Anyone else hear of this site? Signed up a week ago. It reminds me a lot of Triggerstreet from back in the day. You get credits for each review -- when you start, you have to read and review assigned screenplays, which can be features, shorts or TV pilots. There is somewhat of a vetting process. Your script can only receive a full review if it passes a 15-page review/assessment, which is also done by other members. It does suck that, when you start off, you can't really read and review what you want. And even though there's a vetting process, some of the scripts are still very poorly written and very hard to get through. Though I was lucky enough to read one that was actually really good. With the credits you earn, you can purchase reviews -- if you want a review within a certain time frame, it costs more credits.

Sounds pretty cool. Gonna check it out.

Thanks for sharing this resource!

Is there any sort of oversight after the initial vetting process? Like can I just get through the vetting process and then throw lazy reviews at everything in sight to earn credits quickly? Also, whats the ratio look like for how many scripts you read to earning enough to get a review yourself?

You can probably "purchase" 1 review per read -- different scripts offer different amounts of points. Obviously, features offer you the most points, sometimes 20 or over. You get 4 points for reviewing someone's 1st pages (you have the choice of approving the script to be eligible for a full review). There's also different rules for features vs shorts vs TV pilots. Features, you're required to give your version of a log line, a 200 word summary of the script then 350 words for the review. So you're kinda forced to give a proper review, which is nice. Though I'm not really sure how active the members on there are. I purchased 2 reviews (14 points each to get a review w/ in 2 days) and it's been 2 days and no reviews.

Interesting approach.

I did something like this years ago _ I can't remember the site. I was engaged at first but for some reason petered out.

I just looked at it... the website is not too user friendly. Offends my eye. Then again, I didn't sign up yet.

I read a couple of really, really good scripts on Trigger Street. I don't think anything ever came of them. And I read what had to be THE WORST script I have ever read in my life there as well. And the kicker was that the guy thought he had gold, and he argued every review point. And then wanted to know if I was male or female.

Trigger Street, as some of you know, was Kevin Spacey's company. He formed it with his former assistant, Dana Brunetti. I got the bright idea one day to write to Brunetti, separate from the site, to pitch him one of my scripts. He wrote back, saying something like "not sure why you want to send this to me, I don't finance movies."

I didn't have the nerve to say "then what the hell do you do?"

He now runs a company called Calvary Media, apparently having made a good living off of riding Spacey's coattails... while those coattails were hot, of course.

AJR

Screenwriting websites seemed to get a lot more traffic back then -- Triggerstreet and Zoetrope, specifically. There was TONS of scripts on both sites, once upon a time -- Zoetrope is still around but it's a ghost town. With both sites, I've read great scripts and the complete opposite. With Triggerstreet, unfortunately, you kinda had to read and review some of the garbage. I believe you were allowed to opt out of some of them, but there was a limit.

Script Mother seems to be following Triggerstreet's template. But it's a little of a ghost-town, too, don't see much activity. Just a lot people posting scripts without participating.

Quoted from spesh2k Screenwriting websites seemed to get a lot more traffic back then -- Triggerstreet and Zoetrope, specifically. There was TONS of scripts on both sites, once upon a time -- Zoetrope is still around but it's a ghost town. With both sites, I've read great scripts and the complete opposite. With Triggerstreet, unfortunately, you kinda had to read and review some of the garbage. I believe you were allowed to opt out of some of them, but there was a limit. Script Mother seems to be following Triggerstreet's template. But it's a little of a ghost-town, too, don't see much activity. Just a lot people posting scripts without participating.

Sad to hear, I was really excited about this post. On the bright side, SimplyScripts, and my friends and family who I can convince to read my stuff should suffice for now. Otherwise, guess I'll have to pony up and pay for script coverage? I'm so new to screenwriting that I'm not quite sure what the best option is...

Quoted from Talldave I'm so new to screenwriting that I'm not quite sure what the best option is...

Easy. Simplyscripts is your best option. Everything you need to know about screenwriting, you can learn here. Ya' just have to be willing to put the work in. :)

I'd still give the site a try. Whoever runs the sight is pretty nice and quick to respond. They're still pretty new, but I do like the template and I think the website has some potential. I was a fan of Triggerstreet and missed it when it was gone. I wouldn't mind seeing a screenwriting website renaissance. It was nice having the option of using Triggerstreet, Zoetrope (a once-thriving site that nobody uses anymore) AND Simply Scripts.

