HBL Creative

Are you an aspiring writer who wants to improve your draft?

You need notes. You need detailed notes.

But here’s the thing: Not all feedback is created equal. And bad script notes can be worse than no notes at all.

What is a Script Consultant?

Script consultants are experienced script readers and professional screenwriters whose sole purpose is improving your draft. They will read your script, they will take notes and most importantly they will work to get your vision on the page.

Are Script Doctors the same thing?

Not quite. A script doctor is a wildly successful screenwriter (think Oscar-winner) who is hired to re-write, improve or punch-up an existing screenplay. Production companies usually bring a script doctor on late in the development process to target a specific weakness in the script, like dialogue, period details or action sequences.

Why do I need a script consultant?

When you hire a script consultant (also sometimes called a story analyst or screenplay consultant) you are paying a professional screenwriter who is well versed in the development process to provide expert script analysis on your feature film, tv series, spec scripts, or short film screenplay. They offer notes on story structure, character development, tone, plot, dialogue, theme, visual appeal and pacing. You should find the feedback extremely helpful. When you ask non-writers for feedback, you will not.

Sure, it saves you money. But it wastes your valuable time and can really muck up your creative process. Advice from people outside the entertainment industry can be misleading and often difficult to decode. These well-meaning readers have little understanding of the craft, the market or the standards of the film industry. New writers often receive free advice from family and then face their next draft more confused than ever.

You need clarity not confusion.

When Do I Need A Script Consultant?

You know the feeling… You have a script that needs a little something to reach the next level.

You’ve been writing your heart out, pouring your soul into every image and every line of dialogue. The screenplay is your calling card. This script is your big break. It’s time to send it out to a production company, agent or major studio. But is it ready?

OR

You’re fresh out of film school. You’ve got a killer story clanking around your skull. A real crunchy character, snippets of delicious dialogue, you even have full scenes playing on loop in your brain. But you can’t seem to get it down on paper. Where do you begin?

OR

You’ve written 4 drafts. You’ve gone back and forth with your producers. Something’s still not working and you feel like you’ve hit a concrete wall. What’s the problem?

What to expect from your Script Consultant.

Most script consultants will commit to reading your feature screenplay carefully at least once through to the final page. Many will make notes directly in the screenplay. Some will provide a detailed feedback report, noting its strengths and weaknesses. Others will offer a discussion of your scripts, guiding you towards a final draft.

It’s not a one size fits all situation. Every script and every screenwriter needs something different. A good screenplay consultant is in your corner. She’s there to serve the story.

A good script consultant won’t just point out flaws and weaknesses. She’ll see what’s working and help you expand on your strengths. She’ll offer solutions and ideas. She’ll ask questions that make you really think. She’ll inspire you to keep on writing.

Truth is, writing is a lonely business. Sometimes it’s hard to know if what you’ve written makes sense to others. Sometimes you need to talk your ideas through with a writer who is completely unattached. Sometimes you need a pep talk from a working professional. And sometimes you just need a swift kick in the ass.

Whatever it is your script needs, a script consultant will provide. Her job is to get your vision on the page and make it work.