Understanding Script Coverage: Elements, Example, and Template

Formatting and writing concise and informative script coverage is an essential skill for those hoping to break into the film industry. It is a skill not often taught outside of a production company, but something that has the capacity to land you your very first script development role.

Providing useful script coverage starts by having read countless scripts and understanding what an exec or producer is looking for exactly. Before starting, make sure you have a good grip on the script itself, as well as the needs of the studio or agent who commissioned the coverage from you.

In this post you’ll learn:

What is Script Coverage

Script coverage is a document used in studios and production companies to tell a producer or exec everything they need to know about a script…without actually reading it. It’s typically 2-4 pages long and contains general information about a script as well as a synopsis, grade, and reader comments.

Who Writes Script Coverage?

Script coverage is typically completed by scriptwriters hired by a company to read and write reports on the masses of incoming scripts. Most producers and studio execs do not have time to personally read through the screenplays sent over by agents and writers, and so to prioritize their time, they will outsource the responsibility to their script readers.

A script reader has the important job of summarising scripts and filtering out those that are not of interest to the exec. This might be due to any number of reasons including bad writing or a poor story, as well as if the genre/tone/format is not what the production company is looking for at that moment.

The script reader is looking not only at the screenplay but the writer. If a project isn’t a good fit for the studio at that moment, the writer may still be passed onto the exec for consideration.

Script readers are often freelancers hired by a production company to complete a certain number of scripts per week or month, however, the task is also often given to interns as a main responsibility.

Elements of Script Coverage

Different studios may have slight differences in their script coverage format, however, almost all coverage will contain the following elements in some form.

Title and Author

This should appear at the very top of the document so that an exec immediately knows what the project is and who wrote it.

Script Information

Underneath the title and author should be some key details about the screenplay. This usually includes genre, locations, draft date, format and who the script was submitted by/the writer’s representation. This acts as a cheat sheet for an exec to quickly know what type of project they are looking at.

Logline

Usually created by the script reader, the logline is a one-sentence description of the project that typically introduces the protagonist, major plot point, and most interesting element of the story.

Ratings

This may be in the form of a table or list and works to give a score to various elements of the script based on what the production company wants to know. Some common areas for ratings are Premise, Plot, Characters, and Dialogue.

As a summary of the ratings, the script reader should provide a comment on whether they do or do not recommend the script and writer. If not recommending, the reader should write PASS, or they can choose between CONSIDER and RECOMMEND. The reader may also want to add a short sentence of explanation.

Synopsis

Aim to summarise the script’s plot in no more than two pages. Focus on the key A-Plot story beats to convey the events in as objective a manner as possible. The synopsis should be written in the narrative voice and split into paragraphs.

Have the script in front of you as you write to ensure your summary is accurate, and try to skip over B-Plot or details that aren’t directly related to the central story. It is easier to write fluently and cut down to under two pages after completing than try to keep the summary to one page on the first attempt.

Comments

Keep your comments to under one page if possible and use the company’s current writer’s brief as your guide. Refer to whether the story and writer is a fit with the studio and make sure to highlight any potential issues with the plot and characters.

Try to find references to similar films/shows in the first paragraph to help the exec better picture the tone and style of the script without needing to read it for themself. Tell them what you liked and didn’t like and what, if anything, you found particularly unique about the screenplay.

You will need to find a balance between your personal taste, the studio’s identity, and the general public’s potential response. Let the exec know who you think the script’s audience would be and the movie’s potential scale: does it have the mass appeal of an epic or a more targeted indi film demographic?

Verdict

A short round-up of the coverage that acts as a sort of conclusion. This can be a brief paragraph that lets the exec know the best and worst elements of the script and why it should be passed on or considered.

Script Coverage Example

Title: Family Ties
Author:

Format: Pilot
Genre: Comedy Drama
Location: London
Circa: Current Day

Logline: After the death of her estranged Father, MAXINE (20), returns home to her brothers and Mother for a wake that reveals more than one complicated family relationship.

Premise: 4/5
Characterisation: 3/5
Dialogue: 5/5
Plot: 3/5

Project: Pass
Writer: Recommend

Synopsis:
Maxine (28) makes the walk of shame through Leeds back to her cramped studio apartment. On the way, she listens to a voicemail from her Mother, ANNE (50s) that reveals her estranged Father, GREG (50s), has died.

Maxine, her Mum, and her brothers CALLUM (13) and RICH (18) stand with their Father’s urn in Richmond Park. Anne wishes Greg peace before attempting to scatter his ashes into the grass but the wind blows them back into their faces.

