Download Article
Break down a screenplay with this in-depth analysis
Download Article
If you’re wondering if a screenplay is ready to be made into a movie, getting script coverage is one of the first steps in the development process. Coverage provides studios with a brief summary of a script and analyzes what works on the page and what doesn’t. Because script coverage helps film execs decide what to make and who to work with, it’s really important for the documents to be concise and to the point. Whether you’re a writer looking for coverage or an aspiring script reader, we’ve got everything you need to get started. Keep reading to learn what script coverage is, how to write it, and where to submit your screenplays.
Steps
Section 2 of 4:
Writing Script Coverage
Download Article
-
Read through the script. Try to read the script all in one sitting so you stay focused. As you’re reading, jot down important characters and plot points, but avoid taking a lot of notes on the story so you don’t interrupt your flow. Take about 1 minute per page so you finish your read-through within 1–2 hours. Once you finish reading, dive right into writing your coverage while the script is fresh in your mind.
-
Include the script’s information on the cover page. At the top of the first page, list the name of the script, the screenwriter’s name, and how many pages the actual screenplay was. If there are any actors or directors attached to the screenplay, then be sure to list them as well. You may also list the genre of the script as well as information about who submitted it. You may also list your name so whoever reads the coverage knows that you wrote it. [2] X Research source
- Title: Back to the Future
Writers: Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale
Page Count: 147 pgs
Genre: Sci-Fi
Submitted by: John Doe
Coverage by: Bob Jones
- Title: Back to the Future
-
Write a 1–2 sentence logline of the screenplay’s premise. Loglines are a brief summary of the script’s central plot to help hook readers. Some screenwriters will provide a logline for their script that you’re able to use in your coverage. If you have to write your own logline, mention the main character, the inciting incident that drives the plot, and what the character is trying to achieve. Try to keep your logline between 25–50 words. [3] X Research source
- For Back to the Future , the logline could be, “When a high school student accidentally goes 30 years into the past in a time-traveling DeLorean, he must work with an eccentric scientist to get back home while playing matchmaker for his parents.”
- For Jaws , the logline may be, “When a killer shark terrorizes a small beach town, the local sheriff must team up with a marine biologist and old fisherman to hunt it down.”
- For The Hangover , your logline could be, “When 3 groomsmen can’t find the groom-to-be after a drunken bachelor party, they must retrace their steps through Las Vegas to find him.”
-
Retell the main plot of the story with a 1–2 page synopsis. Rather than repeating every beat of the plot, try to summarize the script’s main ideas and major plot points a reader needs to understand what’s happening. Use the present tense, and write from a third-person perspective to recount the plot points. Be sure to cover the inciting incident that sets the plot in motion, the big events that alter the characters’ lives, the climax, and the resolution.
- When you first introduce a character or location, put the name in all caps so it stands out from the rest of the synopsis.
- If the plot is confusing or doesn’t make sense, avoid filling in the gaps with what you think happened. Only summarize what was actually written in the screenplay.
- Try to avoid covering subplots and minor characters unless they connect and have a big impact later in the main storyline.
-
Critique what does and doesn’t work with ½–1 page of comments. Start with a paragraph summarizing all of the script’s strengths and weaknesses you want to address. Focus on aspects like the concept, story, characters, dialogue, and visuals. Try to be as specific as possible about what parts of the script you liked and what still needs work. Some questions to keep in mind when you’re writing your commentary are: [4] X Research source
- Concept: Is the story idea unique and memorable? Does the script fulfill the intention it’s trying to achieve? Do subplots add to or detract from the main storyline?
- Story Structure: Do the story events build at a good pace? Does it feel like scenes are missing or going on too long? Are the events in the plot easy or difficult to follow?
- Characters: Are the characters compelling or interesting to you? Do the characters have goals they’re motivated toward achieving? Do the characters go through meaningful and believable changes throughout the script?
- Dialogue: Does the dialogue sound natural like a real conversation? Does the dialogue match the tone of each character? Do the characters over-explain the plot?
- Action/Visuals: Are the script’s action blocks concise and easy to visualize? Are there any elaborate locations or action pieces that would be difficult to achieve during production? Will people be interested in seeing the script as a movie?
-
Fill out a rating grid to score individual aspects of the script. The rating grid helps you score parts of the script to mark if they were excellent, good, fair, or poor so someone reading your coverage knows what works and what doesn’t at a glance. Put a mark in the appropriate box on the grid for each category based on your thoughts and commentary. While the categories on a rating grid may vary between different coverage documents, the common categories are: [5] X Research source
- Characters
- Dialogue
- Plot
- Setting
- Story structure
- Theme or concept
- Writing ability
- Budget
-
Give a recommendation on the script based on your critique. The standard recommendations for script coverage are “recommend,” “consider,” and “pass.” Look through your commentary and the rating grid you filled out, and decide if the script would be ready to shoot. If everything about the script was excellent, then “recommend” it to show that it’s ready for production. If there are minor issues that need some adjustments but the concept or writing was strong, then put “consider.” If there are a lot of areas that could use improvement in the script, then “pass” on it to show that it’s not ready. [6] X Research source
- Most scripts you write coverage for will be “considered” or “passed.” Only give out a “recommend” if the script really wowed you.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- Read a lot of scripts in your free time and write sample coverage of them to continue honing your craft.Thanks
- Proofread your script to make sure everything is spelled correctly and flows smoothly before you submit it for coverage.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Name
Please provide your name and last initial
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about script writing, check out our in-depth interview with Melessa Sargent .
References
- ↑ https://nofilmschool.com/what-is-script-coverage
- ↑ https://nofilmschool.com/what-is-script-coverage
- ↑ https://screencraft.org/blog/the-simple-guide-to-writing-a-logline/
- ↑ https://screencraft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ICM-Script-Coverage-Overview.pdf
- ↑ https://screencraft.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ICM-Script-Coverage-Overview.pdf
- ↑ https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/script-coverage-guide/
- ↑ https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/script-coverage-guide/
- ↑ https://screencraft.org/blog/how-to-become-a-hollywood-script-reader/
- ↑ https://screencraft.org/blog/how-to-become-a-hollywood-script-reader/
- ↑ https://www.coverfly.com/x/
- ↑ https://www.wescreenplay.com/coverage/
- ↑ https://blcklst.com/register
- ↑ http://www.storypros.com/Services.html
- ↑ https://bulletproofscreenwriting.tv/script-coverage-service/
- ↑ https://screencraft.org/notes/
- ↑ https://www.shorescripts.com/screenplay-coverage/
- ↑ https://coverageink.com/standard-analysis/
- ↑ https://tblaunchpad.com/coverage/
- ↑ https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/our-script-coverage-services/
- ↑ https://industrialscripts.com/script-coverage-services/
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,492 times.
Advertisement
