filmfaq

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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You are serious about your film or TV script. We are equally serious about our editing mission. Our editors have years of experience inside the film industry as script editors, consultants and development professionals.

We will tell you frankly how the industry is likely to view your script. If the script is good enough, we'll help you locate an agent. If it isn't, we'll tell you what you need to fix and how to fix it.

See also: Film & TV Home | Film Editors | Sample Report | Film Advice

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What movie genres do you handle?
We handle every genre, every style. We are happy to handle arthouse projects as well as more commercial ones. We can handle low budget indie scripts and big budget Hollywood ones.

How about TV?

We can handle most drama-type TV projects. For anything else, please talk to us first. If we can't help, we'll tell you so frankly.

Who are your editors and what are their qualifications?

Our chief film editor is Liz Garner (left). She's worked for Miramax in London, was head of development at Gorgeous, an independent film production company, and now freelances for a number of outfits, including the Irish Film Development Board.

Liz is also a writer in her own right and understands the creative issues involved in putting together a screenplay.

All our script editors have comparable backgrounds. We won't let anyone work on your script unless they are amply qualified. We are always happy to discuss our choice of editor with you.

Which film agents do you work with?

We work with London's leading film & TV agents. They are capable of handling both film and TV work in the UK. Through sub-agents in California, they can also represent your work in Hollywood. These agents will be able to help you sell your script for the maximum market value.

In the end, if we think your script is marketable, we'll do what we can to get it into the right hands.

How does the editing process work?
First we'll read your script and write you a report on it. Our editors are people who have handled exactly this job for film production companies. The report you get will be long and detailed. It'll tell you what's working, what isn't, and how to fix it. We'll give you an honest assessment of how close or far you are from having a commercial piece of work.

And then?

Then we talk about it. Unlike other agencies, which just shove a report at you then leave it there, we believe strongly in the merits of full editor-writer discussion. We'll give you our viewpoint. We'll take time to hear yours. There is no time limit for this discussion.

If you want to maintain an editorial relationship with this reader, we'll do all we can to make it possible.

What do I need to protect my copyright?

Surprisingly enough, nothing at all. Your work is protected under UK law the second it leaves your pen. You don't have to register it, claim it, or note it on your work. Easy, huh? If you want to be really secure, however, you can register your ownership of a particular draft by registering with the WGA - it costs about twenty bucks: just click the link to go straight to the registration page. One small point: don't put a WGA registration code or a copyright statement on the title page of your work. It looks amateurish.

In what format should I send my manuscript?

The film industry is very, very picky about format. If you send your script in the wrong format to a film agent or production company, it won't even be looked at. We'll look at your work, no matter what format it's in, but if you want to market it, then you do need to get the look right. There's a lot of good screenwriting software available - Try, for instance, Sophocles.

If I want to go ahead, what do I do next?

If you want, you can just send us your script, with the correct fee - £250 for a full length feature filmscript, other formats usually less. Cheques payable to The Writers' Workshop. Our address is: The Writers' Workshop, Pritchards Cottage, Steeple Barton, Oxon OX25 4QP. We'll let you know that the script has arrived safely and be back to you in 4-6 weeks with comments. If you want to play by Visa / MC, that's fine too - just call us with your details.

But most clients like to talk things over first - and we are always happy to take your queries by phone or email. If you're interested and want to know more, please just contact us.