strange for the query. Since they did not ask for any $$, I guess I will send the script

In case anyone needs advice on queries, I would say get imdbpro.com and start to query every producer who has an available email in your genre. I am running about 5% response so far.

[nmstevens]

I recently sent a query to yellowsand pictures to submit my script for production consideration.

They responded with "I would love for you to submit your script to my office for coverage"

I have had 13 prodco's respond back with a yeah send your script and sign this release. Would you think the above response means she wants me to pay her for coverage?
I was not asking for coverage, I've already received excellent coverage and analysis from other sources.

Anyone else have an an interpretation.


Again, you have to remember that, out in the real world, coverage isn't intended for you. It's essentially a company or an agency's "first look" at a property.

It may be a slightly impolitic way of saying it -- yeah, send it and we'll put in the stack of stuff for our interns to read -- but unless there's something in the letter that says that they intend to charge you something, you're not agreeing to pay anything, nor would any writer submitting any script to a production company where scripts are covered as a standard procedure, expect to pay for it.

Covering scripts is something that companies do for their own benefit -- to make their own lives easier. It's an expense of doing business.

It isn't for you, so there's no reason for you to expect to pay for it.

NMS

[scriptwriter74]

i understand now.

[Stijn Hommes]

You did investigate the production company before you sent the script right?
Usually, it's pretty easy to discover if they're running a scam. If there are no red flags, you should be okay.

[Goodwriterguy]

i understand now.
Keep us posted on this because the response is indeed odd so it'll be interesting to see what comes of it. One would almost have to think your respondent was referring to their own in-house process and just didn't articulate it very well, rushed as many are these days.

Good luck in any case!

[scriptwriter74]

i never said they were a scam, I just was confused by the wording of coverage and wanted to get opinions as to whether writers with more experience at this point in the game knew of that answer.

Marketing and getting your script a sniff is a fun but exhausting process