The Script Analysis methodology ensures that, for every submission, three story analysts independently review the script. Each one makes an overall determination: Strong Pass, Pass, Consider, Recommend, or Strong Recommend. If just one of the three analysts issues a Recommend or higher, the project is likely to breach the 70 Script Score threshold, even if the two other analysts issue Passes. In this way, our methodology ensures that every screenplay submission gets three chances of qualifying.
Before any set of Script Analysis is delivered, the full set of analysis is reviewed by a coverage supervisor who proofreads, reviews for adherence to policies and standards, and ensures that each of the 33 scores are properly supported by the comments. After that, the analysis is spot-checked one final time by our development manager.
In total, over 18 hours of reading, writing, and quality assurance goes into every set of Script Analysis prior to its delivery to the filmmaker.
For this reason, all Script Analyses and Script Scores are considered final upon delivery.
Script Analysis is draft-based. Script Analysis is Slated Analytics' professional assessment of this draft of the screenplay. New drafts may score differently, depending on the changes.
Some More Background
There's no way around it: reviewing stories is a subjective process. No system is perfect. Filmmakers are welcome to disagree with Slated Analytics' assessment of their draft, just like we encourage our analysts to arrive at their conclusions independently.
Nevertheless, Slated Analytics' Script Analysis is the only coverage proven to predict outcomes. No other screenplay coverage (to our knowledge) has publicly demonstrated their accuracy when compared to real-world results. For that reason, and because the data continues to bear out as more movies are made and released, we are confident our system is the best screenplay review out there.
Script Scores have predicted the commercial success of hundreds of films, from massive breakout hits like PEANUT BUTTER FALCON and THE WOMAN KING to awards movies like MOONLIGHT. Slated's EP Team has worked on Oscar-winning movies like SOUND OF METAL and GLAAD-nominated movies like OUR SON and SUMMONING SYLVIA thanks to their Script Scores. In fact, Script Analysis has even resulted in Slated directly producing over 60 movies. To our knowledge, no other filmmaker platform has delivered financing, sales and distribution to even 10 of its submitted projects, let alone 60+, based on their coverage.
In total, close to five hundred scripts have received Script Analysis and been made into movies.
That data shows that Script Scores over 75 are 4-5X likelier to be Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. This research has been reported on by major entertainment outlets like The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, and Screen Daily.
In providing Script Analysis, we share over ten pages of transparent feedback with each filmmaker who submits.
We're one of the only production entities to be so transparent in our review process. We understand that comes with some risks. Agencies, studios and other production companies generally don't share their coverage because they don't want to deal with potential fallout from writers who disagree with them.
However, we feel that being so transparent pays off. We've learned that when we provide our honest feedback directly to filmmakers without pulling any punches, scripts can actually improve and increase their odds of getting made. We hear from Script Analysis clients every week who love our transparent approach to discovering and producing movies and credit our feedback with improving their movies.
One of the reasons for both our high accuracy and high customer satisfaction is the system of checks and balances built into our review process.
Checks and Balances
Check #1: Three Reads
The first of those checks and balances is in the design of the product.
Unlike submitting a script to a production company, Script Analysis doesn't just rely on one opinion. It leverages three simultaneous, independent reviews of the script to give every script three chances of earning a recommend.
Story analysts don't speak to one another prior to submitting their review. So, even if one story analyst Passes, each script still gets two more shots at earning a Recommend. Projects that receive at least one Recommend are likely to qualify with a 70+ Script Score, even if the other two story analysts Pass.
If a project scores below 70, it means none of the three story analysts felt passionately enough about the material to issue a Recommend. At least, not on this draft.
But our system of checks and balances doesn't stop at three reads.
Check #2: Supervisor Reviews
As described above, before any set of Script Analysis is delivered, all three coverages are reviewed by a coverage supervisor, who reads every word for typos or any other issues that may stick out. Story analysts are encouraged to arrive at their opinions independently, so differences in scoring between the readers is normal. The purpose of the product is to poll three different opinions, with any potential spread representing the spread you might see in the market when the project is sent out or released. Understanding that each analyst has a different perspective on the material, the supervisor's goal is to ensure that all of the points being made are clear and supported per Slated Analytics' policies and standards.
Check #3: Manager Reviews
The full set of Script Analysis is then reviewed by an development manager, who does a final check prior to delivery.
In total, over 18 hours of time and attention have been dedicated to creating and reviewing the analysis.
By the time a set of Script Analysis has been delivered to a Slated member, several members of Slated's development staff have reviewed and signed off.
Because our process is so interconnected, there is no daylight between our story analysts' individual or collective opinions and the opinion of the company. Most of our story analysts have been with the company more than eight years and reviewed over a thousand scripts. We work with them every day and they continue predicting hits for Slated's EP Team. For example, in 2024, sixteen out of eighteen of Slated most recent movie releases are Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes.
Customer Service Review
The above notwithstanding, if you feel that one or more of your story analysts got something wrong (that slipped past our supervisor and manager) and you'd like us to look into it further, you are welcome to reach out to us via customer support and we'll conduct a "Customer Service Review" regarding your concerns.
