Very few people can tell you what's really wrong with your script, and how to fix it. Most script consultants (and agents, and execs) just tell you the symptoms of what's wrong.
As a professional TV and movie writer, I've been paid to write dozens of feature and TV scripts. As a TV story editor and show creator, I've story edited (given notes to) lots of writers, and rewritten any number of scripts.
I co-created a half hour comedy series, "Naked Josh," which recently aired its third season. I was Head Writer on the science fiction hour drama Charlie Jade. I co-wrote Bon Cop Bad Cop, which broke the Canadian box office record.
Before that, back when I was a development executive, I read literally thousands of screenplays. I optioned them, supervised rewrites on them, and tried to package them with actors, directors, distributors and money people.
So I have a lot of experience in writing, giving notes, and trying to get scripts produced.
To find out more about my credits and experience, please check out my home page. You can also look up my produced credits on the Internet Movie Database.
For US $850, I will read your feature screenplay and give you professional comments -- the comments I would give a screenwriter I hired to rewrite it, or a producer who hired me to story edit it.
Yes, I know that's a lot of money. If you'd rather spend only ten bucks, buy one of my books. Crafty Screenwriting, covers the elements of writing for the screen; Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the Box adds what you need to know about writing for TV. You can also check out my blog, Complications Ensue, which I've been writing for nigh on four years now.
The reason you'd pay the serious dough is that a book can only tell you what a script in general needs. If you hire me for an evaluation, I will tell you what I think your script needs.
I'm also happy to critique your script while it's still in outline form. For example, a one-to-three page pitch is US $350. A six-to-twelve page outline is $550. You can save a lot of frustration and wasted effort if you get good advice early. Most scripts fail in the concept. Most of the rest fail in the story.
I also critique television material. I'll critique a TV script (whether half hour or hour, pilot or center-cut) for $600, a show bible for $500 and a combination of the latter two for $700. (If you're not sure what the differences among these are, please check out my blog or my book.) I can only critique a spec episodic script if I know the show; a spec pilot will speak for itself.
If your feature gets made, I also ask that I receive a Story Consultant credit in the end credits. (You just make that part of your contract with the producer when you option the script.)
I critique query letters and concepts for $100 a pop. With query letters, I not only tell you how to rewrite your query, I suggest how I think your hook can be improved. This is probably the most cost-effective service I offer, since, as you know from my book, if your hook doesn't work, it doesn't matter how good the script is.
The notes are as long as it takes to address the essence of what I think should be improved in the screenplay - usually four to eight pages single spaced, though they've been as short at three and as long as ten. They will not be the useless comments you get from an agent or executive about how the characters need to be more "likable," or the dialog more "fresh" or the plot more "surprising." These are almost always symptoms of a badly structured story. I will make notes about how to fix each problem in the story and screenplay, such as "It's really Betsy's story, not Joe's story. Rewrite from Betsy's point of view" or, "Screenplay doesn't work as a drama, but if you make it over-the-top, it would make a hysterical comedy." I'll explain what I mean in simple, clear language.
I've done this for the dozens of screenwriters I've hired or supervised, I've done this for writers on the television shows I've worked on, and I do this for producers who need help with their writers. I'm offering the same service to you.
In general my leaning is to movies that tell a good story to a lot of people. But if you have an art film I'll tell you how to make it stronger and more effective. Feel free to let me know what you're trying to do in your screenplay; I'll comment in terms of how well you do it, and how you could do it better.
It's not just a one-way street; if you have questions about the critique, I do my best to answer them.
Turnaround time is fast. I usually critique query letters in at most a day or two. I've generally turned around screenplays within a week unless I'm under a deadline.
There are two good ways to send me a screenplay or a query letter:
You can email me your screenplay or query letter. This is the easiest and fastest way. I can read screenplays in a variety of formats. PDF is the only universal format that keeps the pagination, if you want me to refer to page numbers. If you have Final Draft, that's the program I use professionally.
By sending me your screenplay, you agree to the terms in my release form. I also ask you to fax or mail me a signed copy of the form.
The best way to pay is to buy me an Amazon.com gift certificate, which you can do through a credit card. Please use the following link:
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Pay for a screenplay evaluation: |
Pay for a query evaluation: |
Legal note: I try to give honest notes. That means I may suggest radical changes in your script. You can't have your money back if you don't like my suggestions. They are at my sole discretion as to form and content. However I've only had one unsatisfied customer so far, and I've had many people write to tell me they thought my notes were dead on.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours very truly,
Alex Epstein
