Jeff Newman, StoryNotes

How is "StoryNotes" different from other screenplay evaluation services?

1. StoryNotes is one of the few script consultation services that offers all of the following as part of the evaluation:

* notes on the script
* a tape recording (elaborating upon the on-script notes)
* written evaluation
* a phone consultation

Most services just offer one or two of the above.

However, I have found that the mix of all four types of feedback -- on-script notes, the tape, the written evaluation, and the telephone discussion -- allows for the most thorough and comprehensive evaluation.

For details, go to http://storynotes.com/

2. StoryNotes is not an anonymous service employing "readers" who do slightly expanded coverage. It's one person -- me, Jeff Newman. So you know who will be reading and evaluating your script. And you can determine for yourself the extent of my knowledge of screenwriting by reading my online articles at four different sites.

You may access these screenwriting articles via the links along the left at:

http://storynotes.com/

3. StoryNotes (i.e., Jeff Newman) is one of only two script consultants that can make this statement:

Rated as one of the Top Two screenwriting analysts out of the 17 reviewed and ranked by "Creative Screenwriting" magazine, March, '99.

CREDENTIALS

Eight screenplay options, including one from a Best Picture-winning producer (for Ordinary People) Ronald Schwary.

Wrote a weekly screenwriting column for Drama-Logue for over a year.

Wrote and published StoryNotes (craft-oriented screenwriting articles) for 3 years.

Screenwriting articles have appeared in ScreenTalk magazine, and in online versions of Scr(i)pt Magazine and Creative Screenwriting.

One play published (The Oasis) by the Art Craft Play Company.
One play (What's the Matter with Michael?) professionally produced at The Matrix theater in Hollywood.

Majored in Theater Arts, Playwriting at California State University.

ENDORSEMENTS AND TESTIMONIALS

"... if you want to see every element of your script broken out and examined in a clear, concise manner, Jeff Newman's your man."
-- Creative Screenwriting, March '99

"As a graduate from USC Cinema and as a former four-year member of Columbia Pictures' story department, and as a former story analyst (more than 1,000 submissions synopsized and analyzed), I know brilliant story advice when I read it. Jeff Newman's articles on screenwriting have been absolutely outstanding. They are more valuable than any book on screenwriting I've read."
-- Julian Myers, c/o Julian Myers Public Relations

For testimonials from clients:
Go to http://storynotes.net/ and click on the "Testimonials" button at the very bottom of the page.

SERVICES

There are three levels of evaluations available. And in addition to evaluations for completed, full-length screenplays, there are also services just for Act 1, the First 10 Pages, or Outlines.

Please go to http://storynotes.com for details.

Note: in addition to the on-script notes, tape, written evaluation, and phone consultation, if there are one or more areas of decided weakness, I will provide supplementary articles (at no extra charge) that go into great detail in terms of definition, examples, reasons for why it's importance, etc. Article topics include exposition, theme, aspects of characterization, formatting, particular punctuation problems, and more.

WEAKNESSES THAT LEAD TO SCREENPLAY REJECTION

1. Concept (a weak, overly general, or overly familiar concept)
2. Log line (when trying to get people to read the script)
3. Characters (poorly orchestrated, not sufficiently developed, etc.)
4. Structure (not necessarily 3-act, but a solid, sturdy structure is needed).
5. Readability (word mastery, formatting, layout)
6. Credibility (within the world of the story)
7. Bland or unoriginal in content and/or style
8. Fails to evoke emotion

Of course, there are many others, but for most readers, these would be at or near the top of the list.

TO IMPROVE YOUR SCREENWRITING

Recommended Reading:

How NOT to Write a Screenplay, by Denny Martin Flinn
500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader, by Jennifer Larch
Reading for a Living, by T.L. Katahn
Getting Your Script Through the Hollywood Maze, by Linda Stuart
Making a Good Script Great, by Linda Seger
Writing Screenplays That Sell, by Michael Hauge

READ SCREENPLAYS ... but realize that most of the ones you read are in production or shooting script format, not in spec/submission script format.

Free online screenplays for viewing or downloading:
http://www.iscriptdb.com/
http://www.joblo.com/moviescripts.htm
http://www.screentalk.org/moviescripts.htm
http://simplyscripts.com/
http://sfy.iv.ru/index.html
http://www.scriptdude.com/frames/scriptindex.html
http://www.onlygoodmovies.net/screenplays/
http://www.screenwriting.about.com/cs/availablescripts/index.htm

Hard copies (i.e., on paper!), for purchase:

http://www.scriptcity.net/ (for purchase)
http://www.scriptshack.com/ (for purchase)
http://www.planetmegamall.com

STUDY MOVIES ... know at least five movies almost by heart. See them at least 10 times. Study for throughline and turning point structure, theme, character arcs, orchestration of characters, number of continuing characters, how characters are introduced, the stakes, levels and types of conflict, scene transitions, number of steps, planting/foreshadowing and payoffs, etc.

Get informed feedback ... to help you improve your script, and to make sure your script is ready to send out. This could be a script analyst (if recommended or with credentials), or from writers of some expertise and/or instructors. Friends and family members can have some helpful comments, but are of limited help.

Writers' groups may or may not be good -- often many individuals feel compelled to find something to criticize. Some are tactless or demeaning. Sometimes jealousy enters in.

Persistence Pays. Tenacity Triumphs. Develop and make use of connections. Network.

Best of luck with your writing, and your career.

Jeff Newman, StoryNotes
www.storynotes.com
storynotes@aol.com
(310) 715-6455