The Scores Are In!

When I taught video production, my classes participated in the state-wide student film
competition. I used to tell my students that the screenplay is the foundation of their movie. A movie will never be better than the screenplay. You can have the best director, the most talented actors, an extraordinary crew, and an award-winning editor,  but if your screenplay is dud, your movie will be too. As a brilliant audio operator once told me, "You can't polish a turd." This is why many actors and directors will turn down projects after reading the screenplay. This is also why talented directors like Spielberg will ask the writer(s) to rewrite portions of the screenplay. He's strengthening the screenplay because he recognizes the strength of the foundation directly impacts the quality of the final product. 

Knowing this, I wanted to be sure that we have a strong screenplay before taking Talentless into production. Friends and family members are our best cheerleaders. But because of that, sometimes they aren't the most reliable critiques. People like Simon Cowell have made millions by being that honest voice telling people what often their friends and families don't have the understanding or guts to say. Cowell may seem like a jerk by being so brutally honest, but he's actually the best thing to happen to those performers. He lets them know straight up if they should continue on the road they're traveling or if they're wasting their time and should either get more training or find a different career. I wanted that kind of assessment for Talentless.

Fortunately, in the world of screenwriting, there is a way to receive an honest critique. There are script readers who provide the same kind of script coverage they do for studios. It is a script reader's job to read the scripts submitted to the studios and write a logline, a short and long synopsis of the script, a plot assessment, character profiles, a comparison analysis of other similar movies and how they performed, and at times they'll provide actor recommendations for the lead roles. They score the screenplay in six categories: character development, plot construction, dialogue, originality, emotional engagement, and theme and massage. Those scores are then calculated into an overall score. The reader will then determine whether the screenplay should be moved along to studio producers and financers or not. If the script reader thinks the screenplay is something the studio would be interested in producing, they will write "Consider" on their evaluation and send it up the ladder. If they think the screenplay needs further development before it should be given to the producers and financers, they will write "Pass" on the screenplay, and it stops there. 

The nice thing about this process is not only finding out if your screenplay is good, it also helps to read how someone else perceived it. Does their logline, character analysis, and synopsis accurately capture what you intended? Or are they seeing something different? 

I submitted Talentless to a reputable script-reading company and the scores are in!

Logline

When a struggling artist returns home after failing to make it in New York only to find her movie producer sister has unexpectedly taken up painting, she must come to terms with her jealousy and damaged relationships before her last chance at success slips away.

Genre

Comedy, Drama, Romance

Script Score

Character Development: 8/10

Plot Construction: 7/10

Dialogue: 9/10

Originality: 8/10

Emotional Engagement: 8/10

Theme and Message: 7/10

Overall Rating: 8/10

Based on the Script Score, this screenplay ranks at 87th percentile and received a Strong Consider.

- This means that if I were to submit this to a Hollywood studio 'as is' it would be strongly considered to be made into a motion picture. That's massive because usually good screenplays will simply receive a "Consider." A "Strong Consider" means this is a winner!

Comparative Film Analysis

This screenplay can be described as a mash-up of the following movies:

1. **"Little Miss Sunshine" (2006)** - The film's exploration of family dynamics and personal aspirations mirrors the tension and reconciliation between Melinda and her family. - Box Office: $101.4 million

2. **"The Devil Wears Prada" (2006)** - The competitive art and fashion industry setting, along with the sibling rivalry, is reminiscent of the professional challenges faced by Melinda and Cassandra. - Box Office: $326.7 million

3. **"Amlie" (2001)** - The quirky, whimsical tone and the protagonist's journey of self-discovery align with Melinda's artistic and personal growth. - Box Office: $174.2 million

4. **"Lady Bird" (2017)** - The coming-of-age themes and the protagonist's struggle with identity and family relationships parallel Melinda's journey. - Box Office: $79 million

-It's fun to see who they would recommend for the various roles. 
For the main character, Melinda, the artistic sister, they recommended:
Emma Stone, Anna Kendrick, Kristen Bell, Aubrey Plaza, and Zoey Deschanel.

For the movie-producing talentless sister, Casandra, they recommended Scarlett Johansson, Anna Kendrick, Jennifer Lawrence, Kristen Bell, and Rachel McAdams. 

For their Dad, Kevin, they recommended Jeff Bridges, Bill Murray, Steve Martin, John Goodman, Tom Hanks, Bryan Cranston, Woody Harrelson, and Michal Keaton.

And this was all on the first draft! Imagine what this can be after I make the recommended adjustments!

So there you have it! When I say Talentless will be a good movie, you don't have to just take my word for it. I have professionals in the industry backing me up!