Doctor Needed

[DTW]

Greetings, all. I'm a first time poster & would appreciate any heads up if I blow a protocol.

I've recently completed a spec feature script & would like to get a professional read through / critque of it before I start shopping it around. Some initial research turned up the following "script doctors". Interesting that in addition to providing a critique, some also offer the prospect of representation.

Sure would appreciate some feedback if any of you have worked with or have knowledge of these folks.

Kathryn Knowlton
Aubrey Horton
Alex Epstein
Script Shark (service)

Thanks in advance,
DTW

[Writer1]

I'd post a few pages here. If this is your first scipt, I guarantee it's not gonna pass muster and be good enough to submit.

[scripter1]

and going to be blunt.
Unless you're a prodigy it's a fair bet your first script is LOADED with common mistakes any somewhat schooled, or slightly more experienced screenwriter could catch. Ones that once they are pointed out to you will make you feel sick that you even considered submitting to real pros.

Not trying to be cruel, trollish, or make a personal attack.
It is just a common fact of writing that first scripts have issues. Screenwriting is HARD. Much much harder then beginners really understand.
There are nuances, methods, styles, tools, formats, knowing what rules to keep and what rules to break, etc, etc. It takes time to develop a working knowledge of all these. So, naturally first scripts tend to have problems. Problems that YOU may not see because it is YOUR baby.
You are too close to the work and too happy that you've finally made it to FADE OUT.

And you know what, it's okay!!!
We've all been there.

Because we've been there we hate to see a new writer invest a bunch of money in professional critiques. Because we've had these same problems identified in OUR OWN scripts we know how to find them in others.
Because we all have different POV's we may find things that never would have occured to you.

Post five to ten pages on the script pages forum.
You'll get some good feedback.

I would also say complete three or four more scripts before you consider professional script doctoring.

1) You want to make sure you are committed to this writing thing before you plunk down 100 or more bucks.

2) It's truly amazing to realize how much you grow through the writing of new stories with new challenges and appyling what you've learned over time.


Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing background.
What books have you read? What kind of movies do you like?
Why are you interested in screenwriting?

[Mac H.]

Hey, I didn't know Alex Epstein did critiques. Cool.

However, I'd 100% definitely post a few pages for a quick critique from peers first - any problems they find you probably repeated throughout the script.

It also has the advantage of being 100% free - and your paid critique won't be wasted by them pointing it out.

In fact, I'm so lazy I'm just going to repost my earlier comments from http://absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=541431#post541431

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There are some very good screenplay analysts out there - but an awful lot of shonky ones too.

'Creative Screenwriting' did a test on the many of them:

http://messageboard.donedealpro.com...read.php?t=7443 (http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=7443)

One of the $600 services was classed as 'Not Recommended', whereas a $300 service made it to 'Highly Recommended', so it doesn't seem to be a 100% 'You get what you paid for' rule.

Scott Mullen (who is known to many because of his blog 'Alligators in a Helicopter' also offers script notes for $60. See: http://sixtybucknotes.blogspot.com/

Honestly - if I were in the script analysis business I'd charge $150, pass the notes onto Scott & pocket the change...

To quote from his page:


I don't want anyone sending me scripts in hopes that I think they are great, and will pass them on to someone else. I'm not going to do that. If they are great, enter them in a contest. Win. Become rich.

I want to read scripts in which the writer is stuck, or needs a push, or some direction. Where I can give you pages and pages of story/structure/character notes, and you'll happily launch into a rewrite.

I will tear your baby apart. I'll tell you a few good things, and then most of the report will focus on what doesn't work. If you don't want your baby torn apart, don't hire me.

What I'm offering is basic, solid notes (no synopsis, just notes), from a guy who has read a hell of a lot of scripts and books (I'm going to hit my 9000th studio/prodco coverage sometime next year) and who'd be just as happy reading your script as he would one from a production company, for the same price. Because that's fair.
I've never used him, and because I'm an Aussie I'd probably use the Australian Writer's Guild service instead. However, if you want to go down the 'script analysis' road it's at least by someone who isn't overcharging and is putting his reputation on the line.

Good luck,

Mac.
(PS: In my experience, the best thing to do before any of this is to post 5 pages on a DECENT critique board for comments. You'll find problems that would have never occurred to you otherwise - and they are probably problems that have been repeated throughout the script.

Some good critique boards include:
* http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=60
* http://messageboard.donedealpro.com...display.php?f=7 (http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/forumdisplay.php?f=7)

Take all comments with a grain of salt - but I've never posted pages and NOT got at least one very helpful response.)

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[Chesher Cat]

If it's important to you to have the whole script read, which can be more thorough and quicker than posting 10 pages at a time for feedback, I'd pay the $60 to Scott. I read his blog and he seems totally legit to me and you can't beat the price.

I don't know him personally nor do I have any connection to him, other than I reading his blog.

Check out his blog at http://alligatorsinahelicopter.blogspot.com/ and see what you think.