Dave Trottier's Script Evaluation

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DAVE TROTTIER'S MARKET-FOCUSED
SCRIPT CONSULTING SERVICES
Absolute honesty at reasonable rates

Services and Fees

1. 14-point Analysis
2. Master Evaluation & Consultation
3. Read and Chat
4. Rush Service
5. Query Letter Evaluation
6. Mentoring & One-on-one Consultations
7. One-sheet or Synopsis Analysis
8. First Ten Pages Evaluation
9. Treatment Evaluation
10. Formatting Review
--- How to Get Your Material to Me

Your goal is to sell your screenplay

You've spent months writing your script and now you're eager to present it to prospective buyers. But is it ready? Considering the large time and money investment you've made (and are about to make selling it), it makes good sense to be sure of where your script stands and how to position it in the marketplace. My goal is to help you prepare it for market.

Five reasons to send your script to Dave

Dozens of my clients have sold their work. Two have won Nicholl Fellowships and one a National Play Award. Hear their stories.

I am a produced screenwriter who understands the market.

Coaching is my game. I have taught and motivated writers for nearly two decades. Although I have succeeded as a screenwriter, I think my greater talents are in analysis, coaching, and helping writers reach their potential.

My book, The Screenwriter's Bible, now in its fourth edition, is one of the top-selling screenwriting books in the world.

My exhaustive "Master Evaluation" is complemented by a one-on-one story conference that allows you to follow-up on the written evaluation and get the answers you need to revise and sell your script. (See "2. Master Evaluation & Consultation" below.)

Absolute honesty at reasonable rates

Most written evaluations are completed within 3 - 4 weeks of receiving your material, so there's no long wait for a response, plus I will email and snail mail you a copy of my analysis. If you want it now, my handy-dandy RUSH service is available.

I evaluate each script myself

I have no assistants helping me evaluate your script; I do it all myself and reward myself with ice cream afterward. Each script is carefully read, sometimes twice. I endeavor to be direct, clear, and realistic; and – according to my clients – my criticism is both constructive and motivating.

How to get your script to me

See instructions at the bottom of this page or at the end of the checkout process.

SERVICES AND FEES

1. 14-POINT ANALYSIS

Your script is evaluated on 14 key spec writing areas, as follows: 1) spine of the story and plotting, 2) heart of the story and relationships, 3) foreshadowing and unity, 4) conflict and action, 5) characterization, 6) character development and motivation, 7) dialogue, 8) theme, 9) narrative description, 10) formatting, 11) believability, 12) originality, 13) title, and 14) concept and commercial appeal.

As an additional benefit, you get a story conference of up to 15 minutes. After you receive the evaluation, you may call me to discuss your project and/or ask questions.

I will rate each of the 14 areas as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor, plus I will add a concise paragraph or two regarding each area. The final report is usually about 5-7 pages.

You’ll find instructions on how to get your material to me at the bottom of this page.

FEE: $450. Turnaround: 3-4 weeks.

For 1-2 week RUSH service, see #4 below.

For scripts over 120 pages, add an additional $4 per page for each page over the 120-page limit.

If you are a subscriber to my MuseLetter, you qualify for a $10 discount!

2. MASTER EVALUATION & CONSULTATION

My deluxe master service consists of the following:

A 14-point analysis as described above.

A thorough, market-wise 12-16 page written critique of your script that integrates the 14-point analysis. I will tailor my comments to your individual script. My exhaustive evaluation will help you strengthen the structure, bring your characters to life, improve your dialogue, correct your formatting, and enhance your commercial prospects. The evaluation will be thoughtful and incisive. And I will point out the pluses and minuses of your script, give specific examples, and present you with possible solutions to problems.

A telephone story conference of up to one hour. Once you digest my evaluation, then you may call for a story conference to discuss the analysis, the script, the market, or just brainstorm new ideas--whatever you need whenever you need it. You provide the agenda for this one-on-one consultation (which I normally bill at $195/hour). I promise to be friendly; I enjoy being your mentor.

