Fulcrum Media Services - Script Submission Information

Screenplay, Treatment & Prose Submissions

Submission Rules

We welcome your submissions and feel that we can be worthwhile collaborators in helping make your work shine! We ask that you abide by certain rules so that we can serve you effectively.

Feature film scripts MUST be in correct screenplay format (ref: The Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats Part I, by Cole and Haag, CMC Publishing). If your screenplay is not in correct format, we will return it with your check, UNREAD. We WILL accept scripts for documentaries, educational and multimedia projects that are in two-column audiovisual format (picture on one side, audio on the other), however, we'll grumble a bit. We've found that the two-column format invites writers of non-fiction media to be wordy and less visually imaginative -- it's not always true, but it often is. So if you write in this format, take a look at your script before you send it. Perhaps you would like to pre-critique yourself!

If you are submitting a stage play, it should be in Samuel French Stage Play Format with character names above spoken dialogue, dialogue out to the margins, and stage action margins indented from dialogue (ref: Samuel French). Do NOT submit stage play manuscripts with character names on the same line as their dialogue, as it makes for exhausting reading!

If you are submitting a grant proposal or treatment, it may be formatted as prose. In the case of any prose manuscript, including a treatment, novel or collection of short stories, the submission MUST be double-spaced, with a margin of at least 1½" on the left and 1" on the right.

All manuscripts must be typed or word-processed on one side of the page only, and should be three-hole punched and bound with two brads (top and bottom). In the case of very short manuscripts, such as treatments, short plays or screenplays, manuscripts may be stapled in the upper left corner instead.

Rates

Our standard fee for:

feature film, documentary, television MOW, stage play, or docu-drama screenplays is $2.50 per page or partial page, with a $250 minimum charge

prose manuscripts (novels, short story collections) that run over 250 typed, double-spaced pages, is $2.00 per page or partial page (under 250 pages is $2.50 per page)

grant proposals and film treatments that are 50 double-spaced pages or less is a flat rate of $150

If you would like us to review and comment on a particularly short work (such as a script for a short film or a treatment under 25 pages), please email us for information.

For this fee you will receive written feedback of two kinds: random notes at various points on the actual pages of the script (which will be returned to you, in your furnished SASE, see below), and, more important, with a minimum of two single-spaced typed pages of notes regarding every aspect of your manuscript that we can think to comment on.

By the way, beware of script readers offering you Hollywood-style "coverage" for much lower fees -- they will probably simply give you a grid, or general comments, such as "dialogue good," "characterization fair," "structure poor." This won't help you at all!

We'll be honest, will point out both what works and what doesn't work about your script, and (here's something our clients particularly tell us they appreciate:) if we can, we'll recommend other films for viewing, or scripts and literature to read that tackled and conquered similar specific themes, issues, or problems, so that you might get some additional insight to guide you toward your next, more successful draft or help you over a particular rough spot.

Interactive Time

For an additional fee, we will discuss your script or manuscript with you after you receive it and our comment pages back. To the fee schedule above, add $50 for up to an hour of telephone consulting time (you will pay for the call) or for the equivalent of an hour of back-and-forth emailing. If additional time is required, that will be billed at $50/hr. in half-hour increments. One hour is the least amount of interactive time you may buy.

If you would like to schedule a face-to-face meeting with Kenn Rabin after he has reviewed your manuscript, please email him. Charges will be $50/hr. for meeting time and also for travel time within the San Francisco Bay Area from central Marin County. Arrangements for Kenn to travel to you for consultation can also be made -- email us.

To Submit:

You will be asked to include:

Your manuscript, formatted and bound as described above.

Check or money order on a U.S. bank, made payable to FULCRUM MEDIA SERVICES, for the proper amount in U.S. dollars, as indicated above (wires can also be arranged for; contact us).

Self-addressed, stamped envelope for return of script and comments (we suggest Priority Mail).

The simple one-page submission form, which can be obtained by clicking here. Print it, fill it out and include it.

Finally, email us, let us know you plan to submit, and we'll write back with details on where to send the manuscript.

The submission form is an Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) file. If you do not already have the Acrobat Reader™ plug-in for your browser, click here:

Turnaround time is usually one week from receipt, but it can vary depending on how much material we have. Please feel free to email us after two weeks to check on the progress of your manuscript.