Comments on: How do you get a gig as a script reader? http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/ Wed, 25 Nov 2009 01:39:26 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: dianejwright http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51416 dianejwright Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:14:41 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51416 Doh. Messed up my code... That's supposed to read, "written up a little how-to on <a href="http://onestorytwostory.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-be-script-reader-and-give-great.html" rel="nofollow">THE STORY SPOT</a>." Sorry 'bout that. /diane Doh. Messed up my code…

That’s supposed to read, "written up a little how-to on THE STORY SPOT."

Sorry ’bout that.
/diane

]]> By: dianejwright http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51415 dianejwright Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:12:26 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51415 I'm a story consultant and, though I don't do coverage much any more, get asked this question frequently enough to have written up a little how-to on <a href="http://onestorytwostory.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-be-script-reader-and-give-great.html" rel="nofollow">. My first question to the wide-eyed, impressionable youth is, "do you have any idea how much you'll get paid?" The $40-$80/per script usually is enough to put them off. Then, if they're inexplicably still interested, I send them off to do some homework. The good news is that reading pile after pile can make for a quick and experienced eye. The same gig taught <em>me</em> that writers and scripts worth considering are immediately recognizable most of the time. I say good luck to the lad and hats off. /diane http://story.fatbrain.ca [[ THE STORY SPOT -- where writers spark ]]</a> I’m a story consultant and, though I don’t do coverage much any more, get asked this question frequently enough to have written up a little how-to on .

My first question to the wide-eyed, impressionable youth is, "do you have any idea how much you’ll get paid?" The $40-$80/per script usually is enough to put them off. Then, if they’re inexplicably still interested, I send them off to do some homework. The good news is that reading pile after pile can make for a quick and experienced eye. The same gig taught me that writers and scripts worth considering are immediately recognizable most of the time.

I say good luck to the lad and hats off.
/diane
http://story.fatbrain.ca [[ THE STORY SPOT -- where writers spark ]]

]]> By: gishgali http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51384 gishgali Wed, 09 Jul 2008 23:32:49 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51384 There are a couple of realistic ways to become a script reader that don't involve sexual favors. First, you can take an internship at a production company. It is illegal to do this without getting school credit, but there are ways around it. You can just ask each company if they are willing to risk it, some still are. Also, if you are a California resident, it doesn't cost much per credit at Santa Monica Comunity College, and they were willing to set up a program for me. To be honest, they gave me the school credit slip right off the bat, so I never bothered to pay for the credits. The signed slip from Santa Monica CC is enough to cover the production company from getting in trouble. The other way to get a job is to do a couple of great sample coverages, get a Hollywood Creative Directory and start calling every production company in there offering your services. CAA hires a ton of readers, but you will probably need someone to recommend you for that. There are a couple of realistic ways to become a script reader that don’t involve sexual favors.

First, you can take an internship at a production company. It is illegal to do this without getting school credit, but there are ways around it. You can just ask each company if they are willing to risk it, some still are. Also, if you are a California resident, it doesn’t cost much per credit at Santa Monica Comunity College, and they were willing to set up a program for me. To be honest, they gave me the school credit slip right off the bat, so I never bothered to pay for the credits. The signed slip from Santa Monica CC is enough to cover the production company from getting in trouble.

The other way to get a job is to do a couple of great sample coverages, get a Hollywood Creative Directory and start calling every production company in there offering your services. CAA hires a ton of readers, but you will probably need someone to recommend you for that.

]]> By: johndarko http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51379 johndarko Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:45:12 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51379 I refuse to give out handjobs for a career in script reading. Lol. If you happen to be a writer and need some exposure, start a blog, offer decent content then literally go out and tell everyone about it. Also, open an imdb pro account and post to the message boards, you'll be surprised how many producers and agents look for projects through that site. I refuse to give out handjobs for a career in script reading. Lol. If you happen to be a writer and need some exposure, start a blog, offer decent content then literally go out and tell everyone about it. Also, open an imdb pro account and post to the message boards, you’ll be surprised how many producers and agents look for projects through that site.

]]> By: Annika Barranti http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51335 Annika Barranti Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:42:54 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51335 Damn right, beopenguin. I only give blowjobs in the front seat. Damn right, beopenguin. I only give blowjobs in the front seat.

]]> By: frazgo http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51334 frazgo Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:16:02 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51334 Damn and I thought it was hard getting a gallery to pay attention to an artist in this town. Damn and I thought it was hard getting a gallery to pay attention to an artist in this town.

]]> By: beopenguin http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51330 beopenguin Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:36:20 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51330 Hmmm...This is how the people I know who did coverage or ended up in development. 1.) Craigslist. Unfortunately, the not the film gig section you're thinking. 2.) Being the child of somebody successful/famous. 3.) Dad runs the studio 4.) Stalked the head of development and blew him in the back seat of his car. (Disclaimer: This person's name is not Annika Barranti) 5.) Gave a handjob to the VP of Production on a Southwest flight. That's right kids, welcome to the glamorous film biz. Hmmm…This is how the people I know who did coverage or ended up in development.
1.) Craigslist. Unfortunately, the not the film gig section you’re thinking.
2.) Being the child of somebody successful/famous.
3.) Dad runs the studio
4.) Stalked the head of development and blew him in the back seat of his car. (Disclaimer: This person’s name is not Annika Barranti)
5.) Gave a handjob to the VP of Production on a Southwest flight.

That’s right kids, welcome to the glamorous film biz.

]]> By: Annika Barranti http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51328 Annika Barranti Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:28:31 +0000 http://la.metblogs.com/2008/07/08/how-do-you-get-a-gig-as-a-script-reader/#comment-51328 I don't have an answer to the main question (I got my job as a script reader by sleeping with the Director of Development) but I must say that while it is a terrible job with appalling pay, the more scripts you read, the better a script you can write. So I do think it's a good job for an aspiring writer, but only if they internalize it--but not too much--rather than expecting it to open doors. I don’t have an answer to the main question (I got my job as a script reader by sleeping with the Director of Development) but I must say that while it is a terrible job with appalling pay, the more scripts you read, the better a script you can write. So I do think it’s a good job for an aspiring writer, but only if they internalize it–but not too much–rather than expecting it to open doors.

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