(Updated May 2014)
While I’m more commonly known as the Screenplay Mechanic (or EvilRbt), my real name is Andrew Hilton. In the 90s, I studied film at the university level in the UK, New York and Los Angeles. During my final year of education, I began working at the studios, starting with Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, then segueing to a development job at Universal Pictures. Next, I worked at Silver Pictures (Warner Bros) for six months, before moving to Mario Kassar’s MK Productions, which had a two-year deal with Paramount. There, I worked as an Executive Assistant and Story Editor, and my job included training readers.
During this time, I fell into screenwriting and my first script landed me an agent and was quickly optioned. Later, when MK Productions’ deal with Paramount ended, I began reading freelance. For more than a decade, I read scripts primarily for New Regency Productions, but in the course of my entire career I've read for companies and producers at every single major studio.
Some writers insist that a reader must be produced to be legit, so here are my writing credentials thus far: I'm in the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and my first produced project was a thriller called FATAL TRUST. Lifetime Television bought the script before it went to market and they had me develop it into their style movie (less horror; more romance). Production followed very quickly and the MOW premiered to record ratings for Lifetime. I also have several credits as a producer. In 2012, I was a Co-Producer on BRAKE, a theatrical thriller starring Stephen Dorff. I also did an uncredited rewrite on the script. In 2013, I was a Co-EP on a feature-length motorcycle documentary, WHY WE RIDE.
In addition to my producing experience and my Screenplay Mechanic work, I continue to write features. Every screenplay I’ve ever written has been optioned or sold, but nothing has gone into production yet. Presently, my two most active projects are both setup with Nicholas Chartier’s Voltage Pictures (THE HURT LOCKER, DALLAS BUYERS’ CLUB), both of which should begin principal photography in late 2014 or early 2015. The first is a big-budget action project entitled BULLET RUN, which I’m also Co-Producing. The second is my latest spec, THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS PAST, an action-packed retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
While I wait for the cameras to roll, I intend to keep reading and writing coverage. I truly enjoy helping my clients, and the reaction to my work has been incredibly positive and rewarding. My rates are very reasonable and I work very hard. So if you're looking for basic coverage or development notes on your next screenplay, please keep me in mind.
For more information, rates, etc. please visit my website:
www.screenplaymechanic.com
And become a "Fan" of the Mechanic on Facebook: The Screenplay Mechanic Facebook Page
Or you can send questions to [email protected]
Happy Writing!
~ Andrew
While I’m more commonly known as the Screenplay Mechanic (or EvilRbt), my real name is Andrew Hilton. In the 90s, I studied film at the university level in the UK, New York and Los Angeles. During my final year of education, I began working at the studios, starting with Steven Spielberg’s Shoah Foundation, then segueing to a development job at Universal Pictures. Next, I worked at Silver Pictures (Warner Bros) for six months, before moving to Mario Kassar’s MK Productions, which had a two-year deal with Paramount. There, I worked as an Executive Assistant and Story Editor, and my job included training readers.
During this time, I fell into screenwriting and my first script landed me an agent and was quickly optioned. Later, when MK Productions’ deal with Paramount ended, I began reading freelance. For more than a decade, I read scripts primarily for New Regency Productions, but in the course of my entire career I've read for companies and producers at every single major studio.
Some writers insist that a reader must be produced to be legit, so here are my writing credentials thus far: I'm in the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and my first produced project was a thriller called FATAL TRUST. Lifetime Television bought the script before it went to market and they had me develop it into their style movie (less horror; more romance). Production followed very quickly and the MOW premiered to record ratings for Lifetime. I also have several credits as a producer. In 2012, I was a Co-Producer on BRAKE, a theatrical thriller starring Stephen Dorff. I also did an uncredited rewrite on the script. In 2013, I was a Co-EP on a feature-length motorcycle documentary, WHY WE RIDE.
In addition to my producing experience and my Screenplay Mechanic work, I continue to write features. Every screenplay I’ve ever written has been optioned or sold, but nothing has gone into production yet. Presently, my two most active projects are both setup with Nicholas Chartier’s Voltage Pictures (THE HURT LOCKER, DALLAS BUYERS’ CLUB), both of which should begin principal photography in late 2014 or early 2015. The first is a big-budget action project entitled BULLET RUN, which I’m also Co-Producing. The second is my latest spec, THE GUNS OF CHRISTMAS PAST, an action-packed retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.
While I wait for the cameras to roll, I intend to keep reading and writing coverage. I truly enjoy helping my clients, and the reaction to my work has been incredibly positive and rewarding. My rates are very reasonable and I work very hard. So if you're looking for basic coverage or development notes on your next screenplay, please keep me in mind.
For more information, rates, etc. please visit my website:
www.screenplaymechanic.com
And become a "Fan" of the Mechanic on Facebook: The Screenplay Mechanic Facebook Page
Or you can send questions to [email protected]
Happy Writing!
~ Andrew
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