Q: What is Coverage?

A: Coverage is a brief report, usually 2-3 pages, including a synopsis of the material, comments and suggestions about the material, and a grade of ‘pass,’ ‘consider,’ or ‘recommend.’ It’s used in agencies, production companies, and studios to quickly judge whether or not a piece of material is worthy of further consideration. It’s also a way that industry pros can talk about a piece of material as if they’ve actually read it! Finally, coverage is a great, and affordable, tool to determine where your own material is at, what its basic strengths and weaknesses are, and whether or not it’s ready to submit to the marketplace. It’s even more powerful to get coverage from more than one reader on the same screenplay. This can really give you a well-rounded sense of how your screenplay will be received – and what you may need to do to make it a winner.


Q: Why should I invest in more expensive analysis if I can just get more affordable screenplay Coverage?

A: While coverage can give you some valuable insight into your material, and is a good tool to use before sending it out, it is not a substitute for in-depth evaluation, which goes into much more detail on the various elements of your project. If money is an issue, coverage is a good way to get a ‘read’ on what the industry will think of your screenplay. But if you feel like your screenplay could use more development, it’s worth the investment in a higher-level package – even if it means cutting down on Starbucks and saving up!

Q: What if I don’t agree with what your consultants say about my screenplay?

A: This is an art, not a science, so all evaluations are part wisdom, experience, technique, educated guess, and opinion. The thing to remember is that anyone reading your material in the business is going to approach it the same way – or, in some cases, even more opinionated than objective. The key is to let your defenses down and see if there is something in the report that rings true – even if you don’t like it. Also, unlike other consulting firms, we offer a special money-back guarantee on certain packages, if you don’t like what you’re getting after the first act. Read the guarantee section before purchasing. Bottom line, we want you to have the best screenplay possible, and that’s the intention our consultants have in mind as they analyze your material.

Q: Do some consultants give bad coverage or negative evaluations so that I submit my screenplay again?

A: While we can’t speak for consultants in other companies, we at ScriptwriterCentral and The Script Clinic are absolutely committed to your success. If you succeed and sell your screenplay, we succeed. We need your testimonials! We also monitor the work that is done, and if there was ever any inkling of foul play, that consultant would be let go promptly. Bottom line, it doesn’t make sense to give you anything less than our best. We are in this for the long haul and you, our client, are our most valuable asset.

Q: Do I really need in-depth analysis or is that basically a waste?

A: Obviously, we don’t know what you need until we see your screenplay. But here’s the thing. The majority of screenwriters submit their screenplays way before they’re ready. They do a draft or two or three and then firehose the industry with their property. And then they wonder why all they end up with is a pile of rejection slips – if they even get any response at all! Screenwriting is not for the faint of heart. It takes time and patience to develop a great screenplay. Many specs that sell have been rewritten a dozen times – sometimes dozens of times – before being submitted. And many of the top-selling projects went through rigorous development, as the writers gave their drafts to friends, family, colleagues, peers, screenplay readers, and screenplay consultants. Our suggestion is to write the very best screenplay you possibly can. Then, after you’ve done everything in your power – and only then – submit it for in-depth analysis. When the screenplay seems ready to go out, or darn close, that’s a good time to get ‘coverage,’ to get a feel for how the marketplace will react to it. Then make any final tweaks before sending it out. Whatever you do, don’t sell yourself or your screenplay short.



Q: Do you give discounts if I submit the same screenplay more than once?

A: Yes, we do. Check out our price page for the most up-to-date discounts.



Q: What makes you better than the other screenplay consultants and screenplay consulting firms?

A: There are other qualified consultants out there, some truly excellent ones. But here are a few things that make our work so special. We offer a much more diverse array of consultants and services than others. We offer a proprietary system of analysis. We offer unlimited e-mail feedback on a screenplay – unavailable anywhere else. And we are the only place as of this writing that offers any money-back-guarantee. Bottom line, we have done everything we can to create a service that is unequaled on all levels. For more information, please read the in-depth letter here.


Q: Does it really make a difference to get screenplay consulting?

A: Of course, we believe it does! The fact is, getting your screenplay de-bugged of all the reasons readers reject screenplays, puts you in the top ten percentile of screenplays submitted to the industry. In other words, it gives you’re a 90% advantage over the competition! But besides that, working with screenplay consultants makes you a better writer and teaches you how to analyze your own material better – which is an invaluable tool in and of itself!

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