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'''Script coverage''' is a [[filmmaking]] term for the analysis and grading of [[screenplay]]s, often within the "script development" department of a [[production company]].<ref>Hauge, M. (2011). Writing Screenplays That Sell, New Twentieth Anniversary Edition: The Complete Guide to Turning Story Concepts into Movie and Television Deals. Harper Collins.</ref> While coverage may remain entirely oral, it usually takes the form of a written report, guided by a [[Rubric (academic)|rubric]] that varies from company to company.<ref>Field, S. (2005). Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting. Delta.</ref> Criteria include, but are not limited to:
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'''Script coverage''' is a [[filmmaking]] term for the analysis and grading of [[screenplay]]s, often within the "script development" department of a [[production company]].
While coverage may remain entirely verbal, it usually takes the form of a written report, guided by a [[Rubric (academic)|rubric]] that varies from company to company. Criteria includes, but is not limited to:
* INDENTIFICATIONIdentification: Title, Author, Type of Material, Locale, [[Genre]].
* LOGLINE[[Log line|Logline]]: A one sentence summary.
* COMMENTComment SUMMARYsummary: A paragraph summary of the analysis.
* GRADEGrade: ''Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor'' for categories that include characterization, premise, storyline, production values, dialogue and more.
* SYNOPSISSynopsis: Summary of plot: 1-31–3 pages depending on script quality.
* BUDGETBudget: The script reader's estimated budget.
* Analysis
* ANALYSIS.
==The Script Timelinetimeline==
Script coverage is the summary and analysis of a script's plot and writing quality, used by production companies to track film and TV screenplays. Coverage consists of a number of elements. The first is a 1-to-2-page synopsis of the script's story highlighting the main characters and events of the tale. The second is a subjective review of the piece (typical length of which could range anywhere from 1 sentence, in short-form contest coverage, to 2 or 3 pages) which assesses the effectiveness of the screenplay's various components—including its concept, story structure, story development, characters, dialogue, and writing style—and points out its strong points and problem areas.<ref>Lerch, J. (1999). 500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader: Writing the Screenplay the Reader Will Recommend. Fireside.</ref>
The evaluation ends with a recommendation from the analyst as to what he/she feels the production entity should do with the script. This recommendation usually employs 1 of 3 terms:
• * '''Pass :''' : This means that theThe reader feels that the script fails to make the grade in most areas and that the production entity should not proceed with it. ▼Script coverage consists of a number of elements. The first is a 1 to 2 page synopsis of the script’s story highlighting the main characters and events of the tale. The second is a review of the piece (running from 2 to 10 pages) that assesses the effectiveness of the screenplay’s various components—including its concept, story structure, story development, characters, dialogue, and writing style—and points out its strong points and problem areas. Following the review is a 1 to 2 paragraph final evaluation that assesses the script’s overall creative success or failure, its suitability for production (by taking into consideration factors such as whether or not the lead roles can be filled with bankable actors and whether or not the scope and scale of the piece will allow it to be produced on a reasonable budget), and its commercial viability (by taking into account factors such as likely box office and home video potential as well as marketing and merchandising possibilities). The evaluation ends with a recommendation from the analyst as to what he/she feels the production entity should do with the script. This recommendation usually employs 1 of 3 terms:
• * '''Consider :''' : This means that theThe reader feels that the script has a considerable number of strong points and is good enough to proceed with, while acknowledging that it has a number of significant problems that need to be successfully solved before the piece can be considered suitable for production. ▼• * '''Recommend :''' : This means that theThe reader feels that the script is extremely strong in all respects and that the production entity should proceed with it without reservation. ▼
When completed, the synopsis, review, and evaluation are assembled and fronted with a cover page that lists the script’sscript's vital information ( the author’sauthor's name, thestory genre of the story, the time and locations in which it takes place in, the length of the script, etc.) and contains a brief summary of the story and the review. The cover page usually containsincludes a checklist in which the script’sscript's various aspects are rated on a scale ranging from poor to excellent. Finally, the cover page highlights the analyst’sanalyst's ultimate recommendation. ▼▲• '''Pass:''' This means that the reader feels that the script fails to make the grade in most areas and that the production entity should not proceed with it.
Although script coverage is a tool used primarily by motion picture production entities, it is sometimes used by screenwriting competitions as a way of separating "wheat from chaff. " The coverage done for script competitions is usually simpler than that done for production companies—substitutingcompanies — substituting a logline (a brief 1 or 2 line summary of the story) for the synopsis and simplifying the assessment—oftenassessment — often employing only the checklist rating of the script’sscript's various aspects. ▼
In addition to production entities and screenwriting competitions, a number of independent services employ a roster of veteran script analysts to provide professional-level coverage for screenwriters who wish to see how their scripts will be received by the industry. This gives the writers a chance to identify and resolve problems before submitting them to production entities. ▼▲• '''Consider:''' This means that the reader feels that the script has a considerable number of strong points and is good enough to proceed with, while acknowledging that it has a number of significant problems that need to be successfully solved before the piece can be considered suitable for production.
