Be The Change

Howdy Wavers! Is it still Wavers? “Effers” hasn’t caught on yet? We need to work on that.

Michael Brownlee here. You might remember me from such memorable posts as So You Think You Can Read. What a difference a couple of months make. After passing Julie’s Learn to Be a Hollywood Reader course I decided to cash in my thermal undies and move from The City of Big Shoulders to The City of Big Brother 11. It’s been quite an eye-opening experience and a great reminder that change, while scary at first, is good.

Speaking of change, I’m sure you guys have noticed some of the new and exciting things happening in the Just Effing Universe. Julie has been feverishly working away on new projects to help screenwriters everywhere reignite their passion for the craft while, at the same time, shedding a light on this crazy business so those of us just starting out can learn the ropes. To help her out, and make her plate a little more manageable, I’ll be assuming blogging duties on Fridays. (At least until her schedule cools off .)

Besides chatting about what it’s like to be a new transplant in Hollywood (people are much nicer than I expected), or how you should become our friend on Facebook (everybody’s doing it), I’ll be coming at you with inside news from world of The Script Department. I’ll let you know what kinds of scripts we’re seeing. What genres are being neglected. The prime times to get your contest-bound script in for coverage. And, of course, the all-important discounts and specials on courses and services.

To show you that I effing mean business I have a special offer for the Learn to Be a Hollywood Script Reader Course. (It seems only fitting since it’s the reason I’m here today.) If you sign up for this course in the next two weeks, you’ll receive $75 off the tuition by mentioning this post.

I know you’ve heard it a million times, but it’s worth repeating: Script readers are the gatekeepers of the movie world. No script ever reaches the production stage without, first, passing through the hands of a reader. Understanding what they red flag in a screenplay can help you move your script from the Pass Pile to the Consider Pile. Plus, you’ll be learning a marketable, industry-related skill that is way better than fetching Mr. Junior Executive’s iced caramel macchiato every day. So sign up already!

While we’re on the subject of professional readers – if you want Julie, personally, to give you feedback on your script, you should get your name on the list now. You don’t want the Nicholl deadline bearing down on you without giving yourself time for a polish after you receive coverage.

Okay. I think that’s enough shameless plugging for one post. I’m looking forward to getting to know you Effers better. If you have any questions about the reader course or any of the services offered by The Script Department, feel free to drop me a line: michael@thescriptdepartment.com.

Now stop procrastinating and get back to those scripts!