I have sent 8 read requests that have elicited nary a response. Please note, I am not a bot nor a plagiarist, just someone willing to read an interesting sounding script.
Elizabeth, I'm so glad you're getting the conversation started about this topic! It's always exciting to receive a script request. I sometimes feel bad about ignoring script requests, but I won't let "just anyone" have access to work I've literally spent hundreds of hours on. It's a personal decision, and everyone has their own boundaries, but here are some reasons why I ignore script requests:
1) If it seems like your name is not your real name—especially if I Google it and can't find out anything about you. (Some people are clearly using pseudonyms, which is their choice. That said, I'm using my real name and potentially sharing my work. I'd like to know with whom.)
2) You don't list your city or it's not in your bio. This goes along with "knowing" who's looking at my work. While all my scripts have a U.S. Copyright, I likely would never know if someone from another country made my script in their native language. While the chances are minimal, why should I expose myself to a potential bad player? Also, I don't know my rights in other countries.
3) Your bio is minimal/unprofessional. If you don't put any effort into your biography, I can't take you seriously.
4) Your bio says you're a student who's interested in reading scripts on this platform "to learn." Sorry, but I interpret that as, "I'm a student looking for ideas for an assignment and may use yours since your scripts are unproduced, and I likely won't get caught." There are SO MANY produced scripts that you can read online for free. (Simplyscripts.com is one good source.) Why read the work of amateurs who may or may not have a good grasp of screenwriting fundamentals?
5) You've just joined this platform. This isn't an automatic ignore, but combined with what I've mentioned above, it will be ignored. (I seem to get a lot of requests from people who have just joined.)
If I know someone has been on this platform for a while, especially if they participate in the forums—like Elizabeth—I'll normally let them read my scripts. If someone would prefer to remain anonymous on the platform, if they send me a private message introducing themselves, I can work with that.
I once had someone who requested my script send me a polite private message after I ignored his script request. When I explained to him that I thought his bio was unprofessional, he agreed and changed it. Then he read my script.
If nothing else, I hope my comments encourage people to polish their bios. Make a good first impression!
I'd be interested in reading why other writers ignore script requests.
I respect a writer's prerogative to ignore my read request. After all, I am not in a position to further anyone's writing career.
I have read stuff on simplyscripts in the past but those have been written by people who've "made it". I naively imagined that I was giving a boost and paying a compliment to my fellow members on S R. some of whom "follow me".
I used to bypass the read request option. I was thrilled and grateful to be read. But one sour interaction has persuaded me to opt for read request.
In the end, it all boils down to what makes you feel comfortable.
btw on another topic, Andrea, how do I find those free competion entries on ISA Connect? I joined Dec 5.
While I can't speak for CJ, I think your reasons for reading scripts on Script Revolution are consistent with/in the spirit of some of the reasons this platform exists, which is great! It's fun to have someone take genuine interest in your work—even better if they follow up with a few comments. Where it gets dicey is when people aren't sincere.
I once had someone (who is a "collector" of followers) download one of my scripts (before the Read-Request option), "Favorite" it, then immediately send me a private message asking me to do the same for them. (I looked at their loglines, but nothing caught my interest.) I was also highly skeptical that they had actually read my script because while they told me they enjoyed it, there was not one mention of anything specific about the script, and everything had happened so quickly. When I hadn't read one of their scripts within a few days, they "Unfavorited" my script. Very juvenile stuff. This person has a lot of "Favorites" on their scripts, so I can only assume this is their game.
[As for the ISA, the free competition entries are emailed to you at the beginning of each quarter. This quarter, they were emailed on February 3rd, with a reminder email on the 7th. The deadline was February 10th. If you didn't receive those emails, reach out to the ISA. I'm sure they'll make it right. If you have any other questions, feel free to send me a private message.]
Apart from a handful of scripts listed on SimplyScripts, you've both converted me to changing the settings on my collection of screenplays to read request.
Hello James, having read and liked all your exciting scripts to date, I hope to be able to continue to do so as they are so well written and film worthy.
In the past year or so, I've received quite a few read requests from "people" who have no profile pic, and there's a very short bio in such horrific English. And I thought, if you can barely write in English, how are you supposed to read my screenplay and understand what's happening? I wasn't able to find out anything at all about them after doing some research. I've become so paranoid that each time I get a request, I expect it to be from a bot or someone who is not who they say they are. Is there (still?) no way to report suspicious accounts?
That's why the read request system exists, so that you can choose if you feel safe sharing your material with the person asking to read it.
I do check every new account but some slip through while I'm asleep/our/working and they send requests before I can delete them. You can always email info@scriptrevolution.com if you spot something concerning.
