FAQs
Will my work be kept confidential?
Absolutely! We never discuss or share you work outside of our team.
I’m not sure which service I should book. Can I email you?
Of course! Send us an email describing your project and your concerns, and we can help you build out a plan from there.
I’m a student. Do you have a student rate?
We do not, however, if you feel your project does not quite fit one of our categories, you may email us to see if an alternative solution is available.
How do I submit my documents?
Once you have paid, please email us your work at info@thescriptmechanics.com. You may send us your work in the following formats: PDF, doc, docx, pages, Final Draft, or Google docs.
Can you help me submit to …
While we can tailor our feedback to meet specific submission guidelines, we cannot actually submit your project for you.
I don’t have screenwriting software. How do I get my script formatted?
Use our formatting service, and we can do it for you. However, if you are a frequent screenwriter, we suggest you invest in some form of screenwriting software. They are generally pretty user friendly and tax deductible.
What if I don’t agree with your notes?
That’s okay. You have a vision for your project, and we respect that. If our notes don’t resonate with you, don’t use them.
What if I want a second round of feedback?
We offer discounts to repeat clients and for repeat projects.
How do I see reviewers notes?
Depending on which software you use, notes appear in different ways. Word, Pages and Google Docs use a track changes function and comments. Final Draft has a review mode and script notes. Movie Magic Screenwriter tracks notes in comment boxes in the text. PDFs will have the notes communicated via annotation bubbles and attached reviewer notes in an email.
You may always set up a zoom or email us if you have any problem viewing the notes. We are happy to clarify if needed.
Glossary of Terms
Green Light
Permission from producers or executives to go ahead with a project, especially a movie.
Theme
A theme is an implied message or question conveyed through characters, dialogue, motifs, and other visual clues (e.g. “There’s no place like home” in The Wizard of Oz or “Is redemption possible?” in The Shawshank Redemption). Themes can be simple or complex, open-ended or unambiguous.
Log Line
A brief, one to two sentence summary of a movie, tv show, etc. that hooks the reader and describes the central conflict of the story.
Spec Script
Short for "speculative script,” it is an uncommissioned script that a writer presents to agents, executives, and studios to show their style, voice, and ability.
Pilot
A standalone TV script that a writer creates in order to serve as the first episode and template of a larger series.
Punch ups
Small changes within scenes, often in the form of jokes or other dialogue, to make a script livelier and more interesting.