There are tons of script consultant services online, for a writer needing an objective eye on their screenplay, a hiring a script consultant to do a script report is a good idea, but with all these people offering these services online. How do you choose who to go with?
Well, it’s pretty simple. First you need to check what you know about the person who will be reading and offering a critique of your script.
The first question should be; DO YOU ACTUALLY KNOW who will be reviewing your script? There are companies that outsource script reports on an industrial scale. Your script could be read and evaluated by someone who has LESS experience than YOU if you’re not careful. So buyers beware on that one.
Secondly, there are individuals who read and evaluate scripts. Again, you can find plenty of these people online. That’s a good start, being able to put a face to the name of the person reading your script. BUT, what experience do they have? Always check the IMDb. Do these people have actual credits as a script writer, producer or script editor/script consultant? If they don’t… Avoid them like the plague.
The IMBd is a great leveller. Credits need to be from real broadcasters or on real actual films and TV shows. You can find my broadcast credits on the IMDb. People who don’t have credits or don’t have credits in a field to do with script consultancy are simply not legit. Worst still, are people with an IMDb page – but no credits at all. That’s someone trying to look legit, but the lack of credits screams AMATUER…
Another thing to look for, are script consultant credits on films and TV that have actually got MADE. That means, the producers valued the script consultants’ input enough to list them in the credits (The film may have only got made because of the help and advice of the script consultant themselves).So, while you’re deciding who to choose, these points are ones to consider.
Or you could just cut to the chase (literally) and hire me.
Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire, UK Script editor and script doctor 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. He’s also a leading UK script consultant. You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb. You can get in touch with Matthew on matcoop23@yahoo.co.uk or hire him on Peopleperhour
His directorial debut, the rubber reality horror thriller Markham will be released in 2020.