Is Scriptshark a good barometer..?

[moonleight]

I just recently ordered NotesPlus (coverage and notes) for my script from Scriptshark. I got a pass, which is what I expected considering it was basically my first draft and had some major problems, which the analyst critiqued with requisite harshness and bluntness. Overall, I was very satisfied with the coverage, which I felt was thorough and which I thought made some good recommendations.

However, what caught my eye was how effusive and glowing the analyst's appraisal of the main characters and concept were. Especially the concept. I know it's subjective as it's my script, but I've read other Scriptshark coverage, including a couple that were "Consider" and neither seemed anywhere near as effusive. I also got coverage from Scriptshark a few years ago for a different script; it was crap and the analyst (a different one) pretty much called it crap.

I know every reader is different and perhaps my script just found one that was having a good day or what not. And I realize that even with the encouraging comments this is far from a "Consider", and that, based upon what I've heard, a "Consider" doesn't guarantee anything. What I'm wondering, though, is whether anyone feels coverage from Scriptshark would, in general, be a good barometer for how agents, producers, managers, etc. might view the script and its concept?

(Sorry if this was a longwinded first post... )

[EJ Pennypacker]

Who knows what anyone will like. It's all down to personal taste. That said most high-concept materials often get "loved" but H-wood, so as long as you have a solid concept/premise, it would get received well from the industry. It's what you do with the story, characters and dialogue afterwards is where the money is.

I would take from the post that your recent spec has a good CONCEPT and CHARACTERS, but DIALOGUE and STORY needs working on. Maybe this is something you should adress before hitting up reps (and ask for folks here for reads for free in return for reading their scripts as well).

EJ

[article92]

Just in case you didn't know, you should check out triggerstreet.com, under screenplays of the month and read the script shark coverage from their since, most of is done by the same reader.
As far as script shark is considered, I think they rate script just as producers and agents would.
Just my two cents.

[EJ Pennypacker]

I forgot to mention that Scriptshark is in the realm of BMW when it comes to coverage notes. Take that for what it's worth.

I personally wouldn't let the road end with them. I'd hit up managers when your spec is into the best possible shape it can be.

EJ

[moonleight]

Appreciate the insights.

E.J... yeah, my spec's story, especially in act 2, needs some serious work, and the analyst was pretty blunt about that. I'm planning on resubmitting my revised draft to Scriptshark with the same analyst before I send it out to managers and the like.

article92... thanks much for the triggerstreet info. Those specs, the ones by newbies like myself but which have garnered some interest, are the ones I've been itching to read. It's also been really interesting reading the coverage for some of them so far and comparing it to my own. The Sharkgrid for my script got 5 "Excellents" (all dealing with concept and character) but this was mitigated by a half dozen "Re-thinks" and twice that many "Needs Work". But it's nice to know that at least someone with some ties or resemblance to the industry didn't think my script completely sucked.

On a curious note, I've noticed that the analyst initialed AM (who was not my analyst) seems to be the one who has given most of the Considers I've seen or heard about.

[article92]

I don't know if you checked out on the scriptshark site, the reader's little profiles and what they consider deserves a "consider" or better grade.

[Buzz2074]

Originally Posted by EJ Pennypacker

I forgot to mention that Scriptshark is in the realm of BMW when it comes to coverage notes. Take that for what it's worth.

Not to quibble, but I think Mike Huage is the BMW. Expensive and meticulously engineered and german.

IMHO Scriptshark is an okay barometer for what sort of replies you'll get from film company readers. Shark pays its readers basically the same rate film companies pay their readers. Just food for thought.

[moonleight]

Originally Posted by article92

I don't know if you checked out on the scriptshark site, the reader's little profiles and what they consider deserves a "consider" or better grade.

Yeah, actually the analyst I got was not one of the ones I requested, as I felt from the profile that he/she would tear my script a new one, as I knew my script had many of the foibles he/she listed as "Common Mistakes". But it actually turned out to be a good thing, as those were the areas I most needed highlighted and direction with. I'm glad he/she could also look past those troublespots to appreciate the stronger aspects of my script.

[moonleight]

Originally Posted by boski

Yeah, I think so. And that's certainly the idea behind their service--to give you an idea of how the industry will receive your script.

We got an SS "consider," with some pretty solid, well-articulated coverage (from JC--he's not there anymore, though, I think).

When SS sent the script out to reps for us, we quickly got a manager, and he quickly got an actor attached to the project. Both the actor and his manager really liked the script and wanted to try and package it further as a starring vehicle for the B-lister.

The same script also placed in the Top 13 of Scriptapalooza and attracted another manager at a pretty decent boutique. At another actor's prodco, the same script was covered by four different readers: 2 Recommends and 2 Considers.

We never sold the dang thing, but the SS coverage and "consider" evaluation did seem to be shared independently by several other people in the business.

As far as that goes, I was very happy with how the SS evaluation was echoed by reps, prodcos, and even some talent.

Thanks for the input, Boski. If you don't mind me asking, would you say your script was a high concept one, or more one with a solid premise with superiorly executed elements? (If your script could be more or less be categorized as either, that is.) Maybe this question is more appropriate for another forum, but I hear and read so much about how the concept is the most important aspect and all, and am curious to hear firsthand experiences about the matter.

[moonleight]

Originally Posted by boski

It was basically a variation on the werewolf story, but using a creature from African folklore and a story centered on a prominent and wealthy African-American family in contemporary Chicago. A family with a dark ancestral secret dating back to the slave trade...

So it's a genre monster movie, a horror-thriller, but probably not high concept. More like medium-concept in that it's a different take on a familiar genre/story.

And it sounds like a very unique take that instantly piques the curiousity. Thx.