As the UK’s busiest script consultant and scriptwriter for hire – my UK Script Coverage Service is one of the most popular in the UK and certainly the most in-depth – my reports contain around 15 pages of business aspects advice as standard – including advice on agents and how to approach them.
Recently, a number of UK literary agents have started asking new scriptwriters for an industry introduction letter or a written introduction from someone in the industry. This is something that I have done in the past for clients who have used my UK script reading service
An industry introduction letter
Now, before we all get carried away – I don’t do this for all clients – not every scriptwriter who hires me to read and evaluate their script will get a letter (or offer of a letter of introduction) – the scriptwriter’s work has to be up to what I consider industry standard before I will offer a written introduction or vouch for their talents as a new scriptwriter – writers falling short of professional standard will, instead be able to take away my detailed script report and use my recommendations to improve their work – so that they may up the standard.
Of course, an industry recommendation doesn’t guarantee anything – agents may take note when a script arrives with the recommendation of a noted scriptwriter – I’m BAFTA shortlisted and Royal Television Society Nominated as a scriptwriter and have over 200 hours of broadcast TV to my name – but even my vouching for a promising new writer doesn’t mean that an agent will read your script – it can’t hurt, but in itself, it doesn’t mean the agent will be more disposed to reading your script or taking you on as a writer – indeed – the agent in question might not be taking anyone on, or even reading at all.
Written introduction to an literary agent
Still, with all the variables in place – a solid recommendations from a script consultant is a good thing to include when you approach agents – and is yet another reason why you should use my service, rather than one of the faceless reading factories – you wouldn’t get recommendation from an anonymous reader would you?
Out of every 100 scripts I read (and I read and report on four or five scripts per week – in-between my work as a script writer for hire and director) I will only recommend maybe 4 or 5 scripts. Yes, that 4/5 scripts per 100 read, and that’s slightly generous for an industry reader – so the competition is fierce – for agents, for work and for a rapidly declining market for scripted comedy or drama in the UK.
If you work cuts it – I’m happy to add my endorsement – and you can’t ask for more than that. Have a look at my UK Script Coverage Service and get in touch.
You can trust me, I’m a Doctor, well a Script Doctor at least.
Matthew Cooper has been a script writer for hire 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 directorial debut, the rubber reality horror thriller ‘Markham’ was released in 2020, his second feature film as director ‘At The Mountains Of Madness’ hit the screen in 2021. You can find out more about Matthew’s work as a director here.
You can find some of his broadcast credits on the IMDb. Matthew is also a judge in the Page Turner Awards 2022.