Elizabeth, I'm so glad you're getting the conversation started about this topic! It's always exciting to receive a script request. I sometimes feel bad about ignoring script requests, but I won't let "just anyone" have access to work I've literally spent hundreds of hours on. It's a personal decision, and everyone has their own boundaries, but here are some reasons why I ignore script requests:
1) If it seems like your name is not your real name—especially if I Google it and can't find out anything about you. (Some people are clearly using pseudonyms, which is their choice. That said, I'm using my real name and potentially sharing my work. I'd like to know with whom.)
2) You don't list your city or it's not in your bio. This goes along with "knowing" who's looking at my work. While all my scripts have a U.S. Copyright, I likely would never know if someone from another country made my script in their native language. While the chances are minimal, why should I expose myself to a potential bad player? Also, I don't know my rights in other countries.
3) Your bio is minimal/unprofessional. If you don't put any effort into your biography, I can't take you seriously.
4) Your bio says you're a student who's interested in reading scripts on this platform "to learn." Sorry, but I interpret that as, "I'm a student looking for ideas for an assignment and may use yours since your scripts are unproduced, and I likely won't get caught." There are SO MANY produced scripts that you can read online for free. (Simplyscripts.com is one good source.) Why read the work of amateurs who may or may not have a good grasp of screenwriting fundamentals?
5) You've just joined this platform. This isn't an automatic ignore, but combined with what I've mentioned above, it will be ignored. (I seem to get a lot of requests from people who have just joined.)
If I know someone has been on this platform for a while, especially if they participate in the forums—like Elizabeth—I'll normally let them read my scripts. If someone would prefer to remain anonymous on the platform, if they send me a private message introducing themselves, I can work with that.
I once had someone who requested my script send me a polite private message after I ignored his script request. When I explained to him that I thought his bio was unprofessional, he agreed and changed it. Then he read my script.
If nothing else, I hope my comments encourage people to polish their bios. Make a good first impression!
I'd be interested in reading why other writers ignore script requests.
Hi Andrea, thank you for your response.
I respect a writer's prerogative to ignore my read request. After all, I am not in a position to further anyone's writing career.
I have read stuff on simplyscripts in the past but those have been written by people who've "made it". I naively imagined that I was giving a boost and paying a compliment to my fellow members on S R. some of whom "follow me".
I used to bypass the read request option. I was thrilled and grateful to be read. But one sour interaction has persuaded me to opt for read request.
In the end, it all boils down to what makes you feel comfortable.
btw on another topic, Andrea, how do I find those free competion entries on ISA Connect? I joined Dec 5.
Elizabeth
While I can't speak for CJ, I think your reasons for reading scripts on Script Revolution are consistent with/in the spirit of some of the reasons this platform exists, which is great! It's fun to have someone take genuine interest in your work—even better if they follow up with a few comments. Where it gets dicey is when people aren't sincere.
I once had someone (who is a "collector" of followers) download one of my scripts (before the Read-Request option), "Favorite" it, then immediately send me a private message asking me to do the same for them. (I looked at their loglines, but nothing caught my interest.) I was also highly skeptical that they had actually read my script because while they told me they enjoyed it, there was not one mention of anything specific about the script, and everything had happened so quickly. When I hadn't read one of their scripts within a few days, they "Unfavorited" my script. Very juvenile stuff. This person has a lot of "Favorites" on their scripts, so I can only assume this is their game.
[As for the ISA, the free competition entries are emailed to you at the beginning of each quarter. This quarter, they were emailed on February 3rd, with a reminder email on the 7th. The deadline was February 10th. If you didn't receive those emails, reach out to the ISA. I'm sure they'll make it right. If you have any other questions, feel free to send me a private message.]
Apart from a handful of scripts listed on SimplyScripts, you've both converted me to changing the settings on my collection of screenplays to read request.
Ooh, I'm an influencer!
Hello James, having read and liked all your exciting scripts to date, I hope to be able to continue to do so as they are so well written and film worthy.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Thank you - and ditto!
James
In the past year or so, I've received quite a few read requests from "people" who have no profile pic, and there's a very short bio in such horrific English. And I thought, if you can barely write in English, how are you supposed to read my screenplay and understand what's happening? I wasn't able to find out anything at all about them after doing some research. I've become so paranoid that each time I get a request, I expect it to be from a bot or someone who is not who they say they are. Is there (still?) no way to report suspicious accounts?
That's why the read request system exists, so that you can choose if you feel safe sharing your material with the person asking to read it.
I do check every new account but some slip through while I'm asleep/our/working and they send requests before I can delete them. You can always email info@scriptrevolution.com if you spot something concerning.
Alrighty. Will do. Thanks.
Hey! Not sure really how this site works yet all in all - but I have a script and would love to let someone take a look at it! :)))