Quoted from ajr Jeff, Also, there's a way to use positive quotes from negative or ambivalent coverage. Again, it's all about marketing - get the damn script in the door and get someone turning the pages...

Personally, I like coverage so I can put nice quotes on my leave behind poster.
Occasionally, I'll get a decent piece of advice in the comments.
But it's really about getting more sizzle on that image to market my script.

Many times, a request for coverage became a script request because of it.  
I carefully chose quotes to describe the flavor and arc of the story.
I would point out the coverage quotes on the poster to producers.
9 times out of 10, they read those quotes and don't want to see more coverage.

I also realize I'm lucky to have a talented partner to make the ZP poster.
But the theory still applies just fine to query letters and one pages to give folks.
Why not use those "reviews" like studios do to market their releases?

E.D.

Quoted from ajr To say that a production company will not read your script without positive coverage is untrue.

This is correct. Same applies to managers and agents. There might be some that request coverage, but it is not industry standard. I know plenty of writers who got read (and even repped) by sending out cold queries without any coverage attached.

You do not have to pay your way in.

What year are you guys talking about?

There are very, very few agencies, Prodcos, studios, etc. that are accepting any unsolicited scripts, period.

And there are plenty that are, Jeff.

I'll give you a weird example - I've queried CAA a number of times; different agents. Some have invited me to send the script, or have responded to me personally that their client is unavailable, and others have sent their "standard" letter from the submissions department that they as a company do not accept unsolicited material.

The point? If your query is interesting enough to breach the barrier - and this includes the subject line - it sometimes does not matter what "policy" is.

Agents and managers are more concerned about whether your project is funded nowadays...

Not long ago there was a thread about coverage at DoneDealPro. The cool thing is that people working in the industry joined the discussion.

http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=59905&

The whole thread is pretty interesting and sometimes brutally blunt, but only the first pages are about coverage.

I encourage everyone to check the opinion of the following posters:

Battledolphinzero: he's a Black List writer.

Todd Karate: he broke in years ago landing a blind script deal at Warner Brothers.

SbsScript: he's a manager at 6-17

Craig Mazin: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0563301/

michaelb: he's a manager at Industry Entertainment.

jcgary: repped writer and former pro reader with 10 years of experience at William Morris.

Quoted from Mr.Z Not long ago there was a thread about coverage at DoneDealPro. The cool thing is that people working in the industry joined the discussion. http://messageboard.donedealpro.com/boards/showthread.php?t=59905& The whole thread is pretty interesting and sometimes brutally blunt, but only the first pages are about coverage.

Thanks for the link, you writing demon you!
Scott the Reader seems like an interesting bloke.
I shot him an e-mail, that DoneDeal deal looks rather useful!

Regards,
E.D.

Three words: Craig Mazin rules!

"Just to put into light the comparison you just made. Do you know what the spec sale numbers are in the market now? Last year, something like 42 specs sold (for the year). I believe it was 4% of the scripts sent out around town.

In 1999, Warner Bros bought 87 specs (on their own). Something like 350 to 400 specs sold that year. "

Just 42 scripts sold a year!!!!

If that's true, it's just about pointless even trying.

Quoted from Scar Tissue Films "Just to put into light the comparison you just made. Do you know what the spec sale numbers are in the market now? Last year, something like 42 specs sold (for the year). I believe it was 4% of the scripts sent out around town. In 1999, Warner Bros bought 87 specs (on their own). Something like 350 to 400 specs sold that year. " Just 42 scripts sold a year!!!! If that's true, it's just about pointless even trying.

I gotta believe or I'll never have a chance of navigating that Hollywood asteroid field.

E.D.

Quoted from ajr Three words: Craig Mazin rules!

Yes he does.  Derek Haas is another.  

I'd recommend everyone spend sometime on Done Deal Pro and read the post of the writers actuallty working in the industry...and check out their blogs.

Ghost

And he's from Brooklyn, which probably has a good deal to do with why he rules...

And if he were from the Bronx, he'd be even better!    (Sorry, had to go for the borough-bias...)

But he's written a bunch of garbage!  What does he rule?  And why does he rule it?  And Brooklyn?  

I don't follow...

You linked Scream 4 here.  What's that got to do with Craig Mazan's writing credits?

Based on what I'm looking at, he's written the following...

Rocket Man
Senseless
Scary Movie 3
Scary Movie 4
Super Hero Movie
Hangover 2

Quoted from Dreamscale I don't follow... You linked Scream 4 here.  What's that got to do with Craig Mazan's writing credits? Based on what I'm looking at, he's written the following... Rocket Man Senseless Scary Movie 3 Scary Movie 4 Super Hero Movie Hangover 2

My mistake.   I've got to have my eyes checked.  

An apology is in order Dreamscale...

His so called garbage has grossed millions worldwide... for a reason.

Ghostie