As a script writer for hire and script consultant I’ve been busy during lockdown as producers, directors, writers and wannabe scriptwriters sent screenplays in for my script coverage services and script report service.
When I’m asked to report on a script or do script coverage, I usually start with a straight read offering detailed page by page notes as I make my way through the script.
I also, make suggestions for improvements, offer ideas, and when something doesn’t work I’ll give context, examples and explain why it needs to be changed.
After reading the script I’ll report on specific areas of the script that troubled me, again, I’ll try to give help, ideas, and solutions.
In most script reports and coverage documents I’ll also suggest the next steps for the writer. This might include direct recommendations to films to watch, books to read, or TV shows to catch up with and take learning’s from.
And, as standard, in all my script reports I offer industry, insider knowledge – on the market, and specific advice on how a career in screenwriting really works. Some of this advice is eye-opening to industry outsiders. This part of my report is anecdotally very, very popular and covers the brass tacks, and the ins and outs of how a screenwriting career (in the UK especially) really works.
Many years ago I taught screenwriting for the UK Film Council, I ran a 12 month intensive course in Leeds. One of the lessons I gave was about the career path of a script writer – how to get an agent, and how to get a regular gig as a script writer. At the time I taught the course, I’d just finished a four year stint, back-to-back on Emmerdale, Eastenders and Family Affairs. A huge learning experience from both a writing point of view, and an education in the business of being of pro scriptwriter.
I decided, to write up what I learned in that four year stint and create a document that students could take away.
Years later, that document become the UK Soap Opera Script Writers Handbook, and I briefly self published the 100+page document on Amazon Kindle – where it proved ridiculously popular.
At the moment I’m offering the document free of charge to anyone contacting me a script report or script coverage. This so far, is proving extremely popular. So if you’re looking at a career as a soap opera script writer, get in touch today.
Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire, UK Script editor and UK script consultant for over 20 years. He’s written for most of the UK soaps, including writing award winning episodes of Emmerdale, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs and has been BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society nominated as a script writer. His UK script coverage service and script development service are highly sought after.
You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb. You can contact Matthew directly to purchase his ebook The UK Soap Opera Script Writers Handbook.
His directorial debut, the rubber reality horror thriller Markham will be released in 2020. You can find out more about Matthew’s work as a director here.
You can get in touch with Matthew on matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk.