Script Doctor & Writing Services
World-Class Script Doctor & Screenplay Rewrite Services
by Industrial Scripts®
“The script doctoring service was excellent and helped me enormously on the problems and opportunities between drafts. I would highly recommend Industrial Scripts”.
Marcus Markou
Writer-Director
PAPADOPOULOS & SONS
Script doctoring is the process by which screenplays are rewritten in TV & film.
A script doctor is a fusion of the screenwriter and the script consultant: he or she is a disciplined writer, one expert in sticking to a precise brief or objective.
If you’re at a roadblock with a project, if you can’t see the wood from the trees, or don’t have the time to make the changes you KNOW your script needs, our service is for you…
Just some of the companies our script doctors have worked for…
Since 2010, Industrial Scripts has been delivering industry-leading script development services.
Our cherry-picked team of script consultants and script doctors are dedicated to helping writers and filmmakers improve.
Script development is What We Do. 24/7.
Is Script Doctoring Right for You?
Frustrated? Confused? Time-poor? Our service was designed to ease your development pain…
Have you been struggling with a script? Can’t see the wood from the trees anymore?
Do you have a script with a great core premise, poorly executed?
Are you battle-weary of evasive lit agents and a bloated process?
Time-poor? Want someone to go away and perfectly execute YOUR vision?
Need a fresh, dynamic collaborator to bounce ideas off?
Don’t have the budget for a multi-credited writer?
Do you seek a writer who’ll actually stick to the brief?!!
Want the all-court benefits of a (script consultant + screenwriter) = script doctor?!
Industrial Scripts is the first – and only – script co. with over 1,500 testimonials verified as genuine.
Our Script Doctoring Process: Step-By-Step
8 transparent steps to script development heaven…
Step #1: We Read Your Script
First, we we need to read your script. Book our Script Doctor’s Quote, and our script doctor will respond with some overview notes on the doctoring, and a full quote. View a sample of this assessment report, here.
You book our Script Doctor’s Quote
…we respond in 10 days with a full quote and schedule…
Step #2: You’ll Receive a Quote…
A genre-specialist script doctor will be assigned to your script, read it, and deliver overview creative notes. You’ll also receive a quote in terms of both price and the number of weeks’ dedicated script doctoring we believe the script needs.
Step #3: Contract Time
Presuming our quote is acceptable, we move forward swiftly to our standardised contract and schedule the work, too. Typically we encourage “rest weeks” in the schedule to allow the whole process to breathe.
…at this point the invoice would be raised and paid, too…
…you either bring a clear brief, or work with us on one..
Step #4: Initial Creative Set-Up
With the paperwork out of the way the fun really begins: you’re now in direct contact with our designated script doctor. Further discussions take place relating to the direction of the script. You either come equipped with a clear brief, or work with our script doctor to lock down the narrative.
Step #5: Beat-Sheet Sign Off
By now you’ve been exchanging ideas with our script doctor, and he/she has a very clear idea of what you, the client, want. You’ll now be sent a fresh beat sheet detailing the script changes you’ve been discussing.
…you need to sign off on this beat sheet before rewriting can commence…
Work commences! Our script doctor begins realising YOUR vision…
Step #6: Rewriting commences!
Having signed off on the new beat sheet for your script, our script doctor now begins executing the changes you’ve prepared between you. You can either kick back at this point and get on with the day job or be in constant creative contact with your script doctor. You decide, you’re in charge.
Step #7: Proto-Draft Delivered
As suggested, we typically try and schedule our bookings “4 weeks over 6 weeks” or “8 weeks over 12 weeks” to give the process room to breathe. You’ll often receive a “proto-draft” script to feedback on, before the final delivery…
Proto-Draft incoming…
Proto-Draft incoming…
Step #8: Final draft delivered!
It’s now the end of the script doctoring journey. Often on conventional writer bookings the deadline drifts…and drifts some more…and some more. But we NEVER miss a deadline. It’s in the contract, and you can bet the house on us hitting it.
“Thank you very much Industrial Scripts. The script doctoring experience has been tremendous.
I’m a very happy customer…”
Adam Rolston
Producer, A STREET CAT NAMED BOB
Start Working with Our Script Doctor Today
Kick off the Industrial Scripts script doctoring process by booking our Script Doctor’s Quote. Our genre-specialist will read your script and we’ll issue you with some thoughts on the script doctoring and a full quote. Remember: you’re in creative control throughout…
Ready to Meet Our Script Doctors?
Our script doctoring department includes genre specialists with demonstrable industry experience of both sides of the script development fence – screenwriting and script editing/consultancy. Here are the highlights from just some of the script doctors on our books…
DRAMA
A Drama Script Doctor: MN
> Worked in pro development on projects from Anthony Minghella & Ridley Scott (credits to prove it).
> Former creative executive for an Oscar-winning filmmaker.
> Repped writer with multiple projects in active development.
> Drama specialist with demonstrable experience in the genre.
COMEDY
A Comedy Script Doctor: AZ
> Development credits on THE KING’S SPEECH and MINDHORN, to name but two.
> Multiple credits on high level films and TV shows featuring established talent.
> Repped writer with multiple projects in active development.
> Comedy specialist with demonstrable experience in the genre.
ACTION & THRILLER
An Action Script Doctor: JW
> Writer commissioned by established prod co’s incl Riverstone Pictures, The Fyzz and more.
> Multiple projects in development incl one with one of the world’s top-5 current directors attached to EP.
> Repped writer with multiple projects in active development.
> Action and thriller specialist with demonstrable experience in the genre.
HORROR & SCI-FI
A Horror Script Doctor: AH
> Vastly experienced script consultant running a 9.3/10 satisfaction rating over 100s of client testimonials.
> Repped screenwriter with multiple projects in active development.
> Author of academic texts on horror and sci-fi with encyclopedic knowledge of both genres.
> Former career in advertising, with a long track record of hitting a brief.
NOTE: these profiles only reveal certain information about some of our script doctors because when you engage Industrial Scripts you are engaging the company, rather than any one individual. We then sub-contract the work to our selected script doctor, and carefully manage the whole process based on 10 years of running such bookings. Remember we have more “skin in the game” – more motivation to keep you happy – than any individual!
“Today we completed the script doctoring work on my screenplay ANOTHER LOVE, with Industrial Scripts.
I have no words to say other than THANK YOU as it has been an amazing collaboration.
The script doctor we worked with is super-talented.
You guys have demonstrated exceptional efficiency and skill”.
Victor Perez
Writer-Director, ANOTHER LOVE
Hang on, I need to understand script doctors better…
“The script doctor is the theoretical love-child (!) of the screenwriter and the script consultant: a disciplined creative with experience of both sides of the development fence, and the fusion of skills to match.
Unlike the screenwriter, the script doctor always works to a very specific brief, and unlike the script consultant he or she is endlessly, proactively problem-solving and creative…”
As we explained on our definition of a Script Editor page, there are essentially two “families” of terms when referring to script development professionals:
> script editors / script readers/ script consultants / script analysts /coaches/gurus.
> script doctors.
Script doctors differ from the other types of professional in that the others are reactive whereas a script doctor is proactive.
A script doctor will actually re-write parts – or even all – of a script. They will provide feedback in the same way a script editor will, but they will also suggest improvements and then go away and actually implement these improvements themselves.
One of the vital skills of a script doctor is to be able to remove their ego from the equation and stick tightly to a brief. Script doctors, although often responsible for vastly improving movies and TV shows, are rarely publicly credited and do most of their work unseen.
Here’s a great article from Variety about Hollywood script doctors, how they work, and the huge fees they command...
“Developing my screenplay with Industrial Scripts has been the best investment of my career to date. Not only have I learnt a huge amount in the process, but experienced the hands-on approach to get my screenplay to market.
Industrial exceeded my expectations“.
Andrew James Porter
Writer
Hiring a Script Doctor VS Using a Literary Agent
Our script doctoring service has been carefully engineered to address many of the common issues filmmakers experience working with large literary agencies.
✔ Our Script Doctors
> Nimble, admin-lite, standardised contracting process.
> Most of our contracts are signed on the day – lightening fast.
> Fast responses with no pursuit. We get back to you, quickly.
> Our script doctors have been deliberately hired due to their ability to stick to a brief.
> Crystal-clear schedule and locked delivery dates mean no late drafts or disputes over script steps.
> Contracted number of booking weeks keeps things simple.
> Transparent and fixed credit situation from the get-go: no fights down the line.
> Any extra work needed is booked on a weekly basis.
✖ Using a Lit Agency
> Lengthy, drawn-out, expensive negotiation process.
> Agenting back and forth can take weeks, sometimes months.
> Sometimes evasive, distracted, difficult to pin down.
> Screenwriters can go “off piste”, follow their own agenda, ignore your brief.
> Blurred lines with disputes over what constitutes a “draft” commonplace.
> Indeterminate timescales muddy the waters, generate confusion.
> Agents often “go for credit” later, as that’s where the largest payment is.
