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Reading of scripts
You have invested ample time, blood, sweat and tears in writing the story of your dreams.
Now it's time for payoff and reward and to turn the potential of your story into profit.
There is only one thing you need to know. Not whether or not your writing is good or bad, but whether your story works or not.
It is vital to find out whether or not your screenplay for a film, stageplay or novel works.
A kind word from your mother or best friend is not going to get a producer, director or anyone to invest their time and money in your story if it does not promise a return on their investment.
Writing a story is a business and you are investing in your talent.
It could mean the end of your story and your career as a writer if you hand poorly written and undeveloped writing over to producers, directors or potential investors.
The Writing Studio will give you the guarantee that your script works and explore the strengths and weaknesses of your story objectively.
The evaluation/ reader's report will be added advantage when producers/ investors show interest in your concept/ premise and need to evaluate the status of your draft.
Your reader
Celebrated film and theatre journalist of 30 years, Daniel Dercksen, created the leading independent training initiative The Writing Studio 15 years ago. Graduates include award-winning playwrights Neil Coppen (Abnormal Loads) and Jeremeo Le Cordeur (February 14th), filmmakers John Barker (Bunny Chow and How To Steal a Million) and Henk Pretorius (Bakgat, Fanie Fourie Se Lobola), novelists Lauren Beukes (Zoo City) and Gary Hirson (The Magic That is Ours and Calm in Storm), and journalist/ publicist Kevin Kriedeman.
Daniel Dercksen is also a published playwright and screenwriter and has been presenting workshops in screenwriting, playwriting and creative writing since 1998. He is also a qualified ETD Practitioner (Education, Training and Development).
Read more about Daniel Dercksen Send Daniel an email
Copyright © 1998 - 2013 Daniel E. Dercksen/ The Writing Studio
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Evaluation fees and registration
A reader's report is a vital tool in selling your story
Why do I need a professional reader's report and not just a friendly nod from my mom or best friend?
Selling your writing
A screenplay is writing intended to be turned into film - just as a novel is written to be published, and plays are written to be staged.
A screenplay is not a complete work. There is no point in writing a screenplay if it isn't going to get produced.
A screenplay is a part of the package, the first element in the movie business.
Package: Some material: a book, screenplay, story outline, concept, a star actor, star director
The screenplay is an element in the deal.
Show business is a business.
Every film project starts with a bit of commerce and a bit of art.
The film process begins when someone working in development as a film studio or production company reads a wonderful screenplay.
Screenplays get read, optioned, bought, rewritten, rewritten, rewritten.
The reader and reader's report brings the value of the screenplay to the attention of a producer, development executive, who gives it to a production executive at a studio or a producer at a production company.
Once a deal is struck the production executive send the script to a director, who will hopefully agree to direct the script, then the script goes to stars and once a big enough start agrees to do the film, the studio agrees to fund the film, and words are turned into action.
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If you have completed the draft of a screenplay, or short film, stageplay, or manuscript for a novel, it is vital to find out whether or not it works. It could mean the end of your story and your career as a writer if you hand poorly written and undeveloped projects over to producers, directors, publishers or potential investors.
The Write Agency will give you the guarantee that your writing works or highlight problem areas that need to be reworked.
Scripts/ manuscripts can be submitted to be read and evaluated by Daniel E. Dercksen or a delegated reader
The evaluation/ reader's report will be added advantage when producers/ investors/ publishers show interest in your concept/ premise and need to evaluate the status of your draft.
A COMPREHENSIVE READERS REPORT WILL EXAMINE:
The reading experience: first impressions; was it dull, painful or exciting?
Command of subject matter: Does the writer know what he or she is writing about?
The premise and thematic purpose: Is it clear what the story is about and does it result in a meaningful and rewarding experience?
Film potential and audience: Will the screenplay make an exciting film? Is it clear who will want to see the film?
The appropriate medium: Is it suited to be filmed or will it work better as a stageplay, a novel, or TV series?
The characters: Are the roles and functions of the characters in the story well defined? Is the dialogue a function of character or stilted conversation?
The plot: Is the action or journey clear? What makes the journey exciting or dull?
Narrative style: Does the voice of the writer reflect the writer's experience, history and culture? Is the narrative visual and captivating?
THE COMPREHENSIVE READERS REPORT WILL RECOMMEND:
The script/ manuscript must be sent to E.R.: our emergency room for work that need to re-written and not ready for development. It needs to be reworked through one-on-one sessions, or cybertraining.
The script/ manuscript is ready for development: Minor surgery is needed and the work is ready to be submitted to the film/ publishing process.
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