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EntertainmentIndustry.name
The reader writes and submits coverage — basically a synopsis of the story, an analysis of the key elements and a recommendation to either “Pass,” “Consider” or “Recommend” either the screenplay and/or the screenwriter.
A “recommend” is rare, but that is when the reader is willing to put their reputation and relationship on the line to vouch for the strength of the script or the writer. Obviously, they’ve got to really love the material or writing as they are recommending that the production company either buy or option the script with an eye to producing it and/or bring the writer in to interview for any open writing assignments or to pitch their other projects.
A reader can recommend a writer but not the script (maybe the idea is marginal but the writing style is excellent) or the script but not the writer (maybe the idea is really high concept but poorly executed and they’re recommending another writer be brought in to make it pop) — or best, both.
A weaker (but still coveted) commitment is a “consider,” which, as the term implies, the reader thinks there’s sufficient potential to warrant the production company or hiring entity taking the time to read the script themselves for development consideration.
Most often, most scripts are given a “pass” for a whole host of reasons, the most obvious of which being not understanding the format or the craft, weak or predictable characters, dialogue or structure, and so on. These scripts aren’t even read by (or often even returned to) the production company or studio.
Some scripts aren’t read past page ten. There is the infamous 30/10 read where a reader will read the first act and flip to the climax to race through coverage of a bad script (figuring everything in between is so predictable, they can guess — or gloss over it). There are readers who have narrowed that down to the 10/10 (first and last ten pages if they aren’t engaged — think book reports in high school).
Unfortunately, whichever ranking you and your script receive, it automatically goes into a tracking system and it’s very hard to get anyone to re-consider the project or you if the coverage was really bad. Some writers try changing the title, character names and so on — but this is very easily caught — and ill advised unless a complete overhaul has been completed. Far better to start from scratch with a new project — and spend more time getting it right.
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