> No set system in place for extra work/revisions.
Script Doctoring: In Brief
How much does it cost?
How much does it cost?
Our script doctoring prices are quoted for on a case-by-case basis and charged weekly (ie. “6 weeks f/t doctoring at $___”). This isn’t one-off script notes and a serious development professional is going to be clearing their decks and committing to massively progressing your project. You’ll need an appropriate budget (thousands not hundreds in USD terms) in place beforehand, therefore. After we’ve read your script we can deliver a precise quote.
Who are your script doctors?
You can view our script doctor profiles above, by genre. Please note in addition to the doctors below we have a broader pool of script doctors that we bring in on a case-by-case basis, depending on the project. Remember all our script doctors come with the IS stamp of authenticity: we’re the only script development company with over 1,000 verified testimonials, and we’re hopeful our track record speaks for itself in that regard. We also work with other, higher-profile screenwriters who for obvious reasons do not wish it known to the wider industry that they do uncredited script doctoring work. We also have relationships with several high-level development people who have worked extensively on both sides of the development fence (ie. as writer and development executive/reader/editor), and have found this type of writer is extremely good at hitting a brief, and not diverting from the client’s wishes. Once we know more about your project, we’re able to match a suitable script doctor to it. Just book our Script Doctor’s Assessment service to get your work matched to a script doctor. As with all our script development services, we stand by the quality of our work – and with hundreds of customer reviews online you can be sure your project is in the safest hands possible with us. For absolute clarity, however, it’s worth noting that you are hiring Industrial Scripts the company to complete the work – your contract is with us, and the choice of individual script doctor is at our discretion.
What happens re: credit?
Our script doctors are not credited on your project. They receive no payment on the first day of principal photography, have no legal rights in the work, and are not involved beyond the end of their contract with you (unless you wish them to be). The system is quick, easy and intended to cut through all the usual red tape associated with bringing on a new writer to a project. The only contractual stipulation we insist on is that in the event we wish to, we and our individual script doctor will be credited as “Script Editor: John Doe on behalf of Industrial Scripts”, “Script Doctor” or “Script Consultant” on your project.
Is your system flexible?
To be honest: not really. Over almost 10 years we’ve been running the service it’s been deliberately honed and tweaked to deliver the best possible result for the client. So whilst there’s some flexibility in terms of schedule, and how many weeks you book in what period, we aim always for an ultra-smooth booking and the system has been deliberately tailored to deliver that. We’ve ironed out so many of the issues that typically beset a script development booking already, that the process now serves both parties perfectly.
Does IS offer pure writing services?
Sometimes a client will approach us without an existing screenplay, or sometimes without even a treatment or pitch document.
They’ll have an idea for a great TV show or movie, and want to develop it with us.
In this instance we act as an agency, placing one of our writers on it in a conventional manner.
No treatment or pitch doc? No time or manpower to develop while you write other projects?
Simply raise a fresh ticket at our dedicated support centre, below, with as much information about your project as possible, the budget already in place, and any further information and we’ll get right back to you.
“This was an incredible experience. A chance to work with the cream of the crop in terms of script doctors. Industrial Scripts really know what makes a movie get sold or made, and how to take a script from good to great!”
Sundae Jahant-Osborn
Screenwriter
May I thank you for ALL your help and being an invaluable sounding board at this final stage of the writing process. You can probably feel I’ve been testing things out one last time before I start sending the script out to agents, exec producers, casting directors etc!
Mat Sheldon
Writer-Director
Why do clients book our Script Doctors?
“I have used Industrial Scripts for many years and have never been disappointed. The latest work I commissioned (a script doctoring job) was completed in the time promised and was as well done as I could have wished. I would highly recommend Industrial Scripts. They are totally trustworthy and professional”.
Jean Fairweather
Writer
Seen Enough to Know We Won’t Let You Down?
Industrial Scripts
Expert Script Consultants Since 2010
About Industrial Scripts®
Founded in 2010, Industrial Scripts is today one of the world’s leading screenwriting companies, backed by major companies and with over 1,000 verified testimonials.
Our script consultants have significant industry credentials, writing coverage for companies and studios including Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Universal and many more. Working with screenwriters and filmmakers of all levels and from myriad locations, we also deliver intensive training both online and offline.
While our free Talent Connector promotes talent to the industry, our popular blog – Character-Driven – educates and entertains. We believe that rigorous script development is the foundation of great film and TV and is, indeed, essential.
Without it, the end product will fail.
“Thank you so much (for the script doctoring work to-date).
The draft is drastically improved so far…”
Robert Larsen
Screenwriter