In recent years, advancements in artificial intelligence have given rise to AI-powered script coverage services{{opinion|date=September 2024}}
▲• '''Recommend:''' This means that the reader feels that the script is extremely strong in all respects and that the production entity should proceed with it without reservation.
▲When completed, the synopsis, review, and evaluation are assembled and fronted with a cover page that lists the script’s vital information (the author’s name, the genre of the story, the time and locations it takes place in, the length of the script, etc.) and contains a brief summary of the story and the review. The cover page usually contains a checklist in which the script’s various aspects are rated on a scale ranging from poor to excellent. Finally, the cover page highlights the analyst’s ultimate recommendation.
(On occasion, script analysts will also write a set of notes—several pages of suggestions as to how to improve the script and fix its specific problems—although this is a separate task from preparing coverage and is usually done by an independent script consultant or by members of the production entity’s development staff rather than by a reader).
▲Although script coverage is a tool used primarily by motion picture production entities, it is sometimes used by screenwriting competitions as a way of separating wheat from chaff. The coverage done for script competitions is usually simpler than that done for production companies—substituting a logline (a brief 1 or 2 line summary of the story) for the synopsis and simplifying the assessment—often employing only the checklist rating of the script’s various aspects.
▲In addition to production entities and screenwriting competitions, a number of independent services employ a roster of veteran script analysts to provide professional-level coverage for screenwriters who wish to see how their scripts will be received by the industry. This gives the writers a chance to identify and resolve problems before submitting them to production entities.
<p>
==Issues in coverage==
=== Economy of the script === ▼
By the very nature of summarizing a complicated plot, the coverage will not include every plot twist and subplot. Some characters will be omitted, or only briefly introduced for the sake of brevity. In order to decide on what will stay and what will go, the character and actions must support the main plot, and ultimately the premise of the story. Scripts whichthat are not economical , and include peripheral characters, scenes, and storylines that do not support character or plot development do not affect their motivation, and therefore can be omitted from the coverage. In this manner, well-written scripts may have longer synopsisessynopses than poorly - written scripts whichwith havea lotslot of extraneous action. ▼▲=== Economy of the script ===
==References==
▲By the very nature of summarizing a complicated plot, the coverage will not include every plot twist and subplot. Some characters will be omitted, or briefly introduced for the sake of brevity. In order to decide on what will stay and what will go, the character and actions must support the main plot, and ultimately the premise of the story. Scripts which are not economical, and include peripheral characters, scenes, and storylines that do not support character or plot development do not affect their motivation, and therefore can be omitted from the coverage. In this manner, well-written scripts may have longer synopsises than poorly-written scripts which have lots of extraneous action.
{{Reflist}}
[[Category: Film productionFilmmaking]] ▼=== Formatting ===
[[Category:Screenwriting]]
Different agencies will have different formatting preferences, but usually the first time a character is introduced, as in traditional screenplay formatting, it is CAPITALIZED. In addition, in a "shooting script" that is meant for the development or production process (as opposed to a "spec" or "submission" script), any abrubt changes in ___location and tone are sometimes described with a CUT TO:, as in screenplays.
==Controversy==
Any sort of rating system is prone to failure or ineffectiveness by all parties involved. ''Script coverage'' may suffer from the regular problematics of [[bureaucracy|bureaucracies]] as well as a system of reportage that is too removed from the actual material at hand. The internal rules of a production company are thus taken into play: the search for new material is often side-tracked by a tendency towards familiar material and safer genres.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
On the writer's side, a thorough knowledge of the business of production and script coverage mechanisms, may yield a screenplay that has been tailored for acceptance rather than fresh ideas.
The above controversy assumes that production companies and script readers are seeking fresh ideas, which is commonly not the case. ''Script coverage'' makes reading easier, and is popularly a business venture. On the other hand, the aforementioned conclusion about tailor-made screenplays have been seen as [[reactionary]] because formulaic scripts are not the fault of the film industry, but of screenwriters who are looking towards formula for acceptance by production elements, instead of fresh ideas and creative writing.
▲[[Category:Film production]]
==External links==
*[http://www.abbotmanagement.com/screenplaycoverage.php Abbot Screenplay Management's reader rubric - the six essentials of a covergaes comments / suggestions.]
* [http://www.myscriptneedshelp.com My Script Needs Help! A resource for those in need of script coverage & analysis]
*[http://scriptflea.com - A resource for those who need script coverage a assistance selling their script to Hollywood.]
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