When entering a new and unfamiliar universe, one must come prepared. Without the knowledge of the playing field, its rules and its language, one would doubtfully be able to make it out of the gate, much less have a fighting chance. Therefore, here at Scriptshark we have committed to an ongoing quest to help our writers prepare for the industry into which you are trying to break. In this edition of the Script Journal, we will continue to do so by introducing the writer to today’s most popular and relevant industry terms, so that you could better navigate the market place.
Reader: Readers are the industry’s gate-keepers. They exist in most every production company, agency, management company and studio, and their sole responsibility is reading and “covering” scripts (see COVERAGE definition below). Based on the recommendation made in a reader’s coverage report, their employing company will decide whether a screenplay is worthy of being forwarded to an executive, producer, agent or manager, or whether it should be discarded.
Coverage: Coverage Reports are generated in every production company, agency, management company and studio upon receipt of a screenplay, providing a brief description of the story, and assessing the materials’ strengths and weaknesses in order to provide the person to whom the material was sent a glance at whether or not the material would be attractive to their company.
Option: An option is an agreement which allows a company, a producer, or any other individual, to “run” or pursue the realization of your screenplay before making the actual purchase of the material. Option agreements may be for any amount of money, and span weeks, months, or even years. During the option period, the purchasing entity may approach actors, directors, financing, production and distribution entities in order to turn your screenplay into a viable, produce-able project. Should the purchasing entity manage to do this during the option period, then the purchasing entity will be able to purchase the material outright in order to put in into production.
Packaging: Packaging is a term used for attaching a number of viable elements (see definition below) to a screenplay, in order to create a financially attractive package. Either a producer or a packaging agent will pursue the elements of the package in order to create a package that is attractive to studios, production companies, financiers and distribution companies.
Elements: Actors, director, other viable talent, distribution or finance attached to a project in order to make its package attractive.
Bankable: Usually an actor or a director with a proven, winning and current box office track-record, whose involvement in any given project is effectively a guarantee of box office, DVD and ancillary returns.
Back-end: Rather then being compensated for their work entirely up-front, some elements, such as actors, director or even writers may be compensated on the “back-end” in the form of a percentage or “points” from the gross or net revenue. The more high-profile the talent, the better their back-end deal will be. Back-end compensation is usually in addition to up-front payment, and is offered in order to make involvement in the project more financially attractive. In another situation, if a film is produced on a low budget, producers will often negotiate with actors, director and key crew members using points from the back end, guaranteeing that if the film is successful, the individuals involved will receive their full compensation.
Development: The period during which a screenplay is developed to its full potential within a production company or studio. The development process is guided by a Creative Executive or a Director of Development and will include extensively reworking and honing certain parts of the script as well as the pursuit of suitable elements for the scripts’ package, such as actors and other talent. If a screenplay is developed to the company’s satisfaction and manages to attract viable talent, then the screenplay stands a strong chance of moving into production.
Green-light: Taking a screenplay out of development and into production. Once a project has been “green-lit”, funds are either allocated or secured for its production. However, because companies develop multiple projects simultaneously, only a few come together (in terms of script, elements, etc.) to make it out of development, and into production.
Pre-Pro: Short for Pre-Production. The period in which a production company prepares for the shooting of a film. This period includes casting of parts, building sets, hiring a crew, scouting locations, and much more. Pre-Production period ends with the start of Principle (see definition below).
Shooting Script: The final script that makes it into production, which often includes specific camera directions, and from which all departments will be working during the pre-production period in order to make a cohesive film.
Principle: Short for Principle Photography, or the actual shooting of a film. During this period, all the scenes of the screenplay that will make it onto the screen will be shot in accordance with a carefully scrutinized shooting schedule.
Rushes: Also known as Dailies. The processed film from each shooting day, which is viewed by the producers and director at the end of each shooting day to ensure the quality of the material being captured.
Re-Shoots: The period during which any scenes that need to be re-captured for the completion of a film are re-shot. During this time, the producers may elect to re-shoot scenes that were not executed properly, or to shoot new scenes that were not part of the original shooting script in order to make a better, more cohesive film.
Post: Short for Post-Production. The period following the completion of Principle Photography, during which the film will be edited, dialogue will be re-recorded as needed, sound will be mixed, music and special effects will be added, and the film will be “locked”. Post production is also known as the reparation period, in which mistakes made during production are correct. Hence, the popular phrase heard on sets all over the world: “We’ll fix it in post”.
If there are other terms that you have heard, and are not sure what they are, please feel free to write to us, and we will address them either in a reply email or in future articles. If have any questions relating to this article, email them to
scriptshark@filmtracker.com, and we will do our best to address them.
