What's your feeling on contests and coverage?

Yes. Thank you, David... you answered my question spot on!

Glad to be of service, Barry.

I can't believe that you grew all of this from an idea just a short time ago to where it is today.

Thanks man. I'm glad you feel things are moving quick as it sometimes feels painfully slow. We're so close to 10,000 members now and it will be five years in Aug. I'm super proud of our community which I feel has a good balance of positivity and pragmatism. 

I just wanted to add a bit about my own experience with Stage32 coverage. When I received a discount, timing wasn't the best for me. I knew the script wasn't ready and needed a lot of work. I chose the $99 option because it involves an anonymous reader for the full script. I wanted someone to hate the script and point out everything that's wrong with it. I was pleasantly surprised to get respectful, professional and useful info to improve my script. Some I agree with, some I don't, but that's my right as the writer.

I've noticed many times this idea that anonymous gets you objective and useful feedback. I'm sorry but this is untrue. All art is subjective. If you choose anonymous, there's a greater chance of hateful subjectiveness. I'm not victim-blaming, only providing a perspective that might help others. Subjective is unavoidable. Pick and choose what you feel is best for your craft. If, however, you're considering Stage32 coverage and you want a reader who's aligned with your craft, I wouldn't recommend the $99 option.

That's an interesting point. I know a few coverage providers who insist on keeping things anonymous on the basis that they're genuinely worried about what writers will do if they upset them. I've never really considered that perhaps they should be doing more to make sure writer's aren't left upset and angry by the way the feedback/coverage is delivered. 

Thanks man. I'm glad you feel things are moving quick as it sometimes feels painfully slow. We're so close to 10,000 members now

I think when I joined there were about 50 or so members - 10K is amazing

I've noticed many times this idea that anonymous gets you objective and useful feedback. I'm sorry but this is untrue. All art is subjective. If you choose anonymous, there's a greater chance of hateful subjectiveness. 

Interesting perspective. 

I do agree with you that in 100% of the time it is better to know who is specifically giving you feedback.  Credentials matter.

CJ, I appreciate anyone trying to avoid negative reactions. Anonymous readers might seem like the best way, but at the same time, avoidance is never healthy. It's a tough situation. Sensitive artists, and let's be honest, we're all sensitive, versus anonymous text that doesn't care who you are as a human being. It's not personal, but at the same, it's personal. Ugh.

I've just found, time again, that anonymous readers tend to get things wrong, not because they're bad people, simply because no one's psychic.

David - "dream-maker services," lol!  Isn't that the truth?!  I love your humor.  I'm also glad to see that someone else is open to and has had somewhat positive outcomes with contests.  With the small number of contests I enter, I always enter by the early-entry dates to save cash, but am fortunate to be at the point where $50 isn't going to change my life.  It's entertainment money, really, and if my script advances to a contest's quarterfinals, then I know that at least someone has connected with it and sees some potential.  It's a nice feeling and a tiny validation for a Midwestern gal who never attended film school and has no industry connections.

CJ - I must admit I've been taken aback by bullies on that site.  The things that some people post--YIKES!  I'm all about keeping it real, and tend to gravitate toward people who do, but there's a way to be tactful and no need to be nasty or haughty.  Kindness and maturity do matter, and I have no interest in dealing with jerks with egos, curmudgeons or trolls.  I'm still fairly new to Script Revolution, but am super impressed with and grateful for what you offer.  THANKS!

Lily - I, too, hoped my Stage 32 reader would point out everything that was wrong with my script.  That's kind of the point, right?  It was one of two scripts I've written during the pandemic, and the first time it had been sent out for (what I'd hoped would be) in-depth coverage/feedback.  I had to laugh when the reader decided to point out one "minor example" (his words) of dialogue he didn't feel sounded natural.  I totally agreed with his example, but he only pointed out one instance, and I really wish it would have at least been a major example.  That said, I truly think the reader and I would be able to have a nice conversation over cocktails since I didn't feel he was mean-spirited, quite the contrary, but just very unhelpful when it comes to writing screenplays.  He just thought he would be anonymous--ha ha.  Stage 32 gave the name of the debut novel he wrote in the bio they sent me and then wondered how I figured out his identity.  Uh... Google?  Comical.  Being able to see the humor in the situation was definitely a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating experience.  At least BlueCat came through for me with their feedback.  

Andrea, this so funny to me, Sounds like we had pretty much the same experience. loved the coverage, disagreed with 50%, but the reader sounds like the kind of person I'd love to have a conversation with sometime. Except, the bio for the reader I got was vague. It's possible it's the same reader, but Stage32 have since deleted the part of the bio because they realized someone could google that, lol!

David - "dream-maker services," lol!  Isn't that the truth?!...

Glad to hear from a fellow competitor. I didn't start writing until I was 53 (spend all those precious young years as a government bureaucrat:). So, to me, as a hobby, competitions are just part of the fun. It's like if I took up Chess as a hobby, I'd pay to enter Chess competitions. I do play poker as a hobby and pay to enter poker tournaments. So to me, competitions were just a very natural part of having this hobby.  The fact that I have gotten some nibbles on scripts as a result is just frosting on the cake. 

David, that's an excellent way to look at it.  I consider writing my hobby as well.  If a script gets picked up, awesome!  If not, I'm not counting on my writing to put food on the table.  I had to give up my source of income when we moved to Wisconsin nearly eight years ago for my husband's job, but the move eventually allowed me to finally write a story that had percolated inside my head for many years and a few others.  Besides the joy of learning something new (good for an aging brain, "they" say) the process of writing scripts is fun for me, even if I just make myself laugh.  But then, I'm easily amused...  