In this process, an additional Slated staff member of our choosing will review your complaint and re-review the Script Analysis. In some cases, they may even read a few pages of your script (at our discretion). During this phase, we may answer questions or provide additional context on our process to illuminate the issue at hand, however as a general rule we do not review any additional materials or new information that was not in the screenplay when it was submitted.
The review process may take as little as a few minutes, or as long as 2 weeks depending on the nature of the concern and how busy we may be.
Once our review process is complete, we will report the outcome of the Customer Service Review to you.
Please be advised that -- given our thorough process described above -- we are highly likely to report to you that we do not see any issues with the Script Analysis or Script Score and that both stand as they have been delivered to you. In these cases, no additional changes will be made to the Script Analysis or Script Score.
Very rarely, if an issue is found, we may take additional measures to correct the issue. Slated reserves the right to make changes to your Script Analysis at its own discretion, including changes that may result in the decrease of a Script Score.
Whatever the outcome of the Customer Service review, this is the company's final decision on this set of Script Analysis. Just like you cannot debate your film's standing with Sundance (or any other festival) because you feel your film should have been programmed, Slated personnel does not entertain ongoing debates about our professional opinion of your film. If a customer service review has been completed, your concerns cannot be re-reported to different members of our staff or repeatedly raised in future discussions with Slated staff as if it were an unresolved issue. Doing so may be considered a breach of Slated's Code of Conduct.
Code of Conduct
As noted in our Terms of Service, paying for Script Analysis does not guarantee a high score, or even notes that you agree with. You are simply paying for the time it takes for Slated to conduct its thorough review and provide our professional opinion on the screenplay.
Members who continuously harass Slated's customer service staff or executives after a Customer Service Review has been completed may have their Slated membership permanently revoked.
Whether or not a Customer Service Review has been carried out on your Script Analysis, please note that acting unprofessionally in response to analysis - including but not limited to making disparaging comments about Slated’s analysts, staff, or company - are a violation of Slated's Code of Conduct and Terms of Service. As such, this behavior is grounds for membership termination.
Members who have their membership revoked as a result of harassing, rude, or otherwise inappropriate behavior towards Slated staff are not entitled to refunds for any analysis they may have purchased, nor any other fees that may have been paid.
What If I'm Still Unsatisfied?
Once a Customer Service Review has been completed, there are no additional avenues for raising concerns about that particular set of Script Analysis.
If you've received the result of a Customer Service review and you are unhappy with it, you have a few options.
Don't use Slated. We won't be offended. We get it. We don't all view stories the same way. You are entitled to stand by your work and to be confident in your script as-is. You are not obligated to use Slated to get your movie made or for script coverage. There are plenty of other coverage products out there and perhaps a different company would align more with your creative viewpoints. While we stand by our system as one that works for us, no system is perfect for everyone. We hope your movie gets made, and we will be rooting for your project to succeed no matter what.
Only take the notes you like. Script Analysis is generally over 5,000 words and offers many ideas from three different people. Statistically speaking, some of this feedback is useful even if you disagree with your Script Score. Writers are not meant to take every note in Script Analysis. Knowing how to process, respond to, and implement feedback is one of the most critical skills in screenwriting -- almost as critical as the writing process itself. This is very difficult, but unavoidable. So, if there's a note that is really bugging you, you should ignore it and focus on the notes that make sense instead. Alternatively, if the note isn't so easy to write off, then maybe there's something valuable there. In this case, it may be worth looking for the "note within the note," as professional writers often say. In other words, even though you may find the note annoying, it might be worth asking: what caused this story analyst to arrive at this conclusion? How can you protect against future readers drawing similarly faulty conclusions? Remember, you won't have visibility into the reactions when the script is sent out to executives and investors. Maybe exploring this issue may actually lead to a veritable improvement in the script, even if you felt the originating note was misplaced.
Submit for a new round of analysis. We allow filmmakers to submit for Script Analysis as many times as they like. Maybe you feel that you just got an unlucky batch of readers on this last round and you want to take another whirl. You can do that. Even better, you can hide any sets of Script Analysis or Script Scores you don't agree with. In fact, you can choose to display only your highest Script Score at any time, even if its not the most recent one. Remember: our Script Scores are draft-based. A low Script Score is not a comment on a screenplay's ability to improve; it's just a snapshot of this draft. We've seen Script Scores increase 5, 10, 15, and even 20 points in between rounds of Script Analysis. Many of those movies go on to be made. Some even go to festivals and win awards (THE WOLF HOUR, MAPPLETHORPE). Some have even been executive produced by Slated (OUR SON, RENNER).
Storytelling is inherently personal. Putting your ideas on paper can feel very vulnerable. When someone misinterprets your writing, it can feel alarming or offensive. Anyone who enters the arena of storytelling must grapple with this reality, including us.
Slated's model is not about protecting filmmakers (or ourselves) from this reality. It's also not about being "right" about whether a script is "good" or not.
Slated's model, instead, is simply about getting movies made, and helping those movies be as good as possible. We've found that giving kind, considerate, honest and constructive feedback serves that mission.
Whether our perspective on a given screenplay aligns with yours or not, we wish your project the best, and we look forward to celebrating your success.