Read 'Scam alert: never pay anyone to do coverage on your screenplay' at http://www.SellingYourScreenplay.com.

I got this question recently:

“I sent my screenplay to a production company that wanted me to pay for coverage from a company they recommended. This seemed shady and a conflict of interest so I decided not to move forward with them. Is this a scam? Don’t legitimate production companies have readers internally that read for them?”

You instincts are correct. This sounds like a total scam. I wouldn’t pay a coverage house that a production company recommended to review my screenplay.

There is no guarantee that the production company will produce your script no matter what the coverage company says. You are absolutely correct in thinking that any legitimate company in the business of producing films has readers and would be able to determine if a screenplay was worthy of production or not.

If you are looking for some feedback on your material check out my post on Script Consultants. They can be a valuable tool in making your screenplay better. But that’s all they are, another tool to help you make your script better.

Read 'Scam alert!' at http://www.SellingYourScreenplay.com.

I get these sorts of questions quite often and while I’ve answered them before I thought it deserved to be repeated.

“An agency had an ad on Craig’s List which I responded to. A “friend of the agency” called me today saying he liked my script and wants to help me get it in shape before an agent or producer sees it. He claims the agency has a lot of connections in the industry. But there is a fee of $600. Do you think this is a scam?”

Yes. This is a scam. The whole way they got in touch with you seems very shady. Posting an ad as an agent and then passing you off to their script doctor friend is clearly a bait and switch tactic that screams scam.

There are legit script consultants out there who will give you detailed notes on your script, and many of these services are worth the money. But no legit script consultant sells their service with the vague promise of getting it to an agent with “lots of connections.” If you feel like you need help on your script by all means get help, but don’t deal with people who work in such a shady manner.

I wrote a post on Script Consultants where I mention a reputable one and also explain how you can get help on your script without paying for a consultant.

Read 'Screenplay Scam: Paying Producers, Agents or Managers Up Front Fees' at http://www.SellingYourScreenplay.com.

I’ve gotten several emails recently that go something like this:

“A production company wants to option my script and they are going to take it to some major studies but they want me to pay them a retainer fee.  Do you think this is a scam?”

Yes.  This is a scam.

If a production company really has connections with major studies and they really believe your script is good enough to bring to a major studio they don’t need you to pay them a few hundred bucks (amount may vary from $50 to $1,000 or more).

Sometimes I’ve heard these sorts of companies tell the unsuspecting screenwriter that they need a few hundred dollars to cover administration costs, script copies, postage, etc.  Again, this is pure nonsense.  Producers and agents have offices.  That’s what they do and they absorb those costs.  Everyone who’s really in the industry knows this.  Agents and managers get paid when they sell your material – the same time you get paid.  Producers get paid when they set up a deal and get financing or an investment in a project.  The talent doesn’t pay them for setting up the project.

There’s an interesting reversal that happens when a real agent or real producer likes your script.  Before they’ve read your script they do everything within their power to avoid you and put you off because most of the material they read sucks.  But once they’ve read your script and they genuinely like it the writer then has the power because they appreciate how hard it is to find good material.  The last thing they would do is annoy the writer by trying to squeeze a few bucks out of him.

When I was new to the business I sent my script to a production company who sent me a nice letter back telling me how great it was but that it needed a polish by a “professional” screenwriter who I could hire through them for around $5,000.  This was the first screenplay I ever wrote and it was an unmanageable mess, it was awful, it made no sense, it wasn’t formatted correctly, it had no structure what-so-ever, the characters and story were dull and trite, the dialogue stilted (although at the time I thought it was brilliant). To think that anyone could turn it into a workable script is ludicrous.  I think the fact that it was so terrible and clearly written by a novice made them think they might have a chance at ripping me off because I later sent them a more professional submission and never heard a word out of them.

I’d prefer not to get into naming specific companies as “scams” as there is really no point.  They’re often quite defensive about it and I really don’t have time to fight each company that thinks they’re really bringing some value to the equation.  The bottom line is this: If someone is asking you for money to help you get your script produced it’s a scam.  No question about it.  It doesn’t work that way.  Ever.

If you know of any other tricks that scammers use by all means list them below in the comments section.