Andrea: yep. I wanted to be a writer as long as I could remember - but life got in the way. Looking back, I'm not sure things didn't work out just fine. I cannot imagine trying to make a living at this.  Total empathy to those that try to.  I think also that's why I prefer comedies, rom-coms and dramedys over horror, thriller and the like. Waiting this long, I might as well make someone laugh even if it is only me. 

David, I like your approach, and I can't wait to retire and write for fun/enjoyment. And also to have all the free time to assist others as you do, not only here on SR, but also on SS. PS; I've visited your webpage and read all your scripts... you a remarkable writer, and are sure to be noticed before your 101 birthday. (2 years from now - LOL) For those that don't know David (Eldave1) he is very influential on Simply Scripts, and had the time and patients some few years back to guide me to where I am today. Thank you, David.

Thanks for the kinds words, Barry. Good start to my day

"Always wanted to be a writer", a common thread that runs threw many of us.  Life takes us down different paths.  It is the love of writing that bonds us.  Dreamers we all are.  I would love to have a bourbon with each and every one of you.  If feed back on your scripts brings joy to you, then do it.  The financial cost of this joy is relatively cheap.  This NOT criticism.  I spend equal amounts on the lottery to win the "big one".  Your odds of getting the attention of a producer is immensely better than me playing the lottery.

Barry, David, Lily, asking for a friend.  Is it wrong if I drink whiskey and smoke marijuana before I write?  If i bet the football season, am I a low life running from "Mario and Vito, help him find his check book" ?

I assume the only option is to drink and smoke after you write :)

Tony, heh, depends. Are you sharing?

Just to follow up on a discussion I'd started a little ways back in this thread on the potential value of a "recommended" script via Stage 32's development notes system, after which I was warned by a pair of well-meaning folk here with relevant experience not to expect much from Stage 32's Look Book being blasted out to 500 or so industry execs with my bio and the logline for my "double recommend" script ... Well, I've just been informed that an A-list manager as well as an A-list talent/management/production company have requested my script. I'm not sure if that's all she wrote, but if it is, not too shabby. I have some mixed feelings about this exposure in that I had really planned on making some changes to the script based on some good notes from the exec who'd given me the double recommend in the first place. (But I haven't even begun the revisions as I'm all caught up in creating a pitch deck for a proposed documentary.) Still, fingers crossed!

Congratulations! I'd hold off on revisions for now. It's already been blasted and it sounds like enough people like it, as is. You can  always save your revision notes for late, possibly second draft. Enjoy the ride!

Eric, well done. There are so many changes as your story moves from paper to performance.  It will evolve. But at its heart it is the story. The paper version has done its job. Onward and upward.

Super!

...Barry, David, Lily, asking for a friend.  Is it wrong if I drink whiskey and smoke marijuana before I write? ~ HELL NO! - Inspiration! We in South Africa have the best "inspiration" cause I will not say I smoke!... I do like my whisky though. 

Eric, this is so exciting--definitely something to celebrate!  I'm super happy for you and hope something more comes from it.  It's awesome to hear from someone who has actually been contacted as a result of the "blast."  Ride the wave and definitely keep us posted!  

Eric, exciting! Have a great trip!

Thanks for all the well wishes. I will report back on what happens. Apparently, the companies can't just ghost me (as has happened with a lot of my full script submissions) because the email I got from Stage 32 implies they intend to follow up for me.

Congrats Eric! Hope for the best!

All the best Eric. I hope it works out well for you.

There's nothing like diving into semi-interesting data on LinkedIn:  (all of this via publicly-available member profiles)

The following is re: script readers on the Blacklist.  A few years ago, I found about 35 'readers' on LinkedIn, and today's query resulted in 49.  I'm sure that's not an exhaustive list.  Interestingly, a LOT of these have start-dates in the past year and even since this January.

I'd say most are also reading for reps, contests, other script analysis companies, or are employees with producers - some of the largest and some only a bit smaller.

As such, they're listed as full-time, part-time and freelance, and I assume that most work remotely.

And every last one of them are apparently part of the famous Blacklist evaluation "algorithm".

While all look totally reputable, I remember one BL reader a few years ago who said she read 3-5 scripts and provided analysis... PER DAY!  I thought that was nonsense.  There's nothing like that in the current results, though one who'd been there for 3 years mentioned 600 evaluations, and another said 1000 in 4 years.  That's still a lot.  Another, there for over 7 years, mentioned 500 pilots, one has covered over 100 since being hired in January.  Another mentioned 100 per year - which I think is reasonable.

So this is just a bit of useless info for ye' all.  For the BL, assembling such a team may be its biggest accomplishment - since that's how the money's generated.  I do wonder how the work is distributed, though - first come, first served, or by preferred genre, or the type of work-assignment criteria you see in contests.

FYI the Black List just announced a fee increase to $100 per evaluation (plus the $30/mth hosting fee). That's a bit steep considering what you get back is more of a marketing evaluation than notes or coverage. Also FYI, I'd very recently obtained two BL evaluations, got two overall 7s with no component lower than a 7 and three 8s in the components, good enough to make some of their lists and get shared in emails, and yet my script did not get a single industry download as a result. So it appears that an 8 or above (roughly the top 3% of uploaded scripts) is needed to gain any attention over there.

BL is a non-starter for me. Not into getting notes from anonymous readers. 

AND is a matter of form - I believe that Edwards purposefully conflates the name of his annual list (The Blacklist) with the hosting site while in reality they have nothing to do with each other. I have no evidence of this - but I believe it regardless. It was too easy to call the annual list something else or vice versa