Career Spotlight: Professional Script Reader

Before a studio head or a producer reads a script, it is usually first read by an assistant or an intern. Sometimes scripts first get read by professional readers who work for screenplay competitions or other companies. Here is an interview with Greg McKenna, a reader who has been working for the BlueCat Screenplay Competition since September 2011.

How did you get started in script reading?

I was an intern at a company called Hyde Park Entertainment. Script reading was a big part of the internship and you had to do the work on deadlines. I happened to find BlueCat, the company I currently read scripts for, on some online job website. I figured it would be great for practice, and then I just kept doing it. And it was also good side income.

What is your favorite aspect of your work?

I really enjoy talking about scripts. It sounds really pretentious, but I really enjoy talking to people about screenwriting. Doing the actual write-ups is the fun part for me. Reading is sometimes the hard part because some of the scripts I read are really bad, but doing the write-ups is the easy part. 

What skills have you gained since you began reading scripts professionally?

I have learned the shortcuts on how to evaluate a screenplay. You learn to figure out the problems faster in a script. Identifying elements and separating them in your head is really a skill you get from reading a lot of scripts.

What advice can you give to those who are interested in reading scripts professionally?

I think the most important thing about professional script reading is patience. The first few times you read scripts will suck.You only get good at it after reading a lot of scripts. The more you read, the more you will understand what is and what isn't working in scripts.

In a given week how many scripts do you read?

It depends. On a really good week I read about ten. When I first started out, I did about three to five per week. I've gotten so good at reading and writing feedback that I can read three a day now. 

Are all the scripts you read features? Or do you also read pilots?

I mostly read feature lengths, but I have read some pilots and shorts. Reading shorts is a lot different than reading features. It's a different experience. With features there are a lot of common mistakes that are made, like poor descriptions, main character doesn't have a clear enough arc, and other issues. Beginning screenwriters have the same issue. A lot of amateur scripts read like a six year old telling you about their day. So you can see the difference really heavily. Short scripts are different. They are usually about a single theme, or a feeling, or an emotion. They are a lot more experimental. 

Do you read for BlueCat all year round?

No. There's a three/four month hiatus because they have to pick a winner. They have to cut off submissions.

What is the funniest experience you've had as a script reader?

There was one time I was in a writer's group and a girl's script turned out to be one that I had read for BlueCat. It was so funny when I realized that I had already read her work.

What has been your worst experience as a script reader?

There was one painful script that I had to read. It was a difficult situation. It was obviously adapted from a book. The dialogue would just go on for pages. It happened repeatedly. So, I gave my notes with all the critique. The writer submits the second draft, but it was barely different. He submitted along with it a three-paged rebuttal of my notes. It was awful.

Is a three-paged rebuttal considered extreme?

A one-paged rebuttal is considered extreme. If it doesn't make sense in the script it doesn't matter what your rebuttal says. You know what I am saying? He just didn't understand that. It was clear he was the type of person who couldn't take criticism well. 

In addition to reading scripts for income, you also work for a company called LearnDistrict. Tell me a little about that.

I started out as a consultant, but now I am a lead writer for a game that is in development. I did character concepts, I did a lot of the organization about which levels go where, and I did a lot of the basic concept design. 

How often do you travel to San Jose where the company is based?

It varies. Sometimes two or three times a month. Sometimes I go up just once a month.

How has your experience working as a script reader translated to the work you do for LearnDistrict?

Reading scripts makes you a better writer. But doing script notes, where you are given a limited amount of space to critique something, makes you value your words more. It is something I used to struggle with. Having to say something useful in a certain amount of words has definitely helped out with the writing I do for LearnDistrict.

Any advice to current students who are studying film or video game design?

I would suggest people write more on their own. Spend time, even if it's just once a week, writing your own ideas. Even if it's just a treatment for an idea. If you never act on these ideas now, you might act on them later. For video games, one of the things I have heard the most is that a resume is not everything. The guys who are going to hire you care about what you can produce and what you have written. What can you bring to them? Do you have a portfolio? Learn to do your own stuff. 

If you are interested in hiring Greg to give you notes on your script, please communicate with him through his LinkedIn page: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/greg-mckenna/11/78b/b23

To read more about BlueCat, go here: http://bluecatscreenplay.com/

If you want to learn more about LearnDistrict, check out the company's website here: http://learndistrict.com/