Hollywood Script Coach

You've written a great script. Now what?

Hollywood may seem to be an impenetrable world with lots of gatekeepers there to tell you “no.” But the fact is that everyone in Hollywood – every agent, every executive, every producer – is looking for the next great script. Maybe you have that script and you need a little help to take it to the next level.

Get it Read, Get it Sold

Screenwriting Expo - 20% Discount on all services for a limited time.

 

About Us

You’ve written a great script. Or maybe you have a fresh story idea, but aren’t sure how to move forward. Now what?

Hollywood may seem to be an impenetrable world with lots of gatekeepers there to tell you “no.” But the fact is that everyone in Hollywood – every agent, every executive, every producer – is looking for the next great script. They stake their careers on their ability to find compelling stories, be it on YouTube or in a local newspaper. A great script can come from anyone and anywhere. As a mentor of mine always said, “In Hollywood, the script is the coin of the realm.” And in a business filled with sequels and remakes, it’s never been truer than it is today. We need new stories, especially from outside the system. Maybe you have that script and you need a little help to take it to the next level.

I’ve been a professional writer and director in Hollywood for over ten years. I’ve worked for Universal Studios, HBO, Showtime, CBS, FOX, MTV and various independent producers. When I started out, I had no connection to the film business. I figured it out through trial and error. I was blessed with a little luck and a number of important mentors along the way. I’d like to accelerate your success and help you avoid some of the pitfalls. I can give you feedback on an idea, a script, a pitch or a career path.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer who needs to streamline a pitch or you’re a “tyro scribe” who needs help with your premise, I can offer constructive feedback and brainstorm solutions with you.

Customized Approach

What sets this apart from other script consultations? Good question! An hour is too short to discuss everything and I want you to get the most you can from the session.

Once I’ve read your script, I e-mail you a list of ten questions which are specific to your script – its strengths and its weaknesses. I will also suggest relevant movies to watch, scripts to read – anything that might inspire your imagination. To get the most out of your one-hour consultation, answer the questions and email them back to me. And check out the suggested movies, scripts or books. It will give us a running start and a common creative language.

Script Evaluation

Are you ready to make writing more than a hobby? You’ve finished the script. You give it to friends to read. They like it, but something’s not quite working and they can’t identify it. And you’re too close to it to diagnose the problem. Maybe your inciting incident is weak or your hero is too passive. Maybe the second act drags in the middle. I’ll help you troubleshoot for your rewrite so you meet and exceed industry standards. They’ll only read it once. Make it count.

Extensive Script Development

You recognize that “writing is rewriting” – and the first draft of almost anything is filled with potholes. Beyond simply diagnosing the problems, I’ll help you brainstorm concrete solutions. After years of development in the trenches of Hollywood, I know what agents, managers and producers are looking for. I’ll roll up my sleeves and help you take your script to the next level.

Script Coverage

The big joke in Hollywood is that no one reads script, they read coverage. This service will give you a good idea of what that coverage will say. It will identify strengths and weaknesses in your script, as well as its commercial viability. Take a test run with your script here before you send it out professionally.

Pitch Consultation & Training

You’re riding the elevator with the President of Dreamworks and you’ve got 30 seconds to pitch your idea. Do you have a hook? A logline? Is it a star vehicle? Do you understand the rules of your genre? The ability to pitch is what separates writers who work from those who don’t. And it’s a muscle that needs to be developed and refined. Are you prepared?

Idea Development

If you’re like me, you get new ideas for movies every day. Which ones are worth pursuing and which ones will run out of steam after 20 pages? Save yourself time and aggravation by talking them through before you commit six months to a year writing a script.

Career Counseling

Plotting a move to Los Angeles? Trying to decide whether to take that low-paying job in the mailroom? It all depends what your endgame is – and what path is best suited to your personality. It’s worth talking it through before you pack up the U-Haul.