A copy of Dr. Format Answers Your Questions. This fully updated book contains all of my columns written for Script Magazine from 1997 to 2010. I’ll send you out a free copy.

You’ll find instructions on how to get your material to me at the end of this page.

FEE: $875. Turnaround: 3-4 weeks.

For scripts over 120 pages, add an additional $4 per page for each page over the 120-page limit.

SAVE NEARLY $100: Send me your script and query letter together for evaluation and pay only $895. You save $95.

For 1-2 week RUSH service, see #4 below.

3. READ AND CHAT

If you don’t want a written evaluation, but you want some comments as to where your work stands, I will read your script, followed immediately by a 20-minute phone conversation with you concerning my impressions. Feel free to ask questions during this “chat.” (After the 20 minutes have elapsed, if you want to continue the discussion, you can buy additional minutes at $40 per 15-minute period.)

FEE: $295. Turnaround: 3-4 weeks.

For 1-2 week RUSH service, see #4 below.

4. RUSH SERVICE

Get fast 1-2 week Rush service on any evaluation you order, and 2-7 day service on query letters and one-sheets!
RUSH FEE: $100.

5. QUERY LETTER EVALUATION

You should spend as much time on your query letter as you do on your script's key scene. Your query letter is your prime "break-in" tool. Agents and producers generally will not read your script until they have first read your query letter. Now you can get my evaluation of your query, my assessment of its marketing potential, and recommendations for its revision.

FEE: $115. Turnaround: 2-3 weeks.

6. MENTORING & ONE-ON-ONE CONSULTATIONS

I provide two mentoring services:

A. If you're just beginning a script or are in the idea stage, then let me mentor you through the four steps of the writing process, culminating in the completion of a showcase script. The fourth step of this write a screenplay in 4 steps program is the equivalent of my 14-Point Analysis. More information here. The fee is $195 per step.

2. For a one-on-one phone consultation on any freelance writing or screenwriting topic (or for any script doctoring work), my fee is $195 an hour. (If you would like to utilize this service for a shorter time, simply call me at 800-264-4900.)

7. ONE SHEET OR SYNOPSIS EVALUATION

If you are about to pitch your script idea to a producer or agent, and anticipate being asked for a "one sheet" or one-page synopsis, get that written synopsis evaluated in preparation for your pitching opportunity.

FEE: $125. Turn around 2-3 weeks.

8. FIRST TEN PAGES EVALUATION

The first ten pages must hook the reader. Do you want to know how your first ten pages read to an agent or producer? Let me evaluate them for scene structure, characterization, dialogue, and format.

FEE: $125. Turnaround: 2-3 weeks.

9. TREATMENT EVALUATION

Get a thorough assessment of your 3-page, double-spaced treatment or synopsis.

FEE: $195. Turnaround: 3-4 weeks.

If your treatment is longer than 3 pages, you will be charged $65 for each additional page over the three-page limit. Each page should be double-spaced.

10. FORMATTING REVIEW

This service is available to those who want their script reviewed for formatting issues only. Keep in mind that all of my script evaluations include comments on formatting problems. My "Formatting Review" focuses solely on formatting. In fact, I will hand correct the formatting on each page of your script, which means that you must send me a hard copy of your script. Allow 3-4 weeks for your script to be returned.

FEE: $395. Turnaround 3-4 weeks.

HOW TO GET YOUR MATERIAL TO ME

After you add your order to your cart and go through checkout on my secure server, email your script (and/or other material) to me at the email address below. Attach it as a Word Document, PDF document, RTF file, Movie Magic document, or Final Draft document.

If you prefer to mail your script to me without going through checkout, you may simply send it with your check or VISA/MasterCard information to the following address:

Dave Trottier
4456 Manchester St.
Cedar Hills, UT 84062
800-264-4900

If you send your script to me by overnight mail, waive the signature to avoid an unnecessary delay.

Once I receive your material by email or snail mail, I will email your or phone you so that you know it has arrived. Once done, you can relax while you wait for your evaluation. ☺

You will see these instructions again at the end of checkout.