“This process has exceeded my expectations, this is going to help me tremendously.
I feel like you really get the characters and your enthusiasm has driven me to keep at it. The issues you
addressed were so specific and tailored to my script. Honestly, I was afraid of cookie cutter responses in hiring
a consultant. I will definitely be using your service on all future projects.”  - Marty Anderson, New York

 

WHAT I AM ABOUT

Almost every problem area in any script can be traced back to the lack of a clear dramatic idea. Whether including scenes to make characters more “likeable,” attempting to make the script more “marketable” or taking the well-intentioned but uninformed advice of families and friends, writers fall into traps that take them away from the true story that wants to be told.

To get back to the heart of the material, I first distill a simple, direct, single-sentence controlling idea for the screenplay, a crystal-clear theme in ten words or less. I then use logical principles to make sure that the screenplay reflects back this main theme:

• Transformation: Where does the hero begin? Where does he end? Do the final scenes completely answer the needs established at the beginning? And vice-versa?

• Sources of Conflict: does your hero encounter clearly identified sources of conflict? Does the conflict consistently progress and present new obstacles?

• Goal: Does the hero possess a specific driving want that motivates his every action? Does your hero fight for his want in every scene?

• Climax: Does the climax present the hero with a do-or-die choice of irreversible change? Does the climax represent the hero’s worst fears coming true? The most severe form of conflict?

• Action: Does your hero adopt new approaches to achieve his goal? Does each new approach carry increased risk and more to lose? Are the stakes literally or figuratively life-and-death?

No screenplay stands a greater chance for success than one that commits to a single idea and develops it with logic, specificity and forward momentum. “Insider secrets that sell” or formulaic paradigms cannot help you to locate the source of plot/character inconsistencies, vague storytelling, repetitious beats, low-stakes conflict or the number of other errors that keep a screenplay from being its best. The above principles work because they take into account your specific story and world.

THE LOWDOWN ON WHAT TO EXPECT FROM ME

Choosing the right consultant for your script can seem like an intimidating task – you're putting a lot of time, trust and energy into a professional without a guarantee of what the final product will look like. To make your decision a little easier, here is a concrete breakdown of what you can expect from our work together:

• Specific Constructive Feedback: My notes dig deep into your story to answer two essential questions: 1) What are you trying to say with your script? 2) How can you say it more effectively? I will identify specific problem areas and come up with practical, usable solutions that all come back to supporting your main theme. You will walk away from the consultation knowing exactly what needs to be fixed and how to fix it.

• Total Grasp of the Story You Want to Tell: You will feel completely understood as I reconnect you to the original ideas that inspired you to write your story in the first place. Rather than resort to formulas, paradigms or cookie-cutter answers, I wll instead mine your existing characters and premise for exciting new possibilities that will unlock the heart of your story. As we discuss ways to maximize the drama, you will be filled with a distinct sense of, “Yes, this is the movie I wanted to write all along!”

• New Ideas: Literally every single one of my clients at some point pauses to tell me, “My head feels like it’s swimming with new ideas!” Not only will I come up with a number of dynamic suggestions that you can immediately incorporate into your script but you will also feel inspired to dream up new possibilities of your own.

• Custom Made Exercises: I will create step-by-step exercises to help you implement the lessons covered in the notes. Clear, specific instructions will aid you in busting down previous blocks that you might not even know exist.

• Deeper Understanding of Screenwriting: The issues we cover discussing your screenplay will also apply to all future work – it’s not just a consultation about one specific script but a mini-tutorial on the craft of screenwriting.

• Renewed Enthusiasm: Because the entire consultation works toward developing the story on your terms, clients leave with a renewed sense of confidence and eagerness to tackle the rewrite. Confusion will be replaced by clarity, problem areas become opportunities for exciting improvement. You will feel completely anchored by a firm grasp of your story.

Bottom line, my consultation is a one-stop workshop experience that takes an intuitive and analytical approach to helping you tell the highest-stakes, most dynamic version of the story you want to tell. This is why my clients respond to our work together with such enthusiasm and come back for more.