Of course, I prefer Simply Scripts over any screenwriting site. Though, if you have the money to pony up, there's nothing wrong with getting coverage and posting on sites like Blacklist, etc. Just as long as you know what you're getting for your money.

Quoted from Talldave Sad to hear, I was really excited about this post. On the bright side, SimplyScripts, and my friends and family who I can convince to read my stuff should suffice for now. Otherwise, guess I'll have to pony up and pay for script coverage? I'm so new to screenwriting that I'm not quite sure what the best option is...

It is the million dollar question,

My general thought is that anything that is free - what's the harm? Experiment. It's part of the process.

I've pretty much dipped my toe in everything and glad I did just for the experience of it.  The only one that I would not recommend  is the Blacklist is I think is is like crack for screen writers (you're incentivised to  get more and more reviews and I found the reviews wildly inconsistent.

Quoted Text It is the million dollar question, My general thought is that anything that is free - what's the harm? Experiment. It's part of the process. I've pretty much dipped my toe in everything and glad I did just for the experience of it.  The only one that I would not recommend  is the Blacklist is I think is is like crack for screen writers (you're incentivised to  get more and more reviews and I found the reviews wildly inconsistent.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of Blacklist either. To anyone putting money into it, I suggest doing some research. Not 100% sure if they have industry pros doing the reads -- I've actually heard they're just script readers. Regardless if they have college degrees in screenwriting, I feel that some of them may be just as qualified as most people who participate on this site. Just know what you're getting into, I guess.

Of course, Simply Scripts is A-numero uno in regards to free workshopping sites. But I would still encourage people to at least give Script Mother a try. Would be nice to see it flourish. Can never have enough platforms for screenwriters, especially if it's free.

Any feedback on your scripts??

I'm going to give it a go, but am hoping it's not a total wasteland out there.

I got one review there so far -- English was definitely this reader's 2nd language, the review was hard to read. But he gave me a 90% score. So, I dunno, lol

LOL it means your script is universal? Language holds no barrier!

So, this shows pretty much how the reviews are presented to you. I've read reviews of other scripts and some of them are very well thought out and well written. They almost have to be with the template they use. Still, you can get notes just as good pretty consistently here on Simply Scripts, without having to adapt to the specific system SM has in place. And here on SS, you can pretty much read what you want. And SS is more user friendly as it's easier to network with peers.

https://scriptmother.com/review/1607

The review I got was clearly by someone who's first language wasn't English. In fact, I think he wrote the review in his language and then copy and pasted it into Google translate... at least that's what it looks like. I'm glad he enjoyed it, but the notes aren't even close to the great ones I've received here.

Quoted from spesh2k So, this shows pretty much how the reviews are presented to you. I've read reviews of other scripts and some of them are very well thought out and well written. They almost have to be with the template they use. Still, you can get notes just as good pretty consistently here on Simply Scripts, without having to adapt to the specific system SM has in place. And here on SS, you can pretty much read what you want. And SS is more user friendly as it's easier to network with peers. https://scriptmother.com/review/1607 The review I got was clearly by someone who's first language wasn't English. In fact, I think he wrote the review in his language and then copy and pasted it into Google translate... at least that's what it looks like. I'm glad he enjoyed it, but the notes aren't even close to the great ones I've received here.

All I get from the link is the sign up page

Ah, never mind, guess you got sign up to see anything.

Tried it out and ran into a bit of a problem, if you click on contact us at the bottom of the page, you go a random sign in page even though you're already signed in, meaning there's no way to contact them through the site.

A script I was reviewing brings me to an error page now instead of the script, and there's no way to fix the assignment without losing karma. Seems like a bit of a flawed system.

You can contact the person who runs the site. They're still working out some kinks. They answer back pretty quickly. They'll just add 4 karma points so that you can opt out of a script with a broken link.

What is the best way to contact them? Clicking on contact us isn’t working for me

There's a thing at the right hand corner by the drop menu that says, "? Ask Something Else". Just click on that. They'll get back to you shortly.