At their house, the siblings awkwardly accept guests’ condolences for Greg’s memorial. The siblings hide in the bathroom and Rich asks Maxine if she’s cried yet, Maxine pretends she has. They discuss the last time Rich and Callum saw their Dad at Christmas, and Maxine apologises for not coming home over the holidays. Rich reflects that Anne only kicked Greg out once he started cheating on her, not during the 10 years of drinking and hard drugs. Maxine waits to be alone in the bathroom to use the toilet, she notices her period is late.

Outside Callum plays on his DS when two popular-looking girls, Kiera (14) and Olivia (13), approach him. They hug Callum and start gushing over how sorry they are for his loss. Olivia explains that she understands how Callum is feeling as her parents are divorced so she only sees her Dad on the weekends. She tells Callum he can take them both out on a date and he awkwardly agrees.

Back inside, Rich spots his ex-boyfriend, Ben (19), walking over. Ben offers Rich a drink and Rich asks if he is really trying to get back together at his Dad’s funeral. Ben clumsily responds yes. In the kitchen, Maxine eats finger sandwiches. She offers them to Callum, Kiera, and Olivia. Callum refuses, pretending that he’s lost his appetite since their Dad died. Kiera and Olivia croon over his sadness. Maxine spots Paula, her Dad’s girlfriend, across the room and goes to ask her to leave.

Rich and Ben lie in Rich’s bed. He asks if he should post something about his Dad on Instagram or if that would be insensitive. Ben responds that he made a post when his dog died. Rich, bewildered, heads to the living room where Anne stands in front of a karaoke mic. She thanks the guests for being there and asks if anyone would like to say some words about Greg. Paula approaches the mic and introduces herself as if in AA. She tells the room that Greg will be missed and asks everyone to send their love to her before blowing a kiss to the sky and exiting the room.

Maxine, enraged, tries to move through the crowd to catch Paula and give her a piece of her mind. She follows her into a corner shop and is distracted by the pregnancy tests. Maxine leaves and sits on the curb, head in hands. She still can’t cry. She hears a lighter and looks up to find Paula smoking a cigarette. She tells Maxine that her Dad was the funniest person she’d ever met, and Maxine finally bursts into tears.

Rich says goodbye to Ben, possibly forever, then changes his mind and asks if he wants to hook up in the garage. Maxine starts washing up when her Mum nudges her aside and takes over. Callum asks if anyone else feels like the big memorial photo of Greg is watching them and all agree it’s time to move it. Maxine and Callum carry the memorial photo to the garage, opening the door to find Ben standing naked over Rich. Callum screams and drops the portrait to cover his eyes whilst Ben panics and tries to grab his clothes. He trips and falls directly onto the painting.

Later, Callum lies on his bed playing his DS game whilst talking to Maxine in the bathroom who secretly takes the pregnancy test. Callum asks if Maxine will stay in London and she replies “for now”. Rich enters and Callum shows him the ‘best part’ of the game, receiving a letter from ‘Dad’. Maxine sits in the toilet and looks down at a positive pregnancy test.

Comments:
Family Ties is a fantastic drama comedy encapsulating a family navigating the uncomfortable process of grieving their estranged Father. There is an impressive balance between the severity of mourning and the surreal weirdness of losing someone that was already lost which brilliantly reflects the universal urge to giggle at a funeral.

Reminiscent of the awkward comedy and themes of Fleabag in the style of Modern Family, the script demonstrates the writer’s impressive voice and ability to craft complex comedy scripts. The dramedy sitcom genre is not something this company is actively looking for and does not align with the current target demographic, however, the writer’s skill could easily be used on a longer feature project.

The script is noteworthy for its unique style and approachable comedy, although it must be noted that it contains several uninspired clichés including the pregnancy subplot. The sibling characters are in need of some further depth, and I would have liked to see more hints given as to what might be expected in future episodes.

Verdict: Ultimately this script is incredibly polished and impressive, so I can’t help but wonder if there are more engaging routes for the story to go in over pregnancy which has certainly been seen time and time again. These elements should be replaced with furthered series set up to hook an audience further into what will happen next. This being said, the pilot is an indicator of the writer’s strong abilities in comedy and navigating multiple plots. There is such a clever quirkiness to their voice whilst manoeuvring risky topics with real emotional intelligence. Overall, this project is not for us, but the writer is worth considering for future projects.

Script Coverage Template

When applying for internships or script reader roles, you may be asked to provide examples of previously completed script coverage. To help you create these pieces, use the file below to access my free Script Coverage Template.

Script Coverage Template Download

Using my background in film production, I have created a multitude of resources for others looking to break into the industry. If you found this post useful, why not check out:

What is a script treatment (and how to write one)

Screenwriting Terms: How to Format a Script

The Best and Only Script Outline You’ll Ever Need

Understanding Script Coverage: Elements, Example, and Template