If it weren’t for the links I get from TMFTML, I would be completely oblivious to all the truly important news of the day. For instance, I didn’t realize that I was not worshipping the real albeit “unofficial queen of blogging” (west coast … although nobody seems to have heard of her). In fact, I think Eurotrash did a damn fine job laying her claim to the title with this hysterical bit of vitriol today. (Turn west, ET, to take on your far less-worthy rivals.)
But back to Ms. Tiffany Stone who must have had an orgasm during the Blake Edwards tribute at the Oscars this year, since not only has she the “native of Los Angeles … was named after the famous jewelry store” and she named her blog “Breakfast at Tiffany’s after the movie. She’s just all about Tiffany’s. I’m surprised she hasn’t moved to NYC yet.
Actually, the only thing I really take issue with is throwing that word “professional” in front of the job “script reader.” That makes it sound like it takes training, or people have special expertise in script reading. The only people who would actually use the term “professional script reader” (other than obviously the writer of this article) are those specific people who get paid to read scripts. And actually, most of them hate the term “script reader,” preferring the far more pretentious title, “Script Analyst.” Many try to use this part-time, freelance position to imply that they are some type of script, development or industry expert when in fact, they read scripts, write 2-3 pages and say “Yea” or “Nay” (sometimes “Maybe”), an opinion that is considered, given minimal credence, and then essentially discarded. Plenty of scripts with bad coverage and “Pass” stamped on them eventually get made, and plenty of scripts given the “professional script reader’s” mark of approval don’t make it past the desk of some development assistant. I also would bet if you rounded up all the “professionals” out there, you would not find one who’s actual career ambition invovled becoming a “professional script reader” … ever. And by the way, how many of these “professional script readers” place this expert tag upon themselves even though they can’t get their own scripts sold? All while still managing to revel in the opportunity they have to trash all those other writers out there who apparently are not blessed enough to be “professional script readers.”
There’s nothing wrong with being a script reader. It’s a good little freelance job, especially if you like movies, enjoy reading scripts and are looking for extra income. There are also certainly some people who are better at it than others. But it doesn’t make them film industry experts, and lets take it for what it is … a job, not a profession or a career.
